Blog / 29.07.2026
Keeping Your Edge: What Professional Chefs Taught Us About Knife Care
At HORL®, we have a passion for precision. And as the inventors of the rolling knife sharpener, we’re always interested in how chefs — from award-winning professionals to dedicated home cooks — care for the most important tool in their kitchen: their knives.
We recently asked several James Beard-recognized chefs and culinary experts how they sharpen, maintain, and store their knives, and what advice they have for home cooks. Their insights highlight the importance of premium sharpness, regular care, and tools designed to make sharpening intuitive for everyone.
Here’s what we learned.
Inside the Survey: Who We Asked
To better understand knife-care habits, HORL® spoke with 10 professional chefs and dedicated home cooks across the United States. Among them were James Beard Award–winning and nominated chefs, neighborhood restaurateurs, and passionate home enthusiasts who treat their knives with the same respect as a seasoned professional.
The group represented a wide range of cooking styles:
Rodolfo Cuadros, Amaru and Bloom (Chicago, IL) — Modern Latin and plant-based cuisine.
Carrie Nahabedian, Brindille (Chicago, IL) — French fine dining and a James Beard Award winner.
Steve Kestler, Aroma Latin American Cocina (Henderson, NV) — Latin American comfort food with bold flavors.
Nikko Cagalanan, Kultura (Charleston, SC) — Filipino‑inspired small plates.
Tim Nicholson, The Boiler Room (Omaha, NE) — Farm‑to‑table seasonal cooking.
Rich Parente, The Daily Market (Sherman, CT) — Market‑driven American fare.
Charles Wong, Umamicue (Chicago, IL) — Barbecue with Asian influence.
Zach LeVay, The Third Place Supper Club (Lincoln Park, IL) — Community‑based fine dining.
Aretiha Sampson, home cook and passionate culinary hobbyist.
What unites such a varied group is a shared belief that knife maintenance is fundamental to great cooking, whether you’re prepping mise en place for fine dining or slicing vegetables at home.
How Often Do Professionals Sharpen Their Knives at Home
While routines differ, there’s one principle that unites all professionals: consistency keeps your knives at their best.
Carrie Nahabedian of Brindille sharpens “before every use,” so that every service begins with premium precision. Tim Nicholson of The Boiler Room explained that he sharpens “at home a few times a year. At work once a month,” balancing his approach between home and restaurant life.
For others, a monthly routine sets the rhythm. Steve Kestler of Aroma Latin American Cocina shared, “Sharpening your knives often is key,” while home cook Aretiha Sampson prefers to sharpen “once a week,” combining consistency with care.
The Right Tools for Beginners
The HORL®3 brings professional sharpening technology to home kitchens, with magnetic angle support for precise 15° and 20° sharpening angles, a diamond disc for shaping the edge, and a ceramic disc for fine honing. It delivers professional control and uncompromising sharpness, in a design that’s intuitive and built to last a lifetime.
Carrie Nahabedian described it as “very easy to use for all skill levels. Perfect for home use! Takes the fear out of knife sharpening.” Charles Wong of Umamicue shared how it’s become part of his regular kitchen routine: “Great for quick knife sharpening and maintenance.”
Nikko Cagalanan of Kultura Charleston added, “We love the HORL® Rolling Knife Sharpener. It is quick, clean, easy to use in a hurry when you know your knife is dulling but don’t have the time to get the whetstones out.”
The Biggest Knife Maintenance Mistakes
Even high-quality knives need proper care. When asked about the biggest mistakes they see, chefs immediately listed a few common habits that can dull performance.
“Not sharpening them regularly,” said Steve Kestler, highlighting how quickly even great edges lose their bite. Aretiha Sampson cautioned against “washing knives in the dishwasher,” while Tim Nicholson pointed to an “inconsistent sharpening angle” as a major problem for home cooks.
Charles Wong and Nikko Cagalanan see too many people leave knives out wet or store them loosely. Cagalanan said, “They need love. Too often, I see people throw really nice knives into the dishwasher or leave them out to dry with water on them, and it breaks my heart.”
Everyday Habits for Lasting Sharpness
The best chefs treat their knives as trusted tools, not disposable supplies. Their advice for long-term care is rooted in daily discipline.
Aretiha Sampson keeps it simple: “After every use, wash and dry your knife, don’t leave the knife wet.” Rodolfo Cuadros of Amaru and Bloom believes in sharpening often and gently: “Sharpen a little bit all the time. Saves your blade for the long term.”
And Nikko Cagalanan focuses on respect and storage: “Take care of your knives, put them in their place when not using them, and never put them through your dishwasher.”
How the HORL® 3 Changed Their Sharpening Routines
Throughout our conversations, chefs described how the HORL®3 transformed sharpening from a chore into something intuitive, quick, and precise.
Tim Nicholson found that the rolling design together with the magnetic angle support “allows you to maintain a consistent angle and even pressure while sharpening.”
Rodolfo Cuadros shared his experience at home: “As a chef, I’m meticulous about my tools at work — but at home, my knives don’t always get the attention they deserve. The HORL® Rolling Knife Sharpener changed that. It’s incredibly convenient and effective, making it easy to keep my home knives sharp without the hassle. What I love most is how quickly it elevates your kitchen game — whether you’re prepping a simple meal or hosting guests, sharp knives make all the difference.”
Rich Parente of The Daily Market added, “Having HORL® in my bag of tricks allows me to regularly sharpen my knives on the fly and allows me to give them the attention they deserve.”
For many chefs, the HORL®3 has become the bridge between professional expectations and everyday practicality, combining precision with simplicity in a tool that truly lasts.
FAQs
Experience the HORL® Difference Yourself
From award-winning chefs to passionate home cooks, one message came through again and again: regular knife care transforms the way you cook. The HORL®3 brings professional-level sharpening to your kitchen — made in Germany with uncompromising quality, magnetic precision, and a passion for every detail. Its intuitive rolling design, premium materials, and precision engineering guarantee a consistent, razor-sharp edge every time.
Explore the full HORL® collection to create your ideal sharpening setup. Pair your HORL®3 with our storage docks and premium accessories designed to enhance performance and style in your kitchen.
Discover how effortless premium sharpness can feel and experience the HORL® difference yourself.
From beginners to knife enthusiasts—the different HORL®3 models offer you all the options you need.
