Product Reviews Archives - House Kitchenware and Home Kitchenware Reviews

How To Use An Electric Knife Sharpener – Our Detailed Guide

Last Updated June 23, 2021

If you are a newbie or someone with little experience, we recommend that you go over our informational guide on how to use an electric knife sharpener.

What is an electric knife sharpener?

When looking at electric knife sharpeners, the most critical question to ask is what the device is. This question will help us understand how the product functions and how to use it better. An electric knife sharpener is a highly advanced tool that most professionals use to sharpen knives and equipment of all sorts.

Most experts use electric options because they the best sharpening results no matter how old the knife is or how much it is in use. The unique aspect of an electric knife sharpener is that it offers 3-in-1actions, including honing, sharpening, and fine polishing of your blades.

The plus side? You won’t have to buy separate finishing equipment, whetstones, and coarse sharpening steels. Your sharpening process will be more straightforward and less of a hassle than before!

Is an electric knife sharpener better than traditional methods?

Apart from electric knife sharpeners, there are also two traditional methods to opt for! The first is, of course, a whetstone! These are the original method and also the simplest. All you need is a rectangular stone that is double-sided. One side is coarse while the other is fine!

While the whetstone is undoubtedly quite an accurate method to sharpen your knives, there are also manual knife sharpeners. These manual knife sharpeners are Pull-Through Sharpeners as you pull the blade through them. The best part is that they are user-friendly but also quite affordable!

So, should you opt for an electric sharpener? If you are a regular user, we do not recommend it! On the contrary, we recommend you stick to a whetstone instead! Electric sharpeners can take their toll on your blade and can sometimes shave away too much of the blade.

That’s why we recommend that only professionals with heavy-duty knives use these electric variants! Of course, if your local knife sharpener has the skills, they can sharpen your knife with one too!

Now, we are going to proceed on how to use an electric knife sharpener!

How to use an electric knife sharpener?

The first thing you need to do is add the blade into the electric tool’s slot. You will accomplish this better if you push the knife’s heel down as low as is possible. It will help ensure it is entirely in contact with the stone below. Starting with the end of the knife, you will move to the tip.

Next, you will place the blade into the slot. Make sure it is at an angle of about 15 to 20-degrees. The benefit of an electric sharpener is that it can automatically fix the angle of the knife handle as it goes down and through the slot. It will also connect it to the grinding stone below.

You will then slide the blade on the slot at least twice and make sure you sharpen it on both sides. We do not recommend passing the knife over the space more than this since electric knife sharpeners are pretty efficient. Anything above this might damage the blade more than reshape and sharpen it.

Once the blade is adequately sharp, you will repeat each of these steps on the fine stones. In this way, you will begin the honing process, which is essentially the last fine-tuning of your knives. Make sure to pass the blade no more than twice on each side. You can then wash the knife and let it dry naturally.

We recommend washing the knife as it gets rid of any metal shavings and bits that you shaved off.

Key factors to keep in mind with electric knife sharpeners

Just as sharp knives are dangerous, so are electric knife sharpeners! Most professionals are engaging with them, and for a good reason! These electric sharpeners are pretty compact, so users will not need to worry about having less space to accommodate them.

However, you need to make sure that they are out of reach for kids and pets. You should also wear protective gear such as gloves and eye goggles!

One of the most important factors to consider is how your electric sharpener is powered. If it plugs into a power socket, then you need to switch it off or unplug it with each use! If they are battery-powered, then your need to switch them off, so it saves power.

Why is a sharper knife better?

We all are aware that the sharper your knife, the better it is! However, you might wonder why this is true! Well, for starters, the most critical factor has to be user safety. When you are wielding a knife, you hold a great responsibility. You need to get the job done but being careful and safe is vital!

The sharper your knife, the safer it is should be every chef’s motto! If you use a dull knife, it won’t have as much grasp and hold so that it might slip. This act can lead to mishaps and accidents which we want to avoid.

Another reason why a sharper knife is better has to do with precision and accuracy. If your knife is more pointed, so will its cuts be! Clean and accurate! As all professionals are aware, the kind of cuts your food has will determine how long it will cook and be ready to consume!

That’s why the angles at which you cut your food become highly crucial. A sharper knife also cuts your workload in half. You will finish in less time than before!

Conclusion

We are now at the end of today’s thorough and informational article on how to use an electric sharpener! We hope that by outlining the main precautions and steps, our readers feel more confident and can effectively utilize electric knife sharpeners on their own! We leave you with our guidance and hope it has been an insightful journey for you!

Recommended Reading: Discover the SIMPLE WAY of how to make a knife handle yourself!

Advantages Of Santoku Knives – Exclusive Benefits And Use

Last Updated April 26, 2021

In this article we will examine the advantages of Santoku Knives with a careful look at benefits and use.

You must have heard the name of the Santoku Knife. Because of its splendid benefits, people are getting quite excited over this trendy kitchen essential. But what really is a Santoku knife? Where did it come from? What are the uses and how to use them correctly? Don’t worry, we’ve all the information you want. So let’s dive into the fun analysis of Santoku Knives.

What Is A Santoku Knife?

Santoku is a Japanese word that means Three Virtues or Three Uses. It’s used for general kitchens in Japan. People prefer Santoku knives over other conventional knives because of their unique design and multiple uses.

Commonly, its blade comes between 13 and 20 cm, along with a flat edge and a sheepsfoot blade going down an angle of 60-Degrees. Santoku becomes a successful kitchen essential, replacing a causal cook knife excellently. Even some top-level chefs prefer to use it instead of premium knives. But why? To answer this ,first, let’s dig into the history of the Santoku knife.

Where Did Santoku Knife Come From?

Santoku knife or All Purpose Kitchen Knife originated in Japan. The word Santoku shows its three major uses for kitchen. When they introduced it in the market of Japan, it changed the history of knives. Because they did not make it with casual techniques. Japanese use the Traditional Forging Technique by blacksmiths and swordsmiths.

Before santoku, Japanese people were using three specific knives to do three major jobs.

Gyuto knife for cutting meat.
Nakiri knife for cutting vegetables.
And Deba knife to cut fish.

Once santoku was introduced, people found it an extremely restful kitchen utensil. Why buy three knives when you can just use one for all purposes? That’s the exact reason for the Santoku knife’s renowned image.

What Does “Three Uses” Mean?

Most often people who aren’t aware of the Japanese language, wonder what santoku means. Is there any reason for which they name this knife Santoku? As we said earlier, santoku means Three Virtues or Three Uses. Because you can use this all-purpose knife for Mincing, Dicing, and Slicing. The straight edge with the foot blade does the job perfectly well, beating the best chef’s knives effortlessly.

Mincing

Mincing is the procedure of cutting thin layers. In mincing, people cut a possible tiny amount of food to make it almost disappear into the sauce. Here santoku knife comes in the food game, the Straight Edge acts as a major hero in the mincing process.

Mincing the boneless meat and cheese with a santoku knife comes very handy. And needs some time for your valuable day.

But: Don’t cut frozen meat, santoku doesn’t work effectively on frozen items.

Dicing

We all love decorating cooked food because presentation matters in every aspect of life. Customizing food requires cutting vegetables, meat, and fruits in specific manners. A Santoku with a 18 to 20″ blade is the perfect choice for the job. It keeps the dicing process straightforward.

But: Don’t peel off vegetables with it, as it takes exceptional effort and increases kitchen work.

Slicing

Slicing depends on the task you’re doing, whether you want thick slices of meat or vegetables to cook an extra variety of foods or you’re trying a new dish, comprising thin meat slices. Using a santoku knife comes with Various Pros. It helps you in cutting and slicing fish and meat into precise pieces.

But: If you’re making sushi, it’s quite different. It’s recommended to use sushi knives.

What Are The Best Advantages Of Santoku Knives?

Although this All-Purpose Knife holds amazing features to be suitable for every task. But what are some particular uses of a santoku knife? Following are some of the best uses of a santoku knife, according to the expert’s opinion.

Cutting Thin Slices Of Meat
Slicing Cheese
Best For Slicing, Dicing, or Chopping Various Vegetables, Fruits, And Nuts
Mincing Meat And Herbs
Scooping The Vegetables Off The Cutting Board
Cutting Fine Slices Of Seafood And Vegetables

Some Do’s And Don’ts Of Santoku Knife

Do: Always Dry Out The Knife

Whether it’s a santoku knife or a chef’s knife, keeping the knife dry extends the shelf life and improves the performance. Don’t forget to dry the knife once you wash it, excess water on the blade degrades the quality of the blade.

Don’t: Cutting Frozen Food

Undoubtedly Japanese blade is extraordinarily strong, but it’s not designed to contact frozen food, hard bones, and ice. Always keep the knife away from such tasks, as it can crack the blade, making the knife incapable of use again.

Do: Keep The Blade Covered

Covering the knife with a protected piece prevents the unfortunate situations of rust. Experts recommend covering the blade with a wonderful quality sheath, that way your santoku knife will be protected from harmful elements.

Don’t: Put The Santoku Knife In Dishwasher

We can’t emphasize enough on this point. Never put your knife into the dishwasher. You must wonder about the reasons. Here they are:

Extremely Harsh Chemical In Dishwasher Detergents
Intense Heat
Unlimited Water Pouring On Wooden Element Of The Knife

Using mild soap and some warm water to wash the germs out of the knife is pretty effective.

Do: Sharpen The Blade

Some people neglect this factor as they think sharpening the blade will remove metal. It’s a bizarre myth. Even sharpening the blade realign the apex of the blade, resulting in a fast action of the edge.

Don’t: Use Glass Or Plastic Boards

Don’t cut vegetables, meat, and fruits on the glass or plastic cutting board with a santoku knife. It can harm the blade greatly. Prefer using wood or cork cutting boards.

Some Words

Hope you’ll have the perfect vision of the Advantages Of Santoku Knives. Indeed, advantages are unlimited. From mincing, cutting to slicing and dicing, you can do a lot with santoku knives. That makes it necessary to have in our kitchen. What do you think?

Want more cool articles about knives? Discover which are the best knives with wooden handles right here!

Best Kitchen Faucets 2022 : Reviews + Buying Guide

Last Updated August 20, 2020

One element that often gets overlooked by people planning to renovate their kitchens is the ever-important kitchen faucet. To help you pick out that perfect faucet, we’ve assembled a list of the best kitchen faucets 2022.

Faucets are one of those things that tend to get ignored until they need to be replaced. But, you shouldn’t overlook how useful it can be to upgrade your kitchen with a brand-new faucet.

To make the process even easier, we recommend that you directly check out our pick for best faucet, the Delta Essa Single-Handle Kitchen Pull-Down Faucet for various reasons that we will talk about below.

A Spotlight On Some of The Best Kitchen Faucets 2022:

Friho Modern Lead-Free Kitchen Sink Faucet

Lead-Free: Yes

Rust-Resistant: Yes

Hot Hose: Yes

Touchless Sensor: No

Pull Down Hose: Yes

360-Degree Rotation: Yes

Check Price

Friho Lead-Free Pull Down Kitchen Sink Faucet

Lead-Free: Yes

Rust-Resistant: Yes

Hot Hose: Yes

Touchless Sensor: No

Pull Down Hose: Yes

360-Degree Rotation: Yes

Check Price

Moen Arbor Motionsense Touchless Kitchen Faucet

Lead-Free: Yes

Rust-Resistant: Yes

Hot Hose: Yes

Touchless Sensor: Yes

Pull Down Hose: Yes

360-Degree Rotation: Yes

Check Price

VAPSINT Best Modern Pull Down Kitchen Faucet

Lead-Free: Yes

Rust-Resistant: Yes

Hot Hose: Yes

Touchless Sensor: No

Pull Down Hose: Yes

360-Degree Rotation: Yes

Check Price

Delta Essa Single-Handle Kitchen Pull-Down Faucet

Lead-Free: Yes

Rust-Resistant: Yes

Hot Hose: Yes

Touchless Sensor: Yes

Pull Down Hose: Yes

360-Degree Rotation: Yes

Check Price

Friho Modern Commercial Lead-Free Kitchen Sink Faucet

Friho specializes in making great quality kitchen faucets that still remain relatively affordable (when compared to other high-quality faucets). This Friho faucet is no exception to that rule. Even though this faucet costs a lot less than many other high-end kitchen faucets, it’s still more than worthy of being included alongside the other best kitchen faucets 2020.

For starters, any review of the Friho has to mention its solid, durable construction. The faucet may not be all that expensive, but you can tell that when it came to the actual construction of the faucet, no expense was spared.

The faucet’s mold is made of solid brass, this provides a great foundation for the Friho. The actual faucet itself is made using very high-end stainless steel. All of this is finished off with a great looking nickel finish, which looks great in any modern kitchen. If you want a more rustic look, you can also get the same faucet, except with an oiled bronze finish.

What does this high-quality construction mean? Well, for starters, it means that keeping the faucet looking great is simple. Buffing the exterior and keeping it looking sleek is as simple as wiping it a few times with a cloth. It also means that the Friho is resistant to both rust and corrosion.

The Friho is a one-hole installation faucet, which means that it’s very easy and very quick to install, especially when compared to certain other faucets, which can have three holes or more. Hooking it up to your water line is also deceptively simple.

Like pretty much every other high-end faucet featured in the best kitchen faucets 2020 article, it comes with a pull-down head and the ability to switch between a steady stream of water and a rinsing spray just by pressing a button on the head of the faucet.

Pros

Simple, yet durable construction.
Comes in either sleek nickel finish or rustic oiled bronze.
Easy to install.
90-day money back guarantee and lifetime warranty.
Affordable.

Cons

Faucet is high arching, making it unsuitable for certain kinds of sinks.

Friho Lead-Free Commercial Brushed Nickel Stainless Steel Pull Down Kitchen Sink Faucet

This is the second Friho faucet being featured on this list has quite a bit in common with the other Friho faucet that we just reviewed. However, there are enough differences (as you will see in this short review) to warrant both being considered as some of the best kitchen faucets 2020. It is also quite eco friendly, so that is a great asset right off the bat.

Let’s start by talking about a few of the many good similarities between the two Friho faucets. For starters, this Friho faucet is constructed using the same methods as the previous model that we talked about.

This means it has the same solid mixture of brass and stainless-steel, and it also means that it has the same nickel finish. We already talked about these benefits in more detail in the previous review, so we won’t repeat those same points.

Both Friho faucets also have a pull-down head with buttons that allow you to quickly switch between a heavy spray and a continuous stream.

However, as mentioned earlier, there are some key differences between the two Friho faucets. This Friho faucet has a very different look to it. It’s a bit more modern looking, but it’s still got a very universal appeal and it works in most kitchens.

Another very useful feature of this Friho faucet is the use of ceramic disks inside the faucet. Ceramic disks are some of the most durable disks that you can use in a faucet. These help to regulate water flow, and more importantly, they prevent leaking.

Finally, it should also be mentioned that this Friho faucet doesn’t have a high arching design, this means that it can work in basically any size sink.

Pros

Modern and unique looking design.
Great construction that will last a lifetime.
Uses ceramic disks to prevent leaking.
Easily cleaned nozzle.

Cons

Water pressure is a bit lower than you are used to.

Moen Arbor Motionsense Two-Sensor Touchless One-Handle High Arc Pulldown Kitchen Faucet

So far, we’ve only looked at manually controlled faucets. But, no best kitchen faucets 2020 list would be complete without mentioning at least one motion sensor-controlled faucet.

Although they aren’t for everyone, motion sensor-controlled faucets can be incredibly useful. They make it possible to use your faucet easily while having your hands full. They also prevent you from having to dirty your faucet by touching it with dirty hands.

The Moen Arbor is pretty great as far as motion sensor-controlled faucets go. Motion controls can always be a bit hit or miss. Anyone who’s ever used motion-controlled faucets in public bathrooms can attest to how spotty the controls can be. That’s not the case with high-end motion-controlled faucets, which includes the Moen Arbor.

The motion controls are always very responsive (assuming the batteries still have power in them); so, you don’t have to wave your hands in front of the controls a hundred times for the faucet to work. Likewise, the Moen Arbor also has two sensors, both in very helpful locations (directly in front of the faucet and on top of the nozzle).

In terms of style, the Moen Arbor comes in three distinct styles. The default chrome is sleek, stylish, and very modern looking. The spot resistant stainless-steel provides great protection against scuffs, while also giving your faucet a classic look. Finally, there is the oiled bronze, which is perfect for giving your kitchen a unique or retro look to it.

When it comes to functionality, the Moen Arbor performs just as well as any other high-end faucet. The pull-down head is easy to use, and you can easily switch between spray and stream mode by pressing a button on the nozzle. The faucet’s water pressure is perfectly fine as well.

Pros

Responsive motion sensor controls.
Easy installation thanks to Duralock quick connect system.
Comes in three different styles to fit any kitchen.
Provides more water pressure than previous Moen faucets.

Cons

Pricey.

VAPSINT Best Modern Commercial Lead-Free Pull Down Sprayer Brushed Nickel Kitchen Faucet

This is the only VAPSINT faucet that we are considering to be apart of the best kitchen faucets 2020, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that that’s because they make subpar faucets. In fact, VAPSINT is well-known for making great quality faucets. This particular faucet carries on that tradition, which is why we are including it.

Picking where to start with the VAPSINT is hard since it has a lot of good points that should be mentioned. So, let’s start with the most obvious thing about the VAPSINT, it’s unique look. Unlike a lot of other faucets, which opt for a fairly standard look (solid metal covering the hose), the VAPSINT uses a more unique look where the hose of the faucet is visible and covered by metal rings. The only other faucet that has this look the best kitchen faucets 2020 list, is the second Friho kitchen faucet.

Unlike a lot of other faucets, the VAPSINT opts for a straight down style, as opposed to an arched style. This is good because it means that you can use it on any size sink. High-arched style faucets aren’t inherently bad, but they don’t work on smaller sinks and they tend to splash a lot when used.

Another great feature of the VAPSINT is its easy to clean rubber nozzle. Nozzles on faucets are subject to mineral and hard water build-up. Usually, this is very difficult to clean. But, with the VAPSINT, it’s as easy as just wiping away the mineral build-up with your finger or with a cloth.

The pull-down head provides close to 24” of reach. When combined with the ability of the faucet to be rotated 360-degrees, it makes the VAPSINT faucet very flexible and very easy to use.
Overall, this is a great faucet, and definitely more than deserving of being mentioned alongside the other best kitchen faucets 2020.

Pros

Unique looking modern design.
Affordable given the quality of the faucet.
Easy to clean rubber nozzle.
Pull-down head provides close to 24” of reach.

Cons

Can be tricky to install.

Best Kitchen Faucets 2020 Pro Pick: Delta Essa Single-Handle Kitchen Pull-Down Faucet

So, what’s so good about the Delta Essa Faucet that it can be reasonably considered to be better than the other best kitchen faucets 2020? Well, let’s begin with one of the Delta Essa’s best points, its solid construction.

Nothing ruins a perfectly good day worse than a leaky faucet. Leaky faucets, more often than not, are caused by subpar construction. While the exterior of a faucet may look solid, the internal components may not be of the same quality, which often leads to leaking.

That is not the case with the Delta Essa. Every part of this faucet inside and out is made using the highest quality components. It boasts “diamond seal technology,’’ which Delta says will keep the faucet good and leak-free for at least five million uses. If that wasn’t enough, you also gain access to Delta’s lifetime warranty, so if something does go wrong with the faucet, you’re covered.

Actually using the Delta faucet is great and very intuitive. It rotates 360-degrees (as all good faucets should), so you can use it on any part of your sink, no matter how large it is. Likewise, the pull-down head is very easy to use.

You simply pull it out, pick which mode that you want (you can easily switch between stream and spray by pressing a button on the head of the faucet), and that’s it. When you’re done with the faucet, you can simply put the head back and let the magnetized docking system snap the head back into the place. It should also be mentioned that the pull-down head provides a solid 20” of reach and is very flexible.

Maintenance of the Delta is simple as well. Mineral build-up can be cleaned with just your finger, while the exterior can be cleaned with just a simple wipe as it’s resistant to scuffs and scratches.

Pros

Great design, resistant to leaking.
Backed up by a lifetime warranty.
Easy to clean exterior.
Faucet makes it easy to scrape away mineral build-up.
Magnetic docking head.

Cons

The handle can be very stiff.

Want To Know How To Buy The Best Kitchen Faucet? Use Our Buying Guide.

So, in our best kitchen faucets 2020 list, we covered a lot of different kinds of faucets in the hopes of giving everyone at least one faucet that they could use in their kitchen, no matter how particular their tastes and preferences are. However, we also recognize that many of you out there may not like the faucets that we picked for our best kitchen faucets 2020 list.

However, don’t worry because we aren’t leaving you out to dry. To help those who want to shop for a faucet of their own we’ve decided to make this helpful buying guide. In this guide, you’ll get all the information that you need to pick out a faucet of your own.

You’ll learn about all the different styles, features, and other information that one needs to make an informed purchase when it comes to kitchen faucets.

Know the Pros and Cons of the Different Kinds of Faucets

Single Handle Faucets

The single handled faucet is the primary type of kitchen faucet. Every faucet on the best kitchen faucets 2020 list is single handled because single handled faucets are generally better for use in kitchens, as we will explain shortly. Single handle faucets can either have a completely stationary head, or they can come with a pull-down head for easier rinsing.

Two Handle Faucets

Two handle faucets have a separate handle for hot and cold, as opposed to one for both temperatures. They are generally less common in kitchens (although some people do prefer them to single handled faucets) and more common in restroom sinks and in showers.

Motion Sensor-Controlled Faucets

We only featured one motion sensor-controlled faucet on the best kitchen faucets 2020 list, but make no mistake about it, these can be incredibly useful. When you’re cooking or when your hands are dirty, it’s incredibly helpful to be able to simply move your hands in front of the faucet and have the water start flowing. All motion sensor-controlled faucets generally come with a handle that can also operate the faucet when the batteries run out.

These are the three main kinds of kitchen faucets that you will need to consider when shopping for one. There are other kinds of faucets out there, but they aren’t really suited to be your main kitchen faucet, and they are really only relevant if you plan on adding extra sinks to your kitchen.

So, why are single handled faucets the best? Well, for starters, they are simply easier to install because they only have one handle. They’re also quite a bit cheaper than other kinds of faucets as well.

Really, the only downside to single handled faucets is that it’s a bit difficult to get the exact temperature that you want with only a single handle. But, this doesn’t end up being too much of a problem because you generally aren’t washing your hands a lot with a kitchen faucet, so precise temperature adjustment isn’t necessary.

Know About the Different Finishes

Kitchen faucets come in a variety of finishes. Many of the faucets we’ve featured on the best kitchen faucets 2020 list come in several different finishes. Nickel finishes (which are extremely common) tend to look a lot sleeker. On the other hand, stainless-steel finishes and oiled bronze finishes can be good when you’re going for a more unique look.

Although at first what finish your faucet has may seem like an entirely stylistic concern, finishes do serve an actual purpose. Certain kinds of finishes are better at warding off rust and/or corrosion, which are big worries with any kitchen faucet. Generally speaking, nickel finishes tend to be the best option if you really want your faucet to have the maximum amount of protection against rust.

Extras

After you’ve considered what type of faucet and finish you’d like, you can start considering what minor extras that you want.

Do you want a magnetic lock for the pull-down head? Do you want the nozzle to be easy to clean? It’s hard to write what to look for because it comes down to personal taste and how much you are willing to spend on a faucet.

Conclusion

We hope that you found this buying guide to be a helpful addition to our best kitchen faucets 2020 list. Finding the best kitchen faucet for your home can be a difficult and time-consuming prospect.

But, it’s a lot easier when you have all the necessary knowledge and facts before you start shopping. Do you think we missed any useful tips? Do you think that we missed a particular good faucet that should have been included on our list? If so, we encourage you to go ahead and leave a comment or two. Both us and the other readers on this site look forward to reading what you have to say.