Arcos sharpening steel

Sharpening steels are a basic tool in any kitchen, as essential as the knives themselves. Keeping a knife's edge sharp at all times is fundamental — for safety, to extend the knife's life and to make the job easier.

Contrary to popular belief, the knife sharpening steel does not actually sharpen; what it does is realign and maintain the edge, which is why it's so important to use it regularly and keep the knife's edge in good shape so it works properly and delivers consistent performance.

To use the steel correctly, hold the arm gripping the steel steady and, with the other hand, slide the blade along it keeping an angle of roughly 20 degrees. Ideally, alternate sides of the blade with each pass to keep the edge symmetrical and avoid working one side more than the other.

ARCOS knife steels stand out for their quality; they are made in Albacete by this great cutlery brand. The steel handles are designed for a firm grip — they are non-slip and shaped to fit the hand. The rods come in different sizes and materials; the most common are carbon steel, which you'll find on this same page, in 2 sizes: one 280 mm long and 10 mm thick and another 300 mm long and 13 mm thick. They are also made in more abrasive materials, such as the diamond-coated steels you'll also find in this online shop.