Use a Sheet of Paper to Make Sure Your Knife Is as Sharp as It Should Be [Video]

 We all know that a sharp knife is a cook's best friend, but beyond that, dull knives are flat out dangerous, and the cause for more kitchen injuries than sharp knives are. But how do you determine if your knife is actually sharp? The folks from America's Test Kitchen suggest grabbing a standard sheet of paper, and trying to slice through it, as shown in the video here. If your knife makes it, it's sharp. If not, it's time to hone that blade.

We've discussed how to hone a kitchen knife in the past, so if your knives fail the paper test, you can easily re-align the edge of the blade so it cuts more efficiently and won't give you unnecessary resistance when you try to slice through fruits and vegetables. More importantly though, with a sharp blade, the knife will go where you want it to go and won't behave unpredictably—which means it won't nick your hand or finger while you're trying to make dinner.

So head to your kitchen and give this one a try—just make sure you recycle the scraps of paper when you're done. Know this tip already? Have a better way to determine how sharp a knife really is? Let us know in the comments below.

60-Second Video Tips: Is Your Knife Sharp Enough? | YouTube via America's Test Kitchen (Google+)

Easily Make a CD Case from a Sheet of Paper [DIY]

The need for CD cases is dwindling, but for that same reason it's less likely you have an old jewel case laying around when you need one. Geeky blog Nerd Paradise devised a simple way to make CD case out of a sheet of paper for those rare instances when you need one.

It's a remarkably simple five-step process that works great in a pinch when you have to hand someone a physical disc. The sleeve itself is surprisingly sturdy and even includes a little tuck so it doesn't fall apart. No tape, staples, or clunky jewel cases are required so you can store a full stack of these in a small place if need be. Hit up the post on Nerd Paradise for a close look at all the steps.

How to build a CD Case out of a single sheet of paper | Nerd Paradise via Reddit