Keep Your Knives Sharp with the Best Knife Sharpener
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Wusthof 4-Stage Knife Sharpener -
ZWILLING TWINSHARP Duo Stainless Knife Sharpener -
Accusharp Knife Sharpener -
Global MinoSharp Knife Sharpener -
Sharp Pebble Puck/Disk Knife sharpener -
Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmake Knife Sharpener -
Chef's Choice M1520 Diamond Hone AngleSelect Knife Sharpener -
Presto 08810 Professional Electric Knife Sharpener -
McGowan DiamondStone Electric Sharpener -
Chef’s Choice 120 Hybrid Angle Select Knife Sharpener -
Buyer's Guide
Whether you own a set of high-quality knives or a discount set you picked up for cheap, chances are that your knives are probably due for a sharpening. Sharpening your knives regularly cuts down on the amount of time it takes to prep your food. It also keeps your fingers safer because you don't have to apply as much pressure when you're cutting. Remember: a sharp knife is a safe knife.
There are two main types of knife sharpeners — electric and manual. Electric knife sharpeners work much faster but they do cost a lot more than their manual counterparts. In terms of ease of use, these two types of sharpeners are about the same.
Before you buy a sharpener, take a look at the type of knives you own because not all sharpeners are appropriate for all types of knives. European style blades are sharpened at a different angle than Asian style blades. If you try to sharpen a knife at the wrong angle, you can seriously damage the blade. Serrated knives must also be sharpened with sharpeners that are specially designed to accommodate them. We've researched and compiled the best knife sharpeners in 2022 for you to check out.
Best Knife Sharpeners of 2022 Reviewed in Detail
Wusthof 4-Stage Knife Sharpener - Best Knife Sharpener Overall
Wusthof, one of the leading names in knives, has created a sharpener that they trust with their state of the art blades. Thanks to a handy switch that changes the angle that the sharpener holds the knife, it can be used with either European or Asian style blades, which sets it apart from the competition. This device also sharpens in two stages. The first stage uses carbide blades that are strong enough to put a sharp edge on even the dullest knives. The second stage uses ceramic wheels to hone the edge until it’s razor sharp. An ergonomic handle also keeps your hand safely out of the way while you hold the sharpener in place.
ZWILLING TWINSHARP Duo Stainless Knife Sharpener - Runner Up
The Zwilling Twin Select Knife Sharpener sharpens knives quickly and easily. It utilizes two stage sharpening, with steel wheels that grind knife blades to the proper angle and ceramic wheels that polish up the blade to make it razor sharp. Incredibly easy to use, all you have to do to re-hone your knives to factory standards is pull them through the slots on the top of the sharpener. Non-slip feet keep this device in place while you use it, making it safe as well as effective. The simple to use design is ideal for creating a clean, incredibly sharp edge on any European style knife.
Accusharp Knife Sharpener - Honorable Mention
If you’re looking for a knife sharpener that is incredibly easy to use as well as easy on your wallet, the AccuSharp Knife Sharpener fits the bill. This device can be used on all types of knives: straight edge, serrated, European, Asian, and even axes and scissors. It makes use of a single stone made of diamond honed tungsten carbide that can put a sharp edge on knives in just a few seconds. It’s also incredibly safe to use, as it features a finger guard that protects your hand in case of an accidental slip. Clean up is a snap, since this sharpener, unlike most others, is dishwasher safe. The AccuSharp is also much smaller than many of its competitors, making it easy to store the device between uses.
Global MinoSharp Knife Sharpener - Consider
Color-coded sharpening wheels help take the guesswork out of using the Global MinoSharp Plus Hand Held Sharpener. The two-stage sharpening process begins with the white wheel, which is made from a strong ceramic that coarsely re-edges a dull knife. After the edge is reground the knife can be moved to the pink wheel, which is made of a softer ceramic that polishes the blade and makes it razor sharp. One thing to keep in mind when using this knife sharpener is that it requires the use of water. The water rinses the ceramic wheels as you’re using the device, keeping them clear of metal debris, and lowering the temperature so that the knife blade doesn’t overheat.
Sharp Pebble Puck/Disk Knife sharpener - Consider
Whether it is hatchets, ax, lawnmower blades, machetes, shovels, knives, and the likes, every camper, homeowner, and woodworker should have a tool like the Sharp Pebble ax dual grit sharpener. Experience powerful cuts with this knife sharpener from a sharp pebble. The sharpener is made using the best quality silicon carbide with a surface area measuring up to 40%. You do not need to use expensive honing/sharpening oil, making it relatively economical.
The 150 grit of the whetstone is used in sharpening dull edges fast. Its 320 Grit is used to restore slightly dulled cutting edges while also enhancing the finish left by the coarse side. This stone serves multiple purposes as it can be used as a machete sharpener, lawnmower blade sharpener, shape sharpener, and a lot of chopping and cutting tools. Ease of use is another department. This sharpener beats the competition as its ergonomic design makes it easy to hold while allowing for easy and safe sharpening exercise.
Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmake Knife Sharpener - Best Manual Knife Sharpener
If you’re looking for a sharpener that can sharpen everything from knives to axes to scissors to fish hooks, the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker is a great choice. This device makes it easy to select the angle that you want to sharpen to, making it possible to use it for either European or Asian style knives, as well as scissors, which require a 12.5 degree angle and can’t be sharpened with most knife sharpeners. The design of this device makes it stand out from the competition, as it makes use of vertical sharpening stones that are held in place by a solid base. Handy guides make it easy to choose the angle you want to sharpen to, even though this sharpener doesn’t hold the blade in place while you use it. This gives you greater freedom when sharpening, and makes the Sharpmaker a great alternative to traditional whetstones and sharpeners.
Chef's Choice M1520 Diamond Hone AngleSelect Knife Sharpener - Best Electric Knife Sharpener
When it comes to electric knife sharpeners, the best of the best is the Chef's Choice M1520 Diamond Hone AngleSelect Knife Sharpener. This foolproof machine can sharpen any type of knife, including serrated and Asian style knives. By making use of the three different stages of this sharpener, cooks can get an incredibly sharp edge on their knives. The first stage uses diamond abrasives to coarsely grind the edge of the knife. The second stage works like a sharpening stone, fine-tuning the rough edge that the diamond abrasives left behind. The final stage polishes the blade through the use of a flexible strap. Regular use of the M1520 Diamond Hone AngleSelect Knife Sharpener will keep knives like new for decades. This sharpener may be on the pricy side, but it will pay for itself over time by keeping all your knives as sharp as the day you bought them.
Presto 08810 Professional Electric Knife Sharpener - Best Electric Knife Sharpener
One of the best features of the Presto 08810 Professional Electric Knife Sharpener is that its adjustable for thick, medium, and thin blades. This makes it ideal for use on any European style knife, including cleavers, chefs knives, and filet knives. This sharpening station is divided into three stages, with a coarse grinding wheel that creates a proper cutting angle, a medium grinding wheel that cleans up the cutting edge, and a ceramic wheel that polishes the blade, making it incredibly sharp. Since it uses Sapphirite instead of diamond on its coarse wheel, its not as pricy as many other sharpeners.
McGowan DiamondStone Electric Sharpener - Best Electric Knife Sharpener
Theres no electric knife sharpener as quick and easy to use as the McGowan DiamondStone Electric Sharpener. This sharpener has only one stage, and while that means it doesnt hone blades with the precision of three-stage models, it does make sharpening knives fast and fool proof. Simply pass the blade through the slot as two diamond-enhanced ceramic wheels whirl to life along both edges of the knife. This sharpener was designed to create a 20 degree angle, which is ideal for European-style knives. After sharpening, the knives can be used as-is or polished up with a hand-held polishing strap.
Chef’s Choice 120 Hybrid Angle Select Knife Sharpener - Best Electric Knife Sharpener
If youre looking for incredible quality for a price thats not through the roof, the Chefs Choice Hybrid Angle Select Knife Sharpener is a great choice. This knife sharpener is a hybrid in that in includes electric and manual components. The first stage, which makes use of a diamond abrasive, uses an electric wheel to grind knives to the proper angle, 20 degrees for European style knives, and 15 degrees for Asian style knives. The second stage, which is also electric, refines the 20 or 15 degree blade into a sharp edge. The final stage on this sharpener is manual, with a slot that all knives, regardless of angle, can be pulled through to polish the blade.
Buyer's Guide
Sharpening a knife is essential, especially if you want to make perfect vegetable, fruit, and meat cuts. If you are an experienced cook, you probably already know the advantages of having a sharp knife in the kitchen. However, if you are just getting into cooking, this article will teach you and give you the information you need about sharpening your knife and how to choose the best knife sharpeners for your kitchen.
Why Do You Need a Knife Sharpener?
It is pretty straightforward that you need a knife sharpener to sharpen your knives. The real question here is what kind of knife sharpener is best for your home.
Types of Knife Sharpeners
Here are some of the most common types of knife sharpeners used in commercial businesses and homes. One of these may be the one for you, depending on your knives and your needs.
Whetstone
A whetstone, aka an oilstone or Japanese Waterstones, are gritty rectangular stones that use oil or water to sharpen your knife. There are two types of whetstones. The first one is a synthetic surface that uses water to sharpen a knife’s edges, and the second one is a natural oil-based stone. Both of which are effective in sharpening your knives for better use. The idea of whetstones is sharpening the existing edge of your knife instead of carving a new edge. If you are a beginner, you can start by using a whetstone first because using other types without experience might ruin your precious kitchen knife in the process.
Electric sharpeners
Electric sharpeners have a V-shaped notch that carves a new edge on your knife and discards the old one. This option is much more effective in keeping your knife sharp, and it kind of has the same idea as an electric pencil sharpener—meaning your knife will become shrink every time you use it. However, you won’t need to use one frequently if you have a High-quality knife made with the best type of steel. Most modern electric countertop knife sharpeners are easy to use, and you don’t have to worry about the angle you hold your knife in—just make sure you read the manual.
Manual sharpeners
Manual sharpeners are like electric sharpeners. However, instead of automatically carving a new edge on your knife, you will have to exert effort, which is pretty straightforward.
Steel Rod
A steel rod is a long rod that is coated with a ceramic finish. It is a great option to use after using a manual or electric sharpener to keep your knives straight for better slicing. If you want to keep your precious blades in their best state, it is ideal for you to own one of these to maintain the straightness of your edge in-between sharpening.
How to Sharpen a Knife
When using a whetstone, you will need your knife to pass through the coarse side first until the entire edge is sharpened. After that, you can flip it over to the fine side to even out the edges.
If you are using a manual or electric knife sharpener, just run your knife through and follow the manual so you don’t go too far. After sharpening your knife, you can use a honing steel to fine-tune the edges for better slicing.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Knife Sharpener
Size
The size is an essential factor to consider when purchasing a knife sharpener. Both small and large knife sharpeners work the same for any knife, but the question is—do you have enough space in the kitchen for storing a large option? If you have enough space in your kitchen, you can opt for a larger sharpener. But it wouldn’t be a problem if you have limited storage because you can purchase smaller options instead.
Grit
Various knife sharpeners come with different grit levels, regardless of their size. Most whetstones are double-sided, having a fine side and coarse side. The amount of grit can affect how much metal is shaven off your knife, and you have to be careful, especially when using an electronic sharpener because you might go too far. If you are looking to buy an electric knife sharpener, make sure you understand the settings. It is always better to have honing steel for finer grit and get a knife sharpener with medium to coarse grit settings.
Quality
Make sure the quality of the knife sharpener is good, especially if you own expensive knife sets. You don’t want to damage them further when using knife sharpeners that are not very effective.
Time
Some knife sharpeners work quicker than others. If you like to work fast, make sure you get a high-end electric sharpener that allows you to sharpen a knife in seconds.
Knife Sharpener Price Ranges
Depending on the type of knife sharpener, it can set you back at least $10 up to $150 for the electrical options. A higher-end model is recommended for more expensive knives, especially if you plan to use it frequently.
FAQ
What is the best type of knife sharpener?
The best type of sharpener is probably an electric knife sharpener. They are much quicker and getting the job done and getting it right. However, it is ideal to have a whetstone and honing steel, especially if you are quite a beginner. It is very easy to learn how to sharpen a knife so it wouldn’t be a problem.
Can you use a knife sharpener for sharpening scissors? Yes, as long as the scissors fit in a manual or electric sharpener, you can probably use it.
