Americans Reveal Their Knife Sharpening IQ Just In Time For Springtime Chopping, Slicing And Dicing!

HOT SPRINGS, Ark., April 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As spring approaches and an abundance of fresh fruits and veggies fill the aisles at local grocery stores and farmer's markets, millions of Americans will break out their knives as they gear-up for some healthy, warm-weather cooking.  In preparation for this bountiful season, KitchenIQ – makers of award-winning knife sharpeners and kitchen tools – conducted a nationwide "Knife Sharpening IQ" survey to gauge the level of expertise Americans have when it comes to knife sharpening.  And it turns out a majority are in need of some help!

Of the 1200+ men and women surveyed, 57% were deemed as "Need Some Honing" – meaning they had a small amount of knowledge about knife sharpening.  Nearly 35% were considered a "Diamond in the Rough" – and responded incorrectly to more than two-thirds of the survey.  The survey consisted of a variety of questions designed to uncover participants' sharpening IQ – covering topics like What is a Paring Knife used for? to Which Material is Best for Sharpening a Very Dull Knife at Home? and What is a Steel used for?  A mere 8% of respondents were considered "Sharp as a Tack" or an expert on knife sharpening.

Although a majority of those surveyed (59%) said they were 'extremely likely' or 'likely' to sharpen their knives at home, more than 50% said they don't own a sharpener, but if they did they would sharpen at home.  Another 21% said they don't know how to sharpen.  A large majority (81%) said the most important thing they look for in a sharpener is ease of use.  That's where KitchenIQ comes in!  Each KitchenIQ sharpener has been meticulous crafted to offer ease of use to consumers at all skill levels.

"A sharp knife is a definite staple in my kitchen," said best-selling cook book author and TV personality Candice Kumai. "Sharp knives are safe, effective and the one kitchen utensil I use on a daily basis. I love my KitchenIQ Edge Grip, it keeps my knives sharp from LA to NYC!"

KitchenIQ offers a variety of knife sharpeners designed for all types of knives and household scissors– including straight, serrated, scissors and Asian/Santoku.  From the wonderfully compact and affordable Edge Grip, which retails for $5.99 to the top-of-the-line Angle Adjustable Electric Sharpener, which retails for $199 – there's something for every budget and skill level.  

Knife Sharpening tips from Kitchen IQ!
Confused on which knife to use for which task, check out the tips below for some guidance. 

• A paring knife should be used to core a tomato or onion, slice a shallot, devein shrimp, hull strawberries and peel any fruits or vegetables.  Any sort of controlled and delicate work will require a paring knife such as cutting shapes or vents in dough, scoring meat, slicing a single clove of garlic or removing the ribs of a jalapeno.
• A serrated knife is helpful when cutting a melon, a loaf of crusty bread and to cut tender (ripened) tomatoes.  This knife also works well on other thick-skinned/tender-flesh fruits like peaches, plums and nectarines.  Sharp teeth on the knife work well when chopping up a block of chocolate into smaller pieces when baking. 
• A chef's knife is an all-purpose knife that is similar in use to a Santoku knife.  Both knives can be used for chopping herbs, mincing numerous cloves of garlic or ginger.  When slicing a roast or turkey, a chef's knife or Santoku can be used in place of a carving knife.  

How do you choose which sharpener is right for you?
Choosing a sharpener depends on your comfort using a sharpener, the number of knives you plan to sharpen and the condition of your knives.  If sharpening is new to you and a little intimidating start with a basic sharpener with fixed angles and slots, such as the Diamond Pro 2-stage Knife Sharpener. These are easy to use and only require a few pulls to touch up an already sharp knife. If your knife is extremely dull or damaged more pulls will be required. For this reason, or if you have a large block of knives investing in an electric sharpener makes sense. An electric sharpener will generally sharpen a dull or damaged knife quicker with less pulls.  For additional tips on using and purchasing the right knife sharpener visit www.kitcheniq.com.  Find out your own knife sharpening IQ by clicking here to take the quiz.

Smith's Consumer Products, Inc. is a leading global provider of consumer goods to the sporting goods, hardware, and housewares markets. The company markets its full line of sharpeners and specialized tools under the brands Smith's®, KitchenIQ™ and FireWire®.  Founded in 1886 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Smith's stellar reputation for innovation and quality is built on a heritage of designing products of great value to its retail partners and consumers. Smith's products are available at leading retailers worldwide.  For more information visit www.smithsproducts.com

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SOURCE KitchenIQ