Knives may be the most important tool in your arsenal, no matter what cooking level you’re at. It is inevitable that you will have to cut something at some point, whether you cook, bake, or only eat microwaveable food (hey, you gotta open that package somehow, right?). However, those knives are no good to you if you don’t keep them sharp. Plus, if you know how to sharpen them, you really don’t need that many knives — and you probably won’t ever need to buy new ones.

If you’re looking for more cooking basics, check out some of Phoebe and Cara’s other videos here.

— Lily Bellow, Small Kitchen College Managing Editor