The short version

• Honing does not sharpen.
• Sharpening removes metal and creates a new edge.
• Honing only helps if an edge already exists. 

If a knife feels dull after honing, it’s usually because the edge itself is worn away (rounded), not just bent.

What honing actually does

Honing is best thought of as edge alignment. Over time, the very thin edge of a knife can bend or fold slightly during use. A honing rod or light maintenance tool can help straighten that edge so it cuts more cleanly again.

When honing works, the results are immediate. The knife feels smoother. Cutting feels easier. Nothing dramatic, just better.

But honing only works if there’s still enough edge left to realign.

What sharpening actually does

Sharpening is the process of removing material to form a new cutting edge. Over time, regular use slowly wears the edge away. No amount of honing can bring back metal that’s already gone.

Sharpening restores the apex of the blade. It resets performance. This is why sharpening often feels like a bigger change than honing, it is.

Why honing stops working over time

Early in a knife’s life, honing can be very effective. But as the edge wears and rounds off, there’s less structure left to straighten.

At that point, honing may still feel initially productive but it won’t deliver lasting improvement. The knife may feel slightly better for a meal or two, then slide right back into frustration.

Common signs your knife needs sharpening (not honing)

• The knife still struggles after honing
• Tomato and pepper skins resist instead of yielding
• Onions crush or slip instead of slicing cleanly
• You find yourself adding pressure to cut
• The edge feels inconsistent along the blade

Maintenance vs sharpening: how they work together

Honing and sharpening aren’t competitors. They’re partners, working at different stages.

• Maintenance (honing or light edge refreshing): extends the useful life of an edge
• Sharpening: restores performance when maintenance is no longer enough

Used together, they reduce how aggressively knives need to be sharpened and help preserve geometry over time.

Why people get stuck in the honing loop

Most kitchens own a honing rod. Fewer have a sharpening system they trust. So when knives feel dull, people reach for the only tool they have, even if it’s no longer the right one.

This leads to the belief that “my knives don’t hold an edge,” when in reality, they’re overdue for proper sharpening.

What actually keeps knives feeling good long-term

Knives stay easiest to use when sharpening happens before frustration peaks. Light maintenance helps, but it doesn’t replace scheduled sharpening.

The kitchens with the best-performing knives aren’t doing anything extreme. They just avoid waiting too long.

Where to go next

• See how scheduled sharpening keeps knives consistently sharp →
• Learn more about knife care and maintenance →
• Use our one-time mail-in sharpening service →

Bottom line

If honing no longer makes your knife feel good to use, that’s not a failure. It’s a signal. Sharpening restores what honing can’t and when both are used at the right time, knives stay predictable, safer, and far more enjoyable in the kitchen. And the whole thing can be put on subscription now.