For my money THE most important Veteran Tool in my kitchen is my mini-sharpener. Just to be clear, I am not being paid for this recommendation… I LOVE my Smith’s mini sharpener. I’ve tried many different kinds over the years and all worked more or less as advertised but nothing as handy and quick as my 2-Step Sharpener. This terrific, portable tool provides coarse and fine stage sharpening for almost all types of standard edge knives.

Starting out as a small Arkansas stone company, Smith’s is now a market leader in the knife and scissor sharpening category. I got mine at a local big-box home improvement store… Lowes… more than 5 years ago but, I see that it’s just as easy to order online from a variety of sources. The company offers a very wide range of sharpening products but these little gems are all a good home cook needs to keep a clean, sharp edge on all your favourite knives. It fits in the palm of your hand, is brightly colored so, it’s easy to locate in a drawer. And, it sells for under $20!

Sharp knives are a must for every cook because they’re safer to use. Even the best quality knives make cooking a chore if they’re allowed to go dull. This simple device makes keeping a keen edge on your cutlery a snap. In just a few passes the carbide notch knocks off any nicks that may have formed in normal use. Then, just a few more strokes across the ceramic edge really puts the finishing touch on and you’re ready to go.