The warmer months are rapidly approaching, and with them, the alluring scents produced from barbecuing. Producing the mouthwatering waft of freshly grilled meats is the easy part; creating something that doesn’t result in a violent battle between teeth and meat is, and an appropriate word to use would be ‘tougher’. This is where the latest incarnation of the Tormek T-1 knife sharpener comes into play.

Creating the perfect foods at a barbecue is often likened to an art form. It involves a skilful combination of patience, attention, wood, smoke, and meat. Whether you’re cooking whole cuts or burgers and sausages, a few simple rules for barbecuing, which, if followed, will help take the results of your labour to the next level.

Get the fuel, heat, meat, seasoning, and resting right, and you’re on to a winner. But what else is crucial to achieving flame-grilled perfection?

The type/quality of the meat is an important factor. Cheap cuts are best suited to slow, indirect cooking or smoking, while prime cuts benefit from faster, more direct cooking. But why spend good money on quality T-Bone, Rump and Sirloin steak, take the time to season and rest it well, and then not have the perfectly sharpened knife to slice it to perfection?

During the past five decades, Tormek has perfected the art of knife-sharpening, helping to maintain woodworkers’ tools and ensuring that commercial kitchens have the ideal tools for the trade. The company is now bringing its commercial experience into the home with its T-1, the first premium kitchen knife sharpener for the home, which is now available in a rather ‘swanky’ carbon black colour.

About the New Carbon Black Tormek T-1 Knife Sharpener
The T-1 is quick, easy, clean and quiet, and it is capable of precisely sharpening blades of any length. Based on the innovative sharpening system developed for professional kitchens, it effortlessly delivers a razor-sharp and durable cutting edge, and the angle won’t dull after every use.

The sleek industrial design comes fully assembled with a solid oak handle, CARBON BLACK powder-coated zinc body, diamond grinding wheel and composite honing wheel.

Tormek has 50 years of expertise in tool sharpening for woodworkers and over 35 years in knife sharpening for commercial kitchens. The Tormek T-1 Kitchen Knife Sharpener is the first premium kitchen knife sharpener designed for the home and is available in NEW CARBON BLACK.

Quick, easy, clean and quiet, it precisely sharpens blades of any length. Based on the innovative sharpening system developed for professional kitchens, the Tormek T-1 Kitchen Knife Sharpener effortlessly produces a razor-sharp and durable cutting edge, and the angle won’t dull after every use.

The sleek industrial design comes fully assembled with a solid oak handle, CARBON BLACK powder-coated zinc body, diamond grinding wheel and composite honing wheel.

Using the T-1 Knife Sharpener

Set the Preferred Bevel Angle
You can set any angle between 8 and 22 degrees. However, if you are unsure, 15 degrees is a good starting point. A small angle will cut more easily, while a large angle will give a stronger edge.

Sharpening on Both Sides
The fine-grained diamond grinding wheel sharpens all types of steel, including ceramic knives, to professional sharpness. The low speed means that there’s minimal steel wear.

Insert the clean, dry knife into the guide. Follow the knife’s shape and apply only gentle pressure. A magnet in the patented guide collects the steel particles, keeping the grinding wheel clean.

Getting a Razor-sharp Finish
Simply remove the burr* and polish both sides of the knife on the honing wheel.

*After sharpening, a ‘burr’ is created, which needs to be honed off to obtain a sharp and durable edge.

Unlike some alternatives, the Tormek T-1 sharpens the entire bevel of the knife, not just the outer edge. Because the bevels can be sharpened separately, there’s the option to set different edge angles on each side of the blade or sharpen just one side, which is particularly useful for more advanced knives.

As you would expect from a Scandinavian product, the T-1 Knife Sharpener is designed to last, and for your peace of mind, it comes with an eight-year warranty.

The new Carbon Black Tormek T-1 Kitchen Knife Sharpener has an RRP of £330 and is available from shop.tormek.com.