By KRISTINA VANNI
Ina Garten's Favorite Gadget For Sharpening Knives
Through her book "Cook Like a Pro" and her Barefoot Contessa website, Ina Garten recommends using a professional sharpening station from Chef's Choice for sharpening knives.
Specifically, Garten prefers the Chef's Choice Model 320 Flexhone/Strop Pro Knife Sharpener. The sharpening station is readily available online and can be used at home.
Suitable for straight-edge knives and serrated blades, the sharpener works in two stages. The first is a coarser abrasive to start the sharpening process.
The next stage is finer and uses a polishing technique. Together, these stages achieve the perfect 20-degree angle — an ideal angle that's hard to get with other tools.
The best part about the sharpener is that it costs about $120, while a professional sharpening service could cost $5 to $10 per knife and is normally needed several times a year.