8 Tips to Hiring a Professional Knife Sharpener for your Restaurant

If you work in the restaurant business, the knives that you use are a big deal. Dull knives are a hazard to your establishment and your staff. Dull knives don’t do anything but gouge through food and are more difficult to manage. Not only do they make cooking take longer than it should, but there’s also an increased risk of accidents that will cost you time and money in the long run when people get hurt.

Therefore we recommend using a professional knife sharpening service whenever possible rather than attempting it yourself! These professionals understand how critical sharp knives are and what needs to be done for them to stay sharp for a long time without requiring any further maintenance. They also know how to handle the various kinds of knives you have in your kitchen and can give you advice about what kind of knives would work best for you.

1.     Look at their website before meeting with them

It is always a good idea to check out their website first to see if it seems professional. You can tell a lot about them by their website, such as how it is laid out and how it looks. If you see that they are trying to cut corners by not investing in a good website, that could be a sign that they are not as professional as they say.

2.     Find ones that are tried and true

When you have found some candidates for your knife sharpening needs, take time to look for ones that have been tried and tested in the field. You can do this by searching for reviews on the business and asking friends and family if they know of any reputable professional restaurant knife sharpeners in your area.

3.     Find someone who you can trust

Some knife sharpeners will ask for a deposit for work that they never carry out. In these cases, you may not be able to get hold of them again after they have taken your deposit. To avoid this, look for someone trustworthy. You can ask around as suggested before if you are planning to use a service where you have to pay a deposit first so other people can tell you about their experiences with them firsthand.

4.     Don’t pick the least expensive service provider

Of course, not all of us can afford custom-made knives in our kitchens. But if you can, rest assured that they’re worth every penny and will last a long time without dulling. As for those of us who have to get butchered cuts, don’t choose the very least expensive sharpener simply because they have the lowest quote. There’s a reason for the difference in charges. The professional is worth it, but the cheap sort may not be.

5.     Check out social media reviews

An excellent way to start is by checking social media reviews to see what other customers had to say about them. Be wary of reviews from people who have never hired this company before, as they may be unreliable.

It’s a good idea to ask around for up-to-date references. If you know anyone who has recently used this company, talk with them about their experience. This will give you a better idea of whether or not your knives are in good hands and what you should expect from the experience.

6.     Go with recommendations

This tip may seem obvious, but it is essential to ask about the person’s experience working with the blades you’re using. If they have not worked with these particular knives before, proceed with caution and make sure to do your own research as well.

For example, are you using a chef knife? Do they sharpen carbon steel knives? Make sure that they are comfortable and knowledgeable regarding the tools to be sharpened before taking them on.

7.     Choose a company that doesn’t just sharpen knives

Most knife sharpeners will also hone and repair damaged blades to the best condition possible. A good knife sharpener will offer all these services. Someone who only sharpens and doesn’t do any repairs is probably someone you want to avoid. Not only do they not have enough experience, but they could be missing the most critical aspect of sharpening a knife—the honing process that makes a blade last much longer than just one quick cut through a stone. An experienced sharpener will know how to keep your blade in good working order for as long as possible, saving you money in the long run.

8.     Ask around

Anyone who uses a lot of knives will be able to tell you who they use to sharpen those blades. If you are lucky, the companies in your area will have a decent reputation as well as offer competitive pricing.

Conclusion

So if you run a restaurant your current knives need some attention, make sure that you take care of them by hiring a professional to sharpen them. If you try doing it yourself, chances are you’ll end up putting a dent in one side of the blade!

Adam Hansen
 

Adam is a part time journalist, entrepreneur, investor and father.