A good kitchen knife is the key to beautifully cut dishes and a satisfied cook. The correct device is considered to be the one that performs its main function - cutting and not breaking food. But after long-term operation even professional models are losing their edge. Then the need for musat arises.

What it is?

Musat – hand tool for straightening knives, which allows you to maintain the presentable appearance of the knife and extend its service life. to his appearance it resembles an ordinary semicircular file. Depending on the application, musats are classified into the following types.

• Household– from 18 to 23 cm. Practiced for sharpening ordinary kitchen knives.
• Universal– from 26 to 29 cm. Their cost is higher than that of the previous option. They are a must-have for expensive cutters. Suitable for hard blades.
• Professional– from 26 to 36 cm. Used for straightening knives used to cut meat.

Chefs generally prefer to use short musats, 26 cm long.

Varieties

Musats are distinguished by material. For ceramic characterized by a special spraying. On one side there are notches that allow you to process the metal layer of the knife. On the other hand, the surface is smooth - for polishing and straightening. Such a tool is necessary for sharpening old devices or products with a not very durable surface.

Diamond With the tool, you can sharpen the knife, polish the surface and edit in a few movements. For its production, the industry uses special chrome steel, which is characterized by high strength. The outer part is coated with diamond particles. The knife remains sharp for a long time after processing.

Once you have finished working with diamond wax, be sure to rinse it by hand to keep the tool in good condition for a long time.

Metal device made of chrome vanadium steel. It has high hardness and different working surfaces.

Musats are also distinguished by shape, which must be chosen based on main goal. If you need the lightest possible tool, then it is rational to choose round model . To create maximum tight contact with the surface - on oval.

It is believed that the best sharpening results can be obtained when using a flat tool. Tetrahedral instruments are a symbiosis of several types and are necessary in special cases.

For selection quality instrument The following rules must be observed.

• Choose a model in which you can see your own reflection. Professional chefs are guided by this indicator.
• The magnet on the tip of the musat increases the level of comfort of its use. After all, this way you can effortlessly remove dust from the knife.
• To protect fingers from possible damage choose models where there is a guard between the handle and the rod.
• From the materials pay Special attention on ceramics, since such a tool is characterized by durability and excellent sharpening properties without harm to the steel of the knife.

Ceramic musat is fragile, so you need to be very careful with it, since every blow causes chips and cracks.

• Follow the rules for storing tools. If, for example, a diamond tool is stored together with knives and other hard objects, it will quickly become dull.

Before choosing a musat, carefully check the quality of the product and its rating in relation to other models. A good diamond tool will not lose its coating. Ceramic models have no visible mechanical damage. Density steel model uniform, without roughness. And only if these indicators are observed, it is possible to buy the best musat offered by the market.

Subtleties of sharpening

Due to active use, the blades quickly become dull, and the chef can only work efficiently with a very sharp knife. At home, there is also a need to increase the level of knife sharpness. At least the one that is most often used. Buying new models is not profitable from an economic point of view, and it is unwise when there is musat. But for many, it remains idle, because at first glance it is not entirely clear how to use it. Several methods of sharpening knives are practiced.

In midair- a sharpening technique that involves using weighted musat. Thanks to this technique, the knife is sharpened easily and quickly.

First you need to put the knife under small angle, up to a maximum of twenty degrees, relative to the working surface. Then you should sharpen with quick movements, but without unnecessary fuss. Fuss will not speed up the process, and it is quite possible to get hurt.

1. Take the knife in the hand you are used to working with, and place the blade on the bottom of the musat. The cutting surface should be positioned away from you.
2. Run the blade along the musat without moving the tool from the set position.
3. Do not use too much force when working. It is better to do a couple of easy approaches than one, but with more effort.
4. After several such actions, turn the knife over and perform the same actions on the other side.

To sharpen a knife, it is enough to go through the tool about five times. But this is effective for knives that are sharpened regularly. If the accessory is already very dull, then the number of approaches should be doubled.

There is a more simplified option - Calmly. Even a beginner can sharpen a knife using this method. The method involves sharpening using a support - a board or tabletop. This makes it much easier to determine and maintain the correct angle. The operating algorithm is similar to the previous method, but still has some differences.

1. The object should be rested on the table in a vertical position, and then placed at an angle of 20 to 25 degrees.
2. Run the knife across the musat perpendicularly.
3. Move the tool exclusively in an up and down direction. Lift the tool off the surface to lift it up.

Make sure that the knife does not slide on the surface, but is firmly installed - this is the only way to sharpen the tool well. Otherwise, the knife will become dull even faster.

Editing knives

The above device can be useful not only for sharpening kitchen appliances, but also for straightening the blade. To do this, you need to use some recommendations.

1. The musat is installed, as in the case of sharpening, the surface should be non-slip, you can place a towel under the tool.
2. Then you need to tilt the device to the same degree as in the previous case.
3. The tip of the kitchen appliance should be placed on the right - where the rod begins, and drawn from the end to the base. This action must be performed until the blade of the device acquires the required shape.

If you learn how to maintain your kitchen appliances, they will last much longer.

How to determine the effectiveness of musat?

After you have sharpened, you need to check the sharpness of the knife using the following options.

• Paper test. Take a sheet of paper and try to cut a strip from the sheet. This action is easy to perform with a sharp knife. A dull blade will slip or simply tear the paper into uneven and sloppy pieces. For the experiment, use absolutely any sheet. But it is better to take a magazine one, since it is thinner than other types. To cut it, you need a very high-quality sharpening.
• Tomatoes. Every housewife knows that it is impossible to cut tomatoes beautifully with a dull knife, because instead of neat slices you will end up with mush. Try not to put pressure on the vegetable, but simply cut off a small slice from the end. If the blade easily makes beautiful slices, then it is sharp. If sharpened poorly, the knife will simply slide off the surface of the vegetable. And you won’t be able to cut it without making an effort.
• Hair on the arm. For the experiment you need hair on own hand. Run the blade against the hair growth. Be careful not to get hurt. If the blade is really sharp, the hair will be easily cut. And if it’s blunt, then the hair will simply bend.
• Thumb. To use this verification method, you must have certain skills. Move carefully across thumb without touching the very edge to avoid cutting yourself. A sharp blade has a clear edge, while a dull blade has an oval edge.

To prepare a tasty and beautiful dish, you need to pay attention to every little detail, including the sharpness of the knife. During operation, the blade becomes less sharp, and this not only complicates the process of chopping ingredients, but can also cause cuts.

To ensure that this device always remains smooth and sharp, many cooks use musat for knives. This device has become especially popular in Lately, you can use it to straighten and sharpen the blade.

What is knife polish

There are many various instruments for sharpening. These are special stones and other mechanical devices, as well as knife sharpeners powered by electricity. However, among this variety, an increasing number of people choose musats. Why are these tools so popular, and what are they?

Musat for sharpening knives is a special rod made from a sharpening base that is attached to the handle. Such instruments differ mainly in the degree of softness of the material. This indicator determines what the blade will become after using the musat: smooth or rough.

The advantage of musats is that their surface is magnetized. Thanks to this, after sharpening there will be no metal crumbs left in your kitchen; they will “stick” to the tool. To remove them, just wipe the grease with a damp cloth.

Types of musats

Ceramic grinding stone is excellent for sharpening large and wide blades.

It is very important to choose the right tool to ensure the best effect from its use. To do this, first of all you need to pay attention to its purpose. There are such musats:

• for grinding a blade that has already been sharpened;
• for initial sharpening of knife edges.

It is also worth deciding on the material of the musat, which is most often “diamond” or ceramic.

The first type of nuts is made of hard chrome-plated steel, which is then coated with “diamond” sand. Sharpening with the help of such devices occurs very quickly. For excellent result It is enough to just run the rod once along each side of the blade.

“Diamond” musats have many advantages.

Besides, distinguishing feature“diamond” tools – oval shape. It eliminates the possibility of indentations forming on the tip. Even if you accidentally press the nut too hard in one place, there will be no unwanted nicks or grooves left there. At the same time, the sharpening rod made of “diamond” steel is quite rough to “bring back to life” even the most dull blade. After treating the edge with “diamond” musat, it remains sharp and smooth for a long time.

With all its advantages, this kitchen appliance is also very easy to store. It does not require special care. And in order for the musat to last longer, it is enough to follow only two rules: do not put it in the same drawer with other hard objects and wash it by hand, and not in the dishwasher.

A ceramic rod is also used for sharpening and final grinding of cutting surfaces. Such models come in round or oval shape.
Musat made from this material perfectly sharpens large and wide blades. It is even suitable for the “cleaver” used to cut meat. With its help, you can make a heavily worn knife sharper, and it does an excellent job of polishing the blade.

How to properly sharpen knives with musat

Before we talk about the rules for using this tool, it should be noted that musats are intended only for knives with a smooth blade. They cannot be used if the cutting surface is wavy or jagged.

When sharpening a knife with musat, the blade does not become thinner, but only straightens. This is its main difference from other sharpening devices. This feature allows you to use the grinder before each cooking, since even frequent sharpening will not affect the durability of the blade.

How to sharpen knives with musat? Remember that a good effect from using musat is achieved only if you use it correctly. Follow this sequence of actions:

• Place the end of the tool on a non-slip surface. It is best for this to be spread on kitchen table towel.
• During sharpening, hold the knife blade at an angle of 200.
• Run the cutting surface over the musat several times. First from bottom to top, and then forward and backward.
• Repeat the same steps on the other side of the blade.

It is important not to press too hard on the blade while sharpening, otherwise it may gouge.

How many times should you run a knife along the shaft of the musat to ensure that the blade becomes optimally sharp? If you are using a diamond tool, once on each side is enough. And when using a ceramic rod, you need to repeat these movements 3-6 times.

Dressing a knife with musat

To straighten knives you will need some grinding cloth and a non-slip surface.

Musat can be useful not only for sharpening blades, but also for straightening them. How to do it right? There are certain rules for how to sharpen a knife with musat:

• as with sharpening, place the grinder on a non-slip surface (a towel or cutting board is suitable as a “lining”);
• tilt the musat to the left 20–25 degrees;
• place the tip of the knife on the right at the very beginning of the rod and move it from the base to the tip, directing the movement downward;
• do the same with the other side of the slicing device, tilting the musat to the right.

These actions are performed until the knife blade acquires the desired sharpness.

How can you tell if a knife is sharp enough?

After sharpening, you must check whether the blade is sharpened well. To do this, you can use one of these methods:

• Select a strand of hair at the back of your head and press the knife against it at a right angle. Swipe through hair from top to bottom without making sudden movements. If the blade is still dull, it will slip off easily, whereas a sharpened point will stick.
• Take a newspaper or sheet of paper and hold it suspended. In this position, try cutting the sheets: if you succeed, the sharpened knife is already quite sharp.

For many cooks, musat has become an indispensable item in the kitchen. This is due to the fact that it is easy to use, it does not damage knife blades and lasts a very long time if used correctly.

Main performance characteristic kitchen knife- its sharpness. Any chef will agree that there is no more annoying factor when working in the kitchen than a blunt tool that does not cut, but crushes and spoils food. Work turns into torture, and you want to throw the knife somewhere far away. How can you imagine that you will have to sharpen it... This is such a hassle, it is much easier to use another knife. Well, what to do when there is not a single sharp knife in the kitchen? Should I buy new ones or still master the secrets of sharpening? Owners of high-quality Swiss knives should not worry, because it is not at all difficult to bring such a tool into working condition. The manufacturer took care of everything.

A distinctive feature of Victorinox knives has been and remains the excellent sharpness of the cutting edge of the blade. However, over time, the cutting edge of the blade becomes dull and the knife requires sharpening. Not everyone knows that professional kitchen knives need to be sharpened not haphazardly, but in strict accordance with the methods recommended by the manufacturer. Victorinox has also developed recommendations for sharpening its knives - company specialists recommend using special sharpening tools (musats) and sharpening the knife, following certain rules.

What is musat

Musat is a special sharpening tool. The Swiss manufacturer produces about fifty types of musats, the most traditional of which is considered round steel nut . It is clear that the sharpening tool must be harder than the knife. That is why especially strong chrome vanadium steel is used in the manufacture of musats. Professionals most often sharpen knives with round steel musat, 18 to 30 cm long, with a medium-grain surface. For home use Must is better suited, the length of the sharpening part is 18 and 20 cm. Must with an oval cross section has a larger contact surface than regular round grinding stone. They are easier to hold correctly in your hand when sharpening a knife.

Diamond musats They are another type of sharpening tools. These are hard chrome plated steel nuts, the surface of which is coated with synthetic diamond sand. Why synthetic and not natural? Firstly, synthetic diamonds are much cheaper, and secondly, they have the same sizes, which is very important parameter for high-quality sharpening.

Diamond steel grinders have an oval shape, due to which the pressure at the sharpening site is reduced. Let's say you are sharpening a knife and apply too much force. Nothing bad will happen, and the groove on the knife blade will not be cut. Diamond steel will simply remove a layer of metal from the cutting edge. Using such a sharpening tool, it will be possible to make a new cutting edge on a very worn blade. An ordinary round grinder will not cope with such a job.

Diamond steel has very high hardness, so it easily removes metal from the surface of a knife blade. Chromium plating of diamond steel makes it possible to reduce the abrasiveness of steel sand, which during the sharpening process adheres very firmly to the grinding stone. A blade sharpened with diamond musat sharpens very quickly and easily. Take a knife, run it across the musat once on each side - and that’s it, the tool is ready for use again. Of particular note is the fact that as a result of such sharpening the blade does not wear out.

Diamond musat is an “eternal” tool that requires virtually no maintenance. The only condition that must be observed is that it should not be stored together with other hard objects and should not be washed in the dishwasher.

Hard chrome plated musats with micro-cuts (micro fine cut) seem absolutely smooth in appearance, but this is only at first glance. In fact, you can achieve amazing blade sharpness with this amazing tool. These musats are used by butchers when sharpening their knives.

Musat with ceramic coating (like diamond) is used both for sharpening and grinding the surface of blades. Super-hard ceramic musats come in round or oval shapes. They remove material from the surface being treated in a special way. The cutting edge of the knife after this treatment is smoother and less abrasive. Ceramic grinding stone with a relatively smooth surface is also suitable for sharpening a butcher knife.

Small disc sharpeners – a very convenient and easy to use sharpening tool. In order to sharpen a knife blade, you should install it in the groove of the sharpener. This method is characterized by simplicity and safety. The knife is always in the correct position, and sharpening is carried out by two freely rotating discs.

Sharpening the blade using musat

Sharpening is a process during which:
1) the vertical position of the crystalline structure of the metal of the cutting edge of the knife blade is restored without removing the metal layer.
2) the bend (ridge) resulting from grinding the cutting edge is removed.

Grinding – removing a layer of metal from the surface of a heavily worn blade for restoration correct angle. If the cutting edge of the blade becomes round, it must be ground.

Knives with a smooth cutting edge are sharpened using musat. Knives with a serrated or wavy edge can only be sharpened with musat if the cutting edge of the blade is smooth on one side. When sharpening, the cutting edge of the blade is aligned, but the metal is not removed. When using musat, you should not make any special efforts. Otherwise, the sharpening procedure will turn into grinding, and the blade will begin to curl. This happens when a knife is sharpened with a whetstone or whetstone. Musat does not damage the cutting edge, therefore, it can be used for sharpening maximum amount once. Professionals sharpen the knife before each use.

The optimal result is obtained when correct use Musata. The sharpening tool must be held firmly in your hand in a vertical position. The tip of the musat should rest on a non-slip table surface. A knife is taken in the other hand, the tip of the blade pointing slightly upward. The base of the knife blade is applied to the bottom of the musat. Make sure that the sharpening angle is about 20 degrees. To do this, tilt the back of the knife outward. You can use the position of the clock hands to determine the correct angle of inclination. So, every 15 minutes corresponds to an angle of 90 degrees, which means that 5 minutes will equal a 30-degree angle, and 1 minute will equal a 6-degree angle. Accordingly, the knife blade should be positioned at an angle of 20 degrees, which is just under 3.5 minutes.

After the knife is installed in the correct position, you should confidently move the musat several times, first on one side and then on the other, from the base to the very tip of the blade. Sharpening is done without pressing hard on the grinder. The whole arm is involved in the movement; the wrist is not bent. The musat is carried out three to six times, and cutting edge regains its former poignancy. When using ceramic or diamond polish, it will be enough to apply it once on each side of the blade.

If it is not possible to rest the musat on a non-slip surface, it is turned upward and the handle is pressed against the table. The knife blade is applied with the base to the tip of the musat so that the cutting edge of the blade is directed downwards, and sharpening is carried out in the manner already described. Particular care should be taken, since the fingers on the handle of the musat are practically not protected.

Wavy blades and blades with serrated edges are sharpened with smooth side at an almost zero sharpening angle along the entire length of the cutting edge. The sharpening movement should be as smooth as possible.

Determination of cutting edge sharpness

Of course, you can touch the edge of the blade with your finger. However, this method is not entirely safe, since it is easy to cut yourself with a sharpened blade. The most suitable method is to test the sharpness using the hair on the back of the head. Yes, yes, exactly like that, no matter how strange it may sound. The blade of the knife is positioned at a right angle to the hair, after which it is drawn downwards with a slight movement. A dull blade will glide through the hair without obstruction, while a sharp blade will move with little friction, as if brushing against the hair.

Those who have no hair on their heads can use another in a known way. You should take a sheet of newspaper and try to cut it by weight with a knife. A sharp blade will cope with this task without difficulty.

Do you want your knives to always be in excellent condition, work in the kitchen to proceed smoothly, and your mood to always remain high? Don’t forget to sharpen your tools on time with excellent grinding tools from Victorinox.

No matter how high-quality a knife is, sooner or later, due to high loads, abrasive wear and electrochemical effects, the geometry of its blade is distorted and the knife stops cutting properly. If the wear is insignificant and only the blade needs to be adjusted, then musat will help you in this matter.

Musat - This is a metal or, less commonly, ceramic rod on the handle, used to restore the sharpness of the knife. The metal rod has a notch (ribs) on the surface; in appearance, such musat looks like a round file.

Musat cleans the already sharpened edge of the blade from the metal fringe located on it, leveling out the unevenness and burrs on it.

In this article we will look at what musat there are and their types, how to use musat and recommendations will be given on how to choose musat.

Types of musats

Musats differ from each other in shape and material from which they are made.

1. Types of musats by shape:

• Oval;
• Round;
• Faceted - flat and tetrahedral.

2. Types of musats according to the material used on the surface of the rod itself:

• ceramic musats - with ceramic coating;
• diamond musats - contain diamond chips;
• metal musats (the most common) - contain frequent notches (ribs).
• mixed - on one side of the rod there is a rough surface, and on the other - smooth.

If the musat has a special abrasive coating (diamond, ceramic or other), then such musat is more like a sharpener for a knife, and works on the principle of a needle file. It can restore a very dull or not very high-quality knife, but you should not use it on high-quality knives: it can ruin them.

For high-quality knives, it is appropriate to use either smooth musats or serrated musats.

Rules for using musat:

• the applied force should be insignificant and distributed evenly along the entire length of the cutting edge of the knife;
• observe the angle of 15-25 degrees and the direction of movement;
• The musat and the knife must be in contact with each other at the cutting edge;
• both sides of the knife should alternately touch the musat; you cannot first run along one side several times and then on the other.
• the movement of the knife on the musat should begin from the end of the knife blade (the junction of the blade and the handle) at the beginning of the musat and pass in a large arc with slight pressure, ending with the tip of the knife near the handle of the musat.
• the length of the musat should be at least 5 cm longer than the length of the blade of your knife.

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER: Musat can be edited, but not sharpened!

With heavy wear the knife already requires sharpening using special abrasive tools (whisks, water stones, special devices) or sharpening machines.

How to choose the right musat?

IN professional use The most popular are standard metal nuts with notches. The form of musat depends on purely personal preferences. In professional kitchens and meat shops, round metal musat with a standard notch, 25 to 30 cm long, is usually used, but for home use, musat of shorter length (20 cm) is better suited. Their cost played a significant role in the spread of round musats: the price for oval, faceted and mixed musats is much higher than for round ones.

Whatever musat you choose, its length must be at least 5 cm greater than the length of the blade of your knife.

In the online store "Meat Technologies" You will be offered standard round and oval musat from Giesser Messer (Germany), as well as diamond musat from Luxstahl (Germany).

19.12.2008

​It’s probably not worth explaining how important knife care is. It doesn't matter whether it's a chef's knife from a Japanese restaurant or your favorite kitchen knife. Ask any bladed weapon specialist, and he will tell you that a blade that requires sharpening speaks more of a careless owner than of low-quality steel.

If you use and store the knife correctly, you will not need to sharpen it for many years, you will only need to correct it on time.

The next logical question is how to edit a knife? The answer is simple - musat. In almost any good store When it comes to knives, you will definitely find several varieties of musats on sale.

Musat is designed to level the cutting edge of the blade and increase the sharpness of the blade. This tool will help you maintain your knife in perfect condition without sharpening, which greatly reduces the life of the knife. After all, with each such procedure, a considerable part of the working material is removed from the blade.

In appearance, the musat is a bit like a round file, only the ribs of the musat run parallel to its blade. The hardness of the tool is usually equal to or slightly greater than the hardness of the material being straightened (in our case, the knife).

The process of stropping your favorite knife is quite simple. Aligning the wide part of the cutting edge of the knife with the tip of the musat, run them over each other several times without applying special effort, since in this case we do not need to remove a layer of metal, which happens when sharpening. During straightening, the cutting edge of the knife restores its shape. (Attached is a drawing of how to edit a knife)

Musats are divided into ceramic, steel and diamond. The latter differ in that in order to reduce wear on the musat on its work surface diamond dust is applied, and thereby the service life of the tool is increased. Professional consultants in the store will always be happy to tell you more about the types of musats and their use.

In fact, it is your choice whether you should take such a simple thing as a knife so seriously. But if this good tool, which faithfully serves you in the kitchen, then why not?