Great question!

When it comes to kitchen knives, sharpness is key. Dull knives can be dangerous because they are less predictable and make cutting and slicing difficult. Further, dull knives smoosh food and change the flavor of food by tearing it apart. So, is it worth getting knives professionally sharpened? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of professional knife sharpening.

The Benefits of Professional Knife Sharpening

Professional Quality

When you take your knives to a professional for sharpening, you can trust that they will be done well. Professional knife sharpeners have the experience and knowledge to get the job done right. The best ones can repair knives too. Your chips, broken tips and reverse bows will be done for. They will also use high-quality tools and techniques to ensure that your knives are as sharp. The best ones will put a complex edge on the blades so the sharp lasts longer too. 

Time Savings

Sharpening your own knives can be time consuming and difficult if you don’t have the right tools or experience. By taking them to a professional, you can save yourself time and effort while still getting great results.

Safety

Dull knives are more likely to slip while cutting (they don't catch the food), which can lead to accidents or injuries (because the force required is both more and unpredictable as compared with a sharp knife). A professional knife sharpener will make sure your blades are as sharp so that you can work more safely in the kitchen.

Drawbacks of Professional Knife Sharpening

Cost

Taking your knives to a professional for sharpening can be more expensive than doing it yourself, especially if you have multiple blades that need attention. You may find that it’s more cost effective to purchase an at-home knife sharpener instead of paying for professional services each time your blades need attention.

Time

While taking your knives to a professional may save you time in terms of actually sharpening them, it may take longer than doing it yourself at home due to wait times or travel time if the shop is not located nearby. However, it's hard to be good at something you practice a few times a year.

Risk of Damage

If the person who doing the sharpening does not have enough experience or uses improper techniques, there is a risk of damaging your blades beyond repair or making them too dull instead of too sharp! This risk is minimized when using a reputable shop with experienced professionals but should still be taken into consideration before having someone else sharpen your knives for you.

Conclusion

Whether or not it’s worth getting knives professionally sharpened depends on several factors such as cost, convenience, time, skill, safety, and quality of results desired. If you want top-notch results without having to worry about damaging your blades or spending money on tools and supplies and time on learning how to use them then taking knives to a professional may be the best option for you! However, if cost is an issue then purchasing an at-home knife sharpener may be more practical in the long run since it will allow you to sharpen multiple blades without having to pay for each one individually each time they need attention!