We celebrated Thanksgiving last week with my wife's 92-year-old Aunt,
who did a wonderful job preparing a very complete meal - turkey, three
different kind of cranberry relish, and countless vegetable and starch
dishes, all of which were great, and all necessary to feed the large
appetites at the table which included me and our 21- and 17-year-old
boys among a total of 8 people.

But her carving knife didn't do a very good job - she found it difficult
to use, and did my wife and I - so we now are faced with two questions.
Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
none of us know much about knives - and if so, where? Or should we just
buy her a new carving knife for Christmas and, if so, what should we get
her?

Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.

-S-

On 2013-12-02 10:15 AM, Steve Freides wrote:
> We celebrated Thanksgiving last week with my wife's 92-year-old Aunt,
> who did a wonderful job preparing a very complete meal - turkey, three
> different kind of cranberry relish, and countless vegetable and starch
> dishes, all of which were great, and all necessary to feed the large
> appetites at the table which included me and our 21- and 17-year-old
> boys among a total of 8 people.
>
> But her carving knife didn't do a very good job - she found it difficult
> to use, and did my wife and I - so we now are faced with two questions.
> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
> none of us know much about knives - and if so, where? Or should we just
> buy her a new carving knife for Christmas and, if so, what should we get
> her?
>
> Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.
>
>

It costs only a few dollars to get a good knife sharpened. It costs a
lot more to buy a new one, and the new one is going to get dull some
time too.

In article >, says...
>
> We celebrated Thanksgiving last week with my wife's 92-year-old Aunt,
> who did a wonderful job preparing a very complete meal - turkey, three
> different kind of cranberry relish, and countless vegetable and starch
> dishes, all of which were great, and all necessary to feed the large
> appetites at the table which included me and our 21- and 17-year-old
> boys among a total of 8 people.
>
> But her carving knife didn't do a very good job - she found it difficult
> to use, and did my wife and I - so we now are faced with two questions.
> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
> none of us know much about knives - and if so, where?

For many years a travelling tinker called Mac the Knife used to pull
up at our gate once a year, collect all my knives/scissors gardening
tools, and bring them back a few hours later, sharpened and washed (in
the sea). Since he died I get the knives done at friendly local butcher
shop. In between, I use a whetstone (bought from Mac).

Or should we just
> buy her a new carving knife for Christmas and, if so, what should we get
> her?

How about an electric carving knife?

Janet UK

"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
...
> On 2013-12-02 10:15 AM, Steve Freides wrote:
>> We celebrated Thanksgiving last week with my wife's 92-year-old Aunt,
>> who did a wonderful job preparing a very complete meal - turkey, three
>> different kind of cranberry relish, and countless vegetable and starch
>> dishes, all of which were great, and all necessary to feed the large
>> appetites at the table which included me and our 21- and 17-year-old
>> boys among a total of 8 people.
>>
>> But her carving knife didn't do a very good job - she found it difficult
>> to use, and did my wife and I - so we now are faced with two questions.
>> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
>> none of us know much about knives - and if so, where? Or should we just
>> buy her a new carving knife for Christmas and, if so, what should we get
>> her?
>>
>> Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.
>>
>>
>
> It costs only a few dollars to get a good knife sharpened. It costs a lot
> more to buy a new one, and the new one is going to get dull some time too.
>

Agreed, unless her existing carving knife is a POS in its own right.

"Janet" > wrote in message
t...
> In article >, says...
>>
>> We celebrated Thanksgiving last week with my wife's 92-year-old Aunt,
>> who did a wonderful job preparing a very complete meal - turkey, three
>> different kind of cranberry relish, and countless vegetable and starch
>> dishes, all of which were great, and all necessary to feed the large
>> appetites at the table which included me and our 21- and 17-year-old
>> boys among a total of 8 people.
>>
>> But her carving knife didn't do a very good job - she found it difficult
>> to use, and did my wife and I - so we now are faced with two questions.
>> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
>> none of us know much about knives - and if so, where?
>
> For many years a travelling tinker called Mac the Knife used to pull
> up at our gate once a year, collect all my knives/scissors gardening
> tools, and bring them back a few hours later, sharpened and washed (in
> the sea). Since he died I get the knives done at friendly local butcher
> shop. In between, I use a whetstone (bought from Mac).

We had an old geezer with an old milk truck that would do the same. He
would go door to door or leave flyers saying he will be in the neighborhood
on a certain day. Then he would run an extension cord from a neighbor's
garage and set up shop. I saw a lot of sparks flying off his grinding
wheel. I never needed his work, but then I started hearing a number of
complaints where he ground down a knife or garden shears like a fool. Then
he stopped coming around. Be careful out there. (I sharpen my own with a
tri-stone when needed).

On 2013-12-02 15:15:44 +0000, Steve Freides said:

> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one
> but none of us know much about knives - and if so, where?

I vote to shaprne. Google "knife sharpening". There's likely a number
of concerns nearby that will sharpen your knife.

On 12/2/2013 8:15 AM, Steve Freides wrote:
> But her carving knife didn't do a very good job - she found it difficult
> to use, and did my wife and I - so we now are faced with two questions.
> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
> none of us know much about knives - and if so, where? Or should we just
> buy her a new carving knife for Christmas and, if so, what should we get
> her?
>
> Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.
>
> -S-
>

1.) Yes get it sharpened, you can even buy a home sharpener if you can't
find a knife store.

2.) Depends what you;re going to carve, meat or poultry.

Poultry:

http://www.amazon.com/Henckels-Inter...carving+knives

Meat:

http://www.amazon.com/Zwilling-J-A-H...carving+knives

On 12/2/13 10:15 AM, Steve Freides wrote:

> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
> none of us know much about knives - and if so, where?

Assuming it has a straight rather than serrated edge:

Most decent kitchen shops offer knife sharpening. The usual rate in the
eastern US is $1 per inch of blade length.

If it has a serrated edge, sharpening costs a bit more, and is not
generally as effective.

-- Larry

On 12/2/2013 10:15 AM, Steve Freides wrote:
> We celebrated Thanksgiving last week with my wife's 92-year-old Aunt,
> who did a wonderful job preparing a very complete meal - turkey, three
> different kind of cranberry relish, and countless vegetable and starch
> dishes, all of which were great, and all necessary to feed the large
> appetites at the table which included me and our 21- and 17-year-old
> boys among a total of 8 people.
>
> But her carving knife didn't do a very good job - she found it difficult
> to use, and did my wife and I - so we now are faced with two questions.
> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
> none of us know much about knives - and if so, where? Or should we just
> buy her a new carving knife for Christmas and, if so, what should we get
> her?
>
> Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.
>
> -S-
>
>
Christmas gift. Heh.

First of all, I'm glad your wife's 92 year old aunt put on a spread like
that. Kudos to her!

Secondly, I'll tell you what my 90 year old aunt said about Thanksgiving
this year: she's hanging up her apron. She has cooked big family meals
for a husband, 5 kids, their kids and grandkids every Sunday and every
holiday for decades. She said she's done. It's time for the kids and
the grandkids to step up and do the cooking.

Jill

On 2013-12-02, Steve Freides > wrote:

> Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.

Sounds like the perfect excuse to buy an electric slicer. I've never
used one, myself, but Alton Brown swears by 'em:

http://equipboard.com/items/black-de...?src=name#pros

Wait! I have used a single bladed e-knife. It jes kinda vibrated and
didn't cut fer dammit. Junk. I think the B&D knife is the dbl bladed
type, where the blades saw back and forth from each other.

nb

On 12/2/2013 9:18 AM, notbob wrote:
> On 2013-12-02, Steve Freides > wrote:
>
>> Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.
>
> Sounds like the perfect excuse to buy an electric slicer. I've never
> used one, myself, but Alton Brown swears by 'em:
>
> http://equipboard.com/items/black-de...?src=name#pros
>
> Wait! I have used a single bladed e-knife. It jes kinda vibrated and
> didn't cut fer dammit. Junk. I think the B&D knife is the dbl bladed
> type, where the blades saw back and forth from each other.
>
> nb
>
It is, and you can't get very thin cuts with those.

A real carving knife can do a much better job on more types of meats.

"jmcquown" > wrote in message

> Secondly, I'll tell you what my 90 year old aunt said about Thanksgiving
> this year: she's hanging up her apron. She has cooked big family meals
> for a husband, 5 kids, their kids and grandkids every Sunday and every
> holiday for decades. She said she's done. It's time for the kids and the
> grandkids to step up and do the cooking.

Three cheers for Jill's aunt!!! About time too))) Good for her! I hope
she gets well spoilt now too)


--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

pltrgyst wrote:
> On 12/2/13 10:15 AM, Steve Freides wrote:
>
>> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one
>> but none of us know much about knives - and if so, where?
>
> Assuming it has a straight rather than serrated edge:
>
> Most decent kitchen shops offer knife sharpening. The usual rate in
> the eastern US is $1 per inch of blade length.
>
> If it has a serrated edge, sharpening costs a bit more, and is not
> generally as effective.
>
> -- Larry

That's good to know - about the serrated edge.

Is there any consensus about whether straight or serrated makes a better
carving knife?

-S-

On Monday, December 2, 2013 11:14:42 AM UTC-6, Sqwertz wrote:
>
>
> At 92 years old I would just get her knife sharpened.
>
At 92 she might not be able to handle having her knife sharpened.
>
> -sw

--Bryan sex+

"Steve Freides" > wrote in message
...
> We celebrated Thanksgiving last week with my wife's 92-year-old Aunt, who
> did a wonderful job preparing a very complete meal - turkey, three
> different kind of cranberry relish, and countless vegetable and starch
> dishes, all of which were great, and all necessary to feed the large
> appetites at the table which included me and our 21- and 17-year-old boys
> among a total of 8 people.
>
> But her carving knife didn't do a very good job - she found it difficult
> to use, and did my wife and I - so we now are faced with two questions.
> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
> none of us know much about knives - and if so, where? Or should we just
> buy her a new carving knife for Christmas and, if so, what should we get
> her?
>
> Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.


Sharpen it. Just take it to a knife sharpener. Yoiu can find them online.
Often they work out of hardware stores.



---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com

"Paul M. Cook" > wrote in message
...

> Sharpen it. Just take it to a knife sharpener. Yoiu can find them
> online. Often they work out of hardware stores.

The meat department at some supermarkets do it too. Here in CA, Raley's
will.

Cheri

On 12/2/2013 12:28 PM, Paul M. Cook wrote:
> "Steve Freides" > wrote in message
> ...
>> We celebrated Thanksgiving last week with my wife's 92-year-old Aunt, who
>> did a wonderful job preparing a very complete meal - turkey, three
>> different kind of cranberry relish, and countless vegetable and starch
>> dishes, all of which were great, and all necessary to feed the large
>> appetites at the table which included me and our 21- and 17-year-old boys
>> among a total of 8 people.
>>
>> But her carving knife didn't do a very good job - she found it difficult
>> to use, and did my wife and I - so we now are faced with two questions.
>> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
>> none of us know much about knives - and if so, where? Or should we just
>> buy her a new carving knife for Christmas and, if so, what should we get
>> her?
>>
>> Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.
>
>
> Sharpen it. Just take it to a knife sharpener. Yoiu can find them online.
> Often they work out of hardware stores.
>

Many electric or static knife sharpeners are sold but I have never
gotten good results. Has anyone any recommendations for a knife
sharpener that they actually use themselves? Particularly I'd like to
know if there any that are useful for ceramic knives. A ceramic knife
will slice a ripe tomato when it is new but even it loses its edge.


--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not." in Reply To.

On 12/2/2013 11:31 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>
>
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
>
>> Secondly, I'll tell you what my 90 year old aunt said about Thanksgiving
>> this year: she's hanging up her apron. She has cooked big family meals
>> for a husband, 5 kids, their kids and grandkids every Sunday and every
>> holiday for decades. She said she's done. It's time for the kids and
>> the
>> grandkids to step up and do the cooking.
>
> Three cheers for Jill's aunt!!! About time too))) Good for her! I hope
> she gets well spoilt now too)
>
>
Hopefully no one will give her a carving knife for Christmas.

Jill

"James Silverton" > wrote in message
...
> On 12/2/2013 12:28 PM, Paul M. Cook wrote:
>> "Steve Freides" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> We celebrated Thanksgiving last week with my wife's 92-year-old Aunt,
>>> who
>>> did a wonderful job preparing a very complete meal - turkey, three
>>> different kind of cranberry relish, and countless vegetable and starch
>>> dishes, all of which were great, and all necessary to feed the large
>>> appetites at the table which included me and our 21- and 17-year-old
>>> boys
>>> among a total of 8 people.
>>>
>>> But her carving knife didn't do a very good job - she found it difficult
>>> to use, and did my wife and I - so we now are faced with two questions.
>>> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
>>> none of us know much about knives - and if so, where? Or should we just
>>> buy her a new carving knife for Christmas and, if so, what should we get
>>> her?
>>>
>>> Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.
>>
>>
>> Sharpen it. Just take it to a knife sharpener. Yoiu can find them
>> online.
>> Often they work out of hardware stores.
>>
>
> Many electric or static knife sharpeners are sold but I have never gotten
> good results. Has anyone any recommendations for a knife sharpener that
> they actually use themselves? Particularly I'd like to know if there any
> that are useful for ceramic knives. A ceramic knife will slice a ripe
> tomato when it is new but even it loses its edge.

Ceramic knives require special skills and tools.



---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> On 12/2/2013 11:31 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>
>>
>> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
>>
>>> Secondly, I'll tell you what my 90 year old aunt said about Thanksgiving
>>> this year: she's hanging up her apron. She has cooked big family meals
>>> for a husband, 5 kids, their kids and grandkids every Sunday and every
>>> holiday for decades. She said she's done. It's time for the kids and
>>> the
>>> grandkids to step up and do the cooking.
>>
>> Three cheers for Jill's aunt!!! About time too))) Good for her! I
>> hope
>> she gets well spoilt now too)
>>
>>
> Hopefully no one will give her a carving knife for Christmas.

Yers <g>
--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On 12/2/2013 10:14 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>> Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.
> At 92 years old I would just get her knife sharpened.
>
> -sw

Mr. Sensitivity signs in...

On 12/2/2013 10:18 AM, Steve Freides wrote:
> pltrgyst wrote:
>> On 12/2/13 10:15 AM, Steve Freides wrote:
>>
>>> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one
>>> but none of us know much about knives - and if so, where?
>>
>> Assuming it has a straight rather than serrated edge:
>>
>> Most decent kitchen shops offer knife sharpening. The usual rate in
>> the eastern US is $1 per inch of blade length.
>>
>> If it has a serrated edge, sharpening costs a bit more, and is not
>> generally as effective.
>>
>> -- Larry
>
> That's good to know - about the serrated edge.
>
> Is there any consensus about whether straight or serrated makes a better
> carving knife?
>
> -S-
>
>
Serrated is better on soft meats like roast beef.

On 2013-12-02 17:41:12 +0000, James Silverton said:

> Many electric or static knife sharpeners are sold but I have never
> gotten good results. Has anyone any recommendations for a knife
> sharpener that they actually use themselves?

Yes, see below. We covered this in some topic or other last year.

> Particularly I'd like to know if there any that are useful for ceramic
> knives. A ceramic knife will slice a ripe tomato when it is new but
> even it loses its edge.

Spyderco Sharpmaker. They have the video of their product on youtube.
I use to have the VHS tape that came with the Sharpmaker and lost it so
I was glad I found the youtube. They presernt it in 4 parts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB0r6GvESGg (Introduction, general info)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP9Uc3ZM24Y (Sharpmaker general usage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYFjbwjzK_E (Serrated knife, btw)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vShJbhM0VDo (shop tools)

The information is good regarding sharpening in general. The product is he

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=77

On 2013-12-02 18:02:44 +0000, gtr said:

> On 2013-12-02 17:41:12 +0000, James Silverton said:

>> Particularly I'd like to know if there any that are useful for ceramic
>> knives. A ceramic knife will slice a ripe tomato when it is new but
>> even it loses its edge.

By the way, on your behalf, I talked with Spyderco and they say no, the
Sharpmaker will not sharpen ceramic: "You can't sharpen ceramic with
ceramic". She said you should check with the manufacturer on a way to
sharpen it.

I know that Kyocera is a significant manufacturer of ceramic knives,
how you do it with Kyocera is you send them the knife:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqn7vcByIgo

They sharpent the blade FOR you.

On 2013-12-02, Pearl F. Buck > wrote:

> It is, and you can't get very thin cuts with those.
>
> A real carving knife can do a much better job on more types of meats.

I'm sure a 93 yr old lady couldn't give a rat's ass as to how thin the
slices are. "Eat it, punk!".

nb

On 2013-12-02, Cheri > wrote:
>
> The meat department at some supermarkets do it too. Here in CA, Raley's
> will.

Gotta watch those. Often they jes have the box boy back there on a
power tool grinding divets out of the blade, like they did my
brother's Wusthof Santoku I'd bought him for his birthday. Damn near
ruined the thing.

nb

"notbob" > wrote in message
...
> On 2013-12-02, Pearl F. Buck > wrote:
>
>> It is, and you can't get very thin cuts with those.
>>
>> A real carving knife can do a much better job on more types of meats.
>
> I'm sure a 93 yr old lady couldn't give a rat's ass as to how thin the
> slices are. "Eat it, punk!".


lol

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"notbob" > wrote in message
...
> On 2013-12-02, Cheri > wrote:
>>
>> The meat department at some supermarkets do it too. Here in CA, Raley's
>> will.
>
> Gotta watch those. Often they jes have the box boy back there on a
> power tool grinding divets out of the blade, like they did my
> brother's Wusthof Santoku I'd bought him for his birthday. Damn near
> ruined the thing.
>
> nb


Not at the Raley's here, but I imagine you have to watch out for just about
anything done anywhere. There are always exceptions and screw ups. Be
vigilant. :-)

Cheri

On 12/2/2013 11:35 AM, notbob wrote:
> On 2013-12-02, Pearl F. Buck > wrote:
>
>> It is, and you can't get very thin cuts with those.
>>
>> A real carving knife can do a much better job on more types of meats.
>
> I'm sure a 93 yr old lady couldn't give a rat's ass as to how thin the
> slices are. "Eat it, punk!".
>
> nb
>

At that age a thinner cut is easier on the teeth.

"Pearl F. Buck" > wrote in message
...
> On 12/2/2013 11:35 AM, notbob wrote:
>> On 2013-12-02, Pearl F. Buck > wrote:
>>
>>> It is, and you can't get very thin cuts with those.
>>>
>>> A real carving knife can do a much better job on more types of meats.
>>
>> I'm sure a 93 yr old lady couldn't give a rat's ass as to how thin the
>> slices are. "Eat it, punk!".
>>
>> nb
>>
>
> At that age a thinner cut is easier on the teeth.

WHAT teeth?

On 12/2/2013 12:38 PM, Pico Rico wrote:
> "Pearl F. Buck" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 12/2/2013 11:35 AM, notbob wrote:
>>> On 2013-12-02, Pearl F. Buck > wrote:
>>>
>>>> It is, and you can't get very thin cuts with those.
>>>>
>>>> A real carving knife can do a much better job on more types of meats.
>>>
>>> I'm sure a 93 yr old lady couldn't give a rat's ass as to how thin the
>>> slices are. "Eat it, punk!".
>>>
>>> nb
>>>
>>
>> At that age a thinner cut is easier on the teeth.
>
> WHAT teeth?
>
>
She had enough to make a turkey dinner it seems.

On Mon, 2 Dec 2013 10:15:44 -0500, "Steve Freides" >
wrote:

>
> But her carving knife didn't do a very good job - she found it difficult
> to use, and did my wife and I - so we now are faced with two questions.
> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
> none of us know much about knives - and if so, where? Or should we just
> buy her a new carving knife for Christmas and, if so, what should we get
> her?
>
> Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.

Sharpen the one she has, that way she will feel comfortable when she
uses it. Have you Googled "knife sharpening" plus your area name? I
would advise against taking it to the butcher shop and having their
service do it because my knives came back horribly chewed up after I
tried that route. Their knives are just a tool that can be replaced
and written off as part of the cost of doing business, but we form
relationships with our knives and treat them better than that.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On 2013-12-02 10:38 AM, Pico Rico wrote:
> "Dave Smith" > wrote in message

>>> But her carving knife didn't do a very good job - she found it difficult
>>> to use, and did my wife and I - so we now are faced with two questions.
>>> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
>>> none of us know much about knives - and if so, where? Or should we just
>>> buy her a new carving knife for Christmas and, if so, what should we get
>>> her?
>>>
>>> Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> It costs only a few dollars to get a good knife sharpened. It costs a lot
>> more to buy a new one, and the new one is going to get dull some time too.
>>
>
> Agreed, unless her existing carving knife is a POS in its own right.
>
>


OP said they thought it was a good one.
There are lots of fancy carving knives out there that aren't very good.
My wife bought me a nice looking fancy carving set because she didn't
think my Henkle was suitable for entertaining. I hate that thing. Looks
nice, but doesn't do the job.

On 2013-12-02 12:41 PM, James Silverton wrote:
> On 12/2/2013 12:28 PM, Paul M. Cook wrote:
>> "Steve Freides" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> We celebrated Thanksgiving last week with my wife's 92-year-old Aunt,
>>> who
>>> did a wonderful job preparing a very complete meal - turkey, three
>>> different kind of cranberry relish, and countless vegetable and starch
>>> dishes, all of which were great, and all necessary to feed the large
>>> appetites at the table which included me and our 21- and 17-year-old
>>> boys
>>> among a total of 8 people.
>>>
>>> But her carving knife didn't do a very good job - she found it difficult
>>> to use, and did my wife and I - so we now are faced with two questions.
>>> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
>>> none of us know much about knives - and if so, where? Or should we just
>>> buy her a new carving knife for Christmas and, if so, what should we get
>>> her?
>>>
>>> Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.
>>
>>
>> Sharpen it. Just take it to a knife sharpener. Yoiu can find them
>> online.
>> Often they work out of hardware stores.
>>
>
> Many electric or static knife sharpeners are sold but I have never
> gotten good results. Has anyone any recommendations for a knife
> sharpener that they actually use themselves? Particularly I'd like to
> know if there any that are useful for ceramic knives. A ceramic knife
> will slice a ripe tomato when it is new but even it loses its edge.
>
>

My ceramic knives are close to 15 years old. A few years ago I got a
little hand held sharpener specifically for touching up ceramic knives.
I occasionally run my knives through it and they will still cut ripe
tomatoes.

On 2013-12-02 12:44 PM, jmcquown wrote:
> On 12/2/2013 11:31 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>
>>
>> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
>>
>>> Secondly, I'll tell you what my 90 year old aunt said about Thanksgiving
>>> this year: she's hanging up her apron. She has cooked big family meals
>>> for a husband, 5 kids, their kids and grandkids every Sunday and every
>>> holiday for decades. She said she's done. It's time for the kids and
>>> the
>>> grandkids to step up and do the cooking.
>>
>> Three cheers for Jill's aunt!!! About time too))) Good for her! I
>> hope
>> she gets well spoilt now too)
>>
>>
> Hopefully no one will give her a carving knife for Christmas.
>

LOL... thinking about a comedy routine lately about people that age and
how they shouldn't go to stores to buy anything because anything they
buy is likely to outlast them.

On Mon, 2 Dec 2013 10:15:44 -0500, "Steve Freides" >
wrote:

>We celebrated Thanksgiving last week with my wife's 92-year-old Aunt,
>who did a wonderful job preparing a very complete meal - turkey, three
>different kind of cranberry relish, and countless vegetable and starch
>dishes, all of which were great, and all necessary to feed the large
>appetites at the table which included me and our 21- and 17-year-old
>boys among a total of 8 people.
>
>But her carving knife didn't do a very good job - she found it difficult
>to use, and did my wife and I - so we now are faced with two questions.
>Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one but
>none of us know much about knives - and if so, where? Or should we just
>buy her a new carving knife for Christmas and, if so, what should we get
>her?
>
>Any comments and suggestions appreciated, and thanks in advance.

Buy her a knife steel.

On 12/2/2013 12:18 PM, Steve Freides wrote:
> pltrgyst wrote:
>> On 12/2/13 10:15 AM, Steve Freides wrote:
>>
>>> Should we get her carving knife sharpened - we think it's a good one
>>> but none of us know much about knives - and if so, where?
>>
>> Assuming it has a straight rather than serrated edge:
>>
>> Most decent kitchen shops offer knife sharpening. The usual rate in
>> the eastern US is $1 per inch of blade length.
>>
>> If it has a serrated edge, sharpening costs a bit more, and is not
>> generally as effective.
>>
>> -- Larry
>
> That's good to know - about the serrated edge.
>
> Is there any consensus about whether straight or serrated makes a better
> carving knife?
>
> -S-
>
>
That depends on who you ask. I was just looking at an offset serrated
knife. It's touted as a bread knife but also can be used for things
like cutting through hard-shelled winter squash or melons in the summer.
For meat? No, I wouldn't go with a serrated knife. You want a blade
that can be kept honed with a steel. One that only rarely needs
"professional" sharpening.

Jill

On Mon, 2 Dec 2013 09:21:49 -0800 (PST), Bryan-TGWWW
> wrote:

> On Monday, December 2, 2013 11:14:42 AM UTC-6, Sqwertz wrote:
> >
> >
> > At 92 years old I would just get her knife sharpened.
> >
> At 92 she might not be able to handle having her knife sharpened.
> >

You're probably right, she could cut herself pretty badly with a truly
sharp edge. Maybe bringing a sharpening stone over and passing the
knife over it a few times would do the trick.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On 12/2/2013 5:20 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2013-12-02 12:44 PM, jmcquown wrote:
>> On 12/2/2013 11:31 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
>>>
>>>> Secondly, I'll tell you what my 90 year old aunt said about
>>>> Thanksgiving
>>>> this year: she's hanging up her apron. She has cooked big family meals
>>>> for a husband, 5 kids, their kids and grandkids every Sunday and every
>>>> holiday for decades. She said she's done. It's time for the kids and
>>>> the
>>>> grandkids to step up and do the cooking.
>>>
>>> Three cheers for Jill's aunt!!! About time too))) Good for her! I
>>> hope
>>> she gets well spoilt now too)
>>>
>>>
>> Hopefully no one will give her a carving knife for Christmas.
>>
>
> LOL... thinking about a comedy routine lately about people that age and
> how they shouldn't go to stores to buy anything because anything they
> buy is likely to outlast them.
>
Too true! I have to wonder about "lifetime warranties". Whose lifetime
are they talking about?

Jill

On Mon, 02 Dec 2013 17:19:19 -0500, Dave Smith
> wrote:

> My ceramic knives are close to 15 years old. A few years ago I got a
> little hand held sharpener specifically for touching up ceramic knives.

Can you give us a few more details, so we can google for it?

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.