Best Knife Sharpener (Review And Buying Guide)

A sharp knife is a chef’s closest friend, according to an ancient saying. We don’t know who said it first, but we’re guessing it was someone who worked in the kitchen.

Ask any culinary expert what their most crucial kitchen equipment is these days, and they will inevitably respond, “A good, sharp knife.” That’s because knife-work is at the core of practically every meal that comes out of the kitchen, whether it’s the city’s fanciest 3 Michelin Star restaurant or your own.

However, relatively few individuals sharpen their knives on a regular basis. They are doing themselves a disservice if they are frightened by the procedure or just too busy to complete it. Sharp knives work quicker and more efficiently with food, so what’s the issue here?

The finest knife sharpeners are those that make the procedure simple and dependable while remaining affordable to the average cook. Our crew has reviewed the 12 finest knife sharpeners of the year, categorizing them based on aesthetics, practicality, and pricing. Following that, we’ll go a little more into the topic of how to choose a sharpener that’s right for you and your individual needs.

“A Sharp Knife is a Safe Knife”: Why You Should Keep Your Knives Sharp

Some folks are truly terrified by the idea of holding a razor-sharp knife. And with good cause. Dull knife blades, according to the University of Rochester, cause more injuries since they take more pressure to produce the same cut. The greater pressure increases the amount of harm done if the knife slips.

Furthermore, a razor-sharp knife slices more efficiently into the food surface, reducing blade slippage entirely, even on those bothersome, slippery tomatoes. Dull blades slide much more often, which might result in harm.

So, if you want to minimize the discomfort of a sudden deep cut, the first thing you need do is make sure your blades are sharp enough.

Top 12 Knife Sharpeners

Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone: 2-Sided Knife Sharpener Set

If you ask a few Chefs what their personal choice is for sharpening their favorite knives, you can bet that the most of them will tell you that they only trust a whetstone to bring their blades to the required level. While electric blade sharpeners have several benefits, most notably the ability to sharpen a knife in less than a minute, they lack the control and personalization that a whetstone provides.

Here’s how it works. The cutting angle of a whetstone is totally regulated by the user. This implies that changing the angle at which the blade is drawn over the stone will change the ultimate cut angle, and hence the sharpness. Furthermore, the ability to switch the whetstone and access two different grits (1000 and 8000) allows for even more flexibility.

Another major but less evident advantage of using a whetstone versus an electric knife sharpener is that it enables the user to sharpen any knife. Electric sharpeners, as well as most manual knife sharpeners, usually have a set cut angle that can not be modified for different styles of knife, for instance, a 20 degree German style kitchen knife versus a 15 degree Japanese style kitchen knife. Even filet knives may get in on the action.

They may take some work to master, but every professional cook should at the very least know how to operate one of them.

The Specs:

Brand: Culinary Obsession

Type: Manual Whetstone

Model #: CUL-MN-W01

Top Feature:A fantastic present idea for the food enthusiast.

AccuSharp 001C Knife Sharpener

One of the most common portable knife sharpeners on the market is the AccuSharp 001C. Any restaurant or food truck will most likely have one of these hanging near the knife rack. It’s also not surprising. The 001C is not only astonishingly light and inexpensive, but it is also one of the most user-friendly manual knife sharpeners available.

The 001 is so simple to use that it just takes approximately 10 seconds to sharpen almost any knife. Unlike other electric sharpeners, this one does not use oil, thus the procedure is completely clean.

A full-length finger guard prevents the user from accidently dragging their knuckles against the sharpened knife blade. This feature alone is probably why this model has become so popular in so many kitchens and restaurants around the country.

The disadvantage of a manual knife sharpener with a fixed cutting angle is that it is ineffective for thicker blades. While tiny knives may be sharpened properly, tools like hatchets, machetes, and axes will become duller rather than sharper after using this product.

The Specs

Brand: AccuSharp

Type: Manual Handheld

Model #: 001C

Top Feature: Very affordable

 

SunrisePro Supreme Knife Sharpener for all Blade Types

Whether you want to sharpen a pocket knife, a hunting knife, or a professional knife, the SunrisePro will make the process simple. It is one of the best-designed hand-powered knife sharpeners we’ve had the pleasure of testing.

The advantages of this little device were quickly obvious. The large heavy duty suction cup on the bottom of the sharpener is the first thing you’ll notice upon unpacking it. This is the mounting method, and it’s difficult not to fall in love with it right away. Unlike many hand-held manual knife sharpeners, the SunrisePro is securely mounted to a prep table or kitchen counter, enabling the user to move the blades over the sharpening surface with both hands. This procedure is not only more safer, but it also stabilizes the blade and eliminates uneven cuts, which may lead to poor blade performance.

This unit’s modest design will undoubtedly make it a classic for small to medium-sized household kitchens. It cuts at a set 20-degree angle, which is fine for domestic kitchens but may not be sharp enough for certain Japanese-style knives. It does, however, function well with serrated knives as well, making it more than worthwhile for the aspiring gourmet.

The Specs

Brand: SunrisePro

Type: Manual Pull Through

Model #: JHCL-1

Suction-cup mounting mechanism with strong grip strength

Lansky 8″ Sharp Stick-Med. LSS8CM

Many individuals are skeptical about sharpening rods, preferring to use their pricey electric oil sharpeners instead. Some of these folks just cannot believe that a sharpening rod of this size can deliver any useful degree of sharpening, given the rod’s round form and smooth surface.

The reality is that these sharpening rods are more than capable of keeping even the most expensive kitchen knives razor sharp. While they are better suited for regular honing than than occasional deep-sharpening, they are nevertheless an important weapon in any Chef’s arsenal.

One thing you may not realize from the description is that this rod is just 8 inches long, which is a few inches shorter than other sharpening rods you’ve used in the past. While the shorter length has no influence on sharpening capabilities, it may take some time to adjust to the adjusted sharpening action necessary for a shorter rod.

The Specs:

Brand: Lansky Sharpeners

Type: Manual Medium-Grit Sharpening Rod

Model #: LSS8CM

Top Feature: Very small and easy to use

 

Wusthof PEtec Electric Sharpener

The first completely electric knife sharpener on our list is also the first manufactured by a well-known worldwide knife maker. Wusthof is a 200 year old knife maker based out of Germany that has managed to stay relevant as the wide world has changed around it. Today, they are recognized for producing some of the greatest German-style kitchen knives available, so you can take their word for it when they claim they have created an electric knife sharpener of the same caliber.

This three-stage sharpener is particularly intended to sharpen your knives as much as possible. Indeed, we’ve heard several accounts of individuals who misjudged the efficiency of a machine like this and were startled by how very sharp their blades had become.

True, this item is made for Wusthof blades and will function best with that kind of steel. It is, nevertheless, a good electric knife sharpener for any excellent professional knife.

The Specs:

Brand: Wusthof

Type: Electric Pull Through

Model #: 2933

Top feature: Designed by a world renowned knife business.

Fallkniven DC3 Whetstone Diamond Ceramic Knife Sharpener

There is a reason why, after hundreds of thousands of years, humans still use pocket-sized sharpening stones. It’s because they’re highly effective and need just the knife blade and the stone itself to perform the work. The ability to carry a whetstone was undoubtedly what distinguished excellent hunters from great hunters. A person who carries their own whetstone nowadays is unquestionably a person with significant grit and ingenuity. When things start to go wrong, you want folks like this nearby.

With a weight of just 1.6 ounces, this is by far the lightest and most portable knife sharpener on our list. It is tiny enough to fit in most pockets, making it ideal for hunters and long-distance hikers who need to maintain their blades sharp.

It is true that using a manual whetstone of this size will take some getting used to. Because of the restricted size, some users may struggle to get the hang of it, but if they persist with it, they may never want to use their electric knife sharpener again.

The Specs:

Brand: Fallkniven

Type: Manual pocket whetstone

Model #: DC3

Top Feature: Very portable

Top Feature: Highly-adjustable cut angles

Chef’s Choice 316 Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener for 15-Degree Knives

For anybody who wants to ensure that their Japanese-style knives are performing to their greatest capacity, here is a two-stage electric knife sharpening. It is unusual to come across an electric sharpener capable of honing a knife to 15 degrees. This is about as sharp as it gets, and most sharpeners struggle to get to 20 degrees, much alone 15. As a result, the Chefs Choice 316 is ideal for the culinary purist who expects excellence.

In keeping with tradition, the 316 features a single-side sharpening process. What exactly does this mean? It essentially enables for the honing of single-beveled ultra-traditional Japanese type blades. This is not a common knife technique nowadays, but it has been making a resurgence in recent years as worldwide demand for real traditional cuisine has risen dramatically.

If we had to select one thing against this specific device, it would be the noise. It’s a little noisier than some of its rivals, but that doesn’t seem like a fair critique given how effectively this item really sharpens knives.

The Specs:

Brand: Chefs Choice

Type: Electric Knife Sharpener

Model #: 316

Top Feature: Precision 15 degree sharpening

Warthog WHSC2BK V-Sharp Classic II

Don’t be taken aback by the Warthog V-Sharp Classic II’s startling form and look. This is a manual knife sharpener with one of the most well-designed angle adjustment tools we’ve encountered. The image shows how a pair of rods regulate the angle of the stones. While pre-set guides for 20 degrees, 25 degrees, and 30 degrees are available, you may sharpen any knife in your collection to any degree you like.

A pair of 325 grit stones is acceptable for sharpening most hunting and culinary knives at stage one, but may not be fine enough for the final sharpening passes necessary for a really razor-sharp knife.

The frame is built of hard plastic, which reduces the total weight of the machine but may have an influence on its long-term durability.

The Specs:

Brand: Warthog

Type: Manual Tabletop Knife Sharpener

Model #: C2BK

Chef’s Choice Knife Sharpener

Chefs Choice’s two-stage portable knife sharpener is undoubtedly the most comfortable in its class. It feels just like a vegetable peeler in your hand, which makes sharpening a breeze. It’s almost too simple.

The fixed cut angles are to be anticipated from a sharpener at this price range, but they are effective for most knives with an edge grind of more than 20 degrees.

The true winner is the pricing point. While this isn’t the knife sharpener you’d expect to see at your favorite restaurant, it’s something to keep in the kitchen drawer for routine knife upkeep. We don’t suggest it for Japanese-style knives, or even top-of-the-line European knives. However, for an everyday knife, this little guy should suffice.

Just be cautious while utilizing this device. Because there is no safety guard, a loose knife might do some harm if not carefully managed.

The Specs:

Brand: Chefs Choice

Type: Manual / Handheld

Model #: 4761200

Top Feature: Secure-grip handle

Diamond Machine Technology (DMT) CS2 12-Inch Ceramic Steel

This is the knife sharpening steel that is said to be almost indestructible. Diamond Machine Technology’s CS2 sharpening machine has some of the greatest diamond coverage and consistency of any rod-based sharpening equipment on the market. This claim contains a lot of jargon, such as micronized mono-crystalline diamonds (whatever they are) and HardCoat, DMT’s patented diamond surface that claims to provide greater coverage than any other brand.

If what they claim is correct, it is feasible to get a superb sharp edge with just 5 to 6 strokes each edge side, which is a fraction of the recommended 20 to 30 strokes per side for typical diamond-coated sharpening steels.

Diamond-coated sharpening steels need some break-in time. It may feel a little harsh at first, but if you use it often, it should smooth out without inflicting any long-term harm to the blade.

The Specs:

Brand: Diamond Machine Technology (DMT)

Type: Manual steel rod sharpener

Model #: CS2

The top feature is that it has more diamond coverage than other brands.

Lansky 4-Rod Turn Box LCD5D

One of the most unusual things on our list is the Lansky 4-Rod Turn Box. We’ve never seen anything like it before, however its real design is rather basic when examined carefully. It works similarly to a steel sharpening rod, except instead of a free-form handle, the rods are placed into pre-drilled holes in a block of hard wood. This keeps the angle of the edge grind consistent.

Furthermore, the Lanskey 4-Rod box features two separate sets of holes, allowing knives to be sharpened at either 20 degrees or 25 degrees, depending on personal preference.

Owners of high-end Japanese-style knives may be disappointed that this sharpening system cannot sharpen to 15 degrees, but let’s be honest: there are few units that do, and the ones that can are far more costly.

This sharpener’s tiny and compact size makes it ideal for any camping trip, however it should also fit well in a kitchen drawer.

The Specs:

Brand: Lansky

Type: Manual Rod-based knife sharpener

Model #: LCD5D

Top Feature: Very easy to store & transport

Mooker 3 Stage Professional Manual Kitchen Knife Sharpener

The Mooker knife sharpener’s three distinct sharpening wheels work together to deliver everything a cook needs to return ancient blades to their original sharpness and keep them there. Dull and damaged blades will benefit from a pass (3 to 5 passes) across the coarse tungsten steel wheel. Large defects are removed here, and the blade’s edge is substantially restored.

The second wheel is a ceramic with a fine grit. The knife edge is properly honed and polished at this level, either after a few pulls through the tungsten wheel or more often as part of good kitchen knife maintenance.

A third ceramic diamond steel wheel is dedicated just to ceramic knives, which have grown in popularity in recent years due to their lower cost. You probably already have a ceramic knife in your kitchen, whether you realize it or not.

The rubber base has good sticking strength, although we would have preferred a little heavier unit for more solid, hands-free posture.

The Specs:

Brand: Mooker

Type: 3 stage Manual

Model #: B06XSJH55H

Top feature: Can sharpen both ceramic and steel knives.

Buyer’s Guide: What to Look for in a Knife Sharpener

The 12 knife sharpeners we looked at here are merely a small sample of what is available on the market. Other designs, brands, and product lines are undoubtedly available, making the notion of purchasing a knife sharpener even more scary. That’s why we’re going over some of the most crucial aspects of these sharpeners. By the conclusion of it, youll be able to shop like an expert, certain that youve chosen the best knife sharpener for you.

Cutting Angle

The angle at which a sharpening wheel comes into contact with a blade determines its ultimate sharpness. This is only true for knife sharpeners with a fixed-angle sharpening wheel, such as electric sharpeners or multi-stage pull-through sharpeners. This is due to the fact that the factory setting of the wheel cannot be changed.

Users will want to choose the ideal cutting angle for themselves. This is an issue of not just personal choice, but also of what is realistically achievable with your certain knife. The Japanese-style kitchen knife standard of 15 degrees, for example, is too fine an edge for the thicker, heavier European-style kitchen blades, which are normally about 20 degrees.

In our experience, 20 degrees is a typical norm for prosumer level blades, with 25 degrees and 30 degrees also being popular alternatives for many manual knife sharpeners.

Sharpening a knife on a whetstone is a whole different scenario, since the user has perfect control over the angle at which the blade meets the stone.

User Friendliness

Many individuals find knife sharpening to be a frightening job, which has resulted in the establishment of a massive knife sharpening service sector. The home cook, on the other hand, is unlikely to want to pay for a professional service, and genuinely committed chefs are unlikely to want anybody else handling their knives in the first place.

The key to keeping blades sharp is to have a knife sharpener that is simple enough to use so it is used often.

For example, pull-through type manual sharpeners dominate our list, most likely because they were intended to make the procedure easier. These goods were able to persuade chefs all over the world that maintaining a well sharpened knife is simpler than it seems by attaching a number of grinding wheels in protected slots and offering clear instructions for usage.

The Different Styles of Knife Sharpeners

Of course, the most crucial feature you’re looking for in a sharpener is the capacity to sharpen your knives accurately and efficiently. The many types of knife sharpeners provide various methods for doing this operation.

Ceramic & Diamond Rods

A sharpening rod might be a single piece attached on a handle, or it can be two rods fitted within a wooden base at a specified angle. These are a terrific method to keep your edge since they are fast and simple to make, not to mention tiny enough to fit in any standard kitchen drawer. They are also substantially less costly on average than other styles.

The disadvantage of rod-style sharpeners is that they can only maintain an already sharp blade. While honing the edge to an ultra-sharp point is conceivable, it is not the ideal approach to re-sharpen a totally dulled knife.

Honing Steels

Diamond rods and honing steels are extremely similar. They have a long steel rod that is connected to a handle. The rod’s surface might be smooth, ridged, or diamond coated. Smooth honing steels can realign your blade edge but cannot remove the steel particles required for a proper sharpening, as with a dull knife. That requires ridged or diamond coated honing steels, which are less effective sharpening instruments than certain counter-mounted pull through types.

Pull Through or “V-style” Sharpeners

This is the style of the majority of the goods on this list. While V-sharpeners have traditionally been thought of as a fast field repair rather than a true means to sharpen a knife, a number of recent advancements have enabled the style to grow to a respectable level. Sharpening results that are close to professional quality may now be obtained from even the most affordable equipment.

Pull through sharpeners used two angled pieces of metal, generally tungsten carbide. When the blade is dragged over the place where these two pieces of metal meet (the low point of the V), steel is actually shaved off the knife, enabling it to be sharpened.

The metal components have been replaced by moving wheels in recent revisions. The premise is similar, but the level of precision may be greatly enhanced.

Manual vs. Electric: Which One is Right for Me?

The reality is that automated electric knife sharpeners function in very similar ways to manual ones. The main change is that the sharpening wheels are now electrically operated, which speeds up the process and delivers more consistent results overall. This is not to claim that using an electric sharpener will always result in a sharper knife. With most knives, you can get the same sharpness with a manual as you can with an automatic.

It is worth mentioning that electric knife sharpeners are substantially more costly than manual ones, which is one of the main reasons they are not as prevalent. Furthermore, if an electric motor is combined with sharp steel, the hazard level increases naturally. As a result, we prefer using manual sharpeners.

Price and Value

It is vital to remember that having a set of well sharpened knives does not have to cost a lot. In reality, if used consistently, a simple honing rod may keep a blade sharp for a long period.

Even the most complex models are no longer as pricey as they once were. If you know where to look, you can acquire a decent knife sharpening for less than thirty dollars these days.

Q: How often should I sharpen my knife?

When using a steel kitchen knife, we suggest sharpening it every 2 to 4 usage. This should be plenty to keep it sharp for a long time. Carbon steel knives, on the other hand, must be sharpened after each use.

If you have a regular honing schedule, you should only need to sharpen your knives once a year or so.

Q: How many times can you sharpen a knife before damaging it?

Because the knife sharpening process removes extremely minute quantities of steel from the blade edge, it is unlikely that your knife would become worthless as a result of being sharpened too many times. However this advice goes out the window if you are sharpening your blade too often. With good honing, a kitchen blade only requires a full sharpening roughly once a year.

If you repeatedly sharpening a blade, it will ultimately lose all of its factory grind, making maintaining an effective edge impossible. To recover a respectable edge, the knife will most likely need to be professionally re-ground at this stage.

Q: Can I sharpen anything else with a knife sharpener? (Scissors, etc.)

This is largely dependent on the type of knife sharpener you choose. While many of the cheaper portable pull-through type sharpeners are adequate for scissors, garden shears, pocket knives, and other tools, some of the larger counter-mounted ones may not be. Check the product specs, especially when dealing with electric sharpeners, before attempting to sharpen anything other than a steel knife.

Q: What is the best cutting angle for a knife sharpener? (15 degrees vs. 20 degrees)

This is a disagreement that we are unlikely to be able to resolve. It has, after all, been raging for hundreds of years. Since the beginning, German knifemakers have cut to a 20 or 25 degree angle, since this is a better edge for the thicker, heavier blades that this region of the globe is renowned for.

Japanese knives, on the other hand, are crafted in an entirely distinct manner. These blades, which are lighter and thinner, are often cut to a 15-degree angle, which is approximately as sharp as a knife can be ordered online.

As a result of the recent surge in popularity of Japanese-style knives, several German manufacturers have reduced the size of their blades even more.

Q: Can you tell me how to sharpen a serrated dull knife?

While several of the sharpeners on our list claim to be capable of sharpening serrated knives, it is possible that they are not performing as well as you would want. This is due to the structural differences between serrated blades and ordinary kitchen knives. They operate more like a saw, with a succession of separate grooves and teeth performing the majority of the heavy lifting. Each of these grooves must be sharpened separately, which normally necessitates the use of specialist equipment.

Serrated knife sharpeners, fortunately, may be quite basic tools that do not cost a lot of money. They function similarly to an honing steel, with slight changes in the hand motion necessary.

Conclusion: The Best Knife Sharpener

Choosing a knife sharpener should be easy now that you have the fundamental product information to do it on your own. However, you’ve come this far, so why not follow our advice while you’re here?

The Lansky 4-Rod Turn Box is probably certainly the greatest rod-type knife sharpening (honer), since it is tiny and light enough to keep in the kitchen at all times. A couple runs through the Turn Box before each usage is the most effective method to keep your knife sharp.

If you want something with more substance, something that can genuinely sharpen a totally dulled blade, go no further than the ChefsChoice 316 Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener. It can sharpen almost any knife to an incredibly penetrating 15 degrees, which is roughly the same as most top-of-the-line Japanese-style kitchen knives.