Mercer Culinary M14412 Sharpening Steel

This is a honing tool. While it is often referred to as a sharpening steel, its primary purpose is to realign the microscopic edge of your knife blade rather than remove metal to create a new edge.

Ceramic is harder than standard steel, which allows it to be more effective at realigning the edges of harder, high-carbon steel knives. It provides a slightly more aggressive honing action than a smooth steel rod.

No, you should hand-wash this tool. The ceramic material can be brittle, and the harsh environment of a dishwasher could cause it to chip or crack.

The 12-inch length is versatile enough for most standard kitchen knives, including chef's knives up to 10 inches. It provides ample surface area to hone the entire length of the blade in one smooth motion.

For home cooks, using it every few times you use your knife is usually sufficient to keep the edge aligned. If you are in a professional kitchen, you may want to use it before each shift or whenever you feel the knife's performance start to dip.