You might not think so, but the safest knife is a sharp knife. The duller a knife's blade, the harder you have to work, the more force you have to exert, and the more likely you'll lose control of the blade and nick a finger. Not to mention a dull knife will tear herbs instead of chop, will crush fragile tomatoes instead of slice. A consistent, safe (and satisfying!) kitchen experience requires a sharp knife, a sharp knife requires proper care, and a honing rod can provide that care in just seconds.
Regular knife use inevitably causes the blade's edge to curl on the microscopic level, which results in poor performance and more difficult, less safe cuts. Running the blade's length along the honing rod will re-align the blade to its original sharpness, but ceramic honing rods have the added benefit of actually being harder than knife steel! This means that each pass on a ceramic rod actually gently abrades the knife, removing steel and actually sharpening in addition to honing. Using a honing rod regularly as part of food preparation will extend the lifespan of your knives considerably.
This ceramic honing rod is 12" long with an 8" rod, which is an ideal size for knives up to 8" long. Ceramic rods pair well with ultra-hard, brittle knives, and work wonders on high-quality Asian blades that typically require a sharpening stone. The ergonomic handle supports both horizontal and vertical grips when honing, and the handle's flared design keeps fingers protected. When not in use, the rod can be easily hung from its loop for no-hassle storage.
