"Wusthof 10 Deluxe Steel"
This tool serves a vital role in the kitchen by realigning, or resetting, a knifes' edges, which bend this way and that when contacting a cutting surface. (Often called a sharpening steel, or butcher steel, a steel doesn't actually sharpen a knife--unless it's a diamond steel.) Consisting of a rod of hard steel-alloy and a tough synthetic handle, this steel works as well as any. A loop facilitates hanging it close at hand so the steel can be employed often: before each use is ideal to prevent a blade from becoming dull and prolong intervals between professional sharpenings. The rule is that a steel should be at least as long as the knife blade being drawn across it; this steel's 10-inch rod is sufficient for nearly all household knives. The steel carries a lifetime warranty against defects. --Fred Brack