Best knife sharpener

Best Knife Sharpener (Top-Rated Models)

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They say that a sharp knife cuts the quickest and hurts the least. And while you’d never want to cut yourself in the first place, having an arsenal of dull knives at your disposal is far from fun. That’s why you’ll need something to sharpen them with. So to help you, we’ve analyzed and reviewed the best knife sharpeners!

Preview
Our Top Pick
KitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener,...
Easiest to Use
4-in-1 Kitchen Knife Accessories: 3-Stage Knife...
Chef'sChoice 315 Versatile Professional Diamond with XV...
Best for 'Suction Power'
SunrisePro Supreme Knife Sharpener | afilador de...
Presto EverSharp, 2-Stage System Electric Knife...
User Rating
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Price
$
$$
$$$
$
$$
Weight
0.03 pounds
0.58 pounds
4.4 pounds
0.21 pounds
2.95 pounds
Size (L x W x H)
4.3” x 2.1” x 5.9”
8.3” x 2.2” x 3.4”
10.5” x 6.0” x 6.0”
2.4” x 2.6” x 2.4”
9.9” x 7.2” x 4.8”
Our Top Pick
Preview
KitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener,...
User Rating
-
Price
$
Weight
0.03 pounds
Size (L x W x H)
4.3” x 2.1” x 5.9”
More Information
Easiest to Use
Preview
4-in-1 Kitchen Knife Accessories: 3-Stage Knife...
User Rating
-
Price
$$
Weight
0.58 pounds
Size (L x W x H)
8.3” x 2.2” x 3.4”
More Information
Preview
Chef'sChoice 315 Versatile Professional Diamond with XV...
User Rating
-
Price
$$$
Weight
4.4 pounds
Size (L x W x H)
10.5” x 6.0” x 6.0”
More Information
Best for 'Suction Power'
Preview
SunrisePro Supreme Knife Sharpener | afilador de...
User Rating
-
Price
$
Weight
0.21 pounds
Size (L x W x H)
2.4” x 2.6” x 2.4”
More Information
Preview
Presto EverSharp, 2-Stage System Electric Knife...
User Rating
-
Price
$$
Weight
2.95 pounds
Size (L x W x H)
9.9” x 7.2” x 4.8”
More Information

In the detailed list below you’ll find electric and rather comprehensive sharpeners, as well as simple and to-the-point ones.

Eventually, it’s up to you to decide which knife sharpener suits your needs.

But generally speaking, you don’t really need anything too fancy (i.e. an expensive, high-end electric sharpener) to sharpen your kitchen knives!

The Top 15 Best Rated Knife Sharpeners

Note that the order of the products below is based on several key factors, such as:

  • Compactness
  • Weight
  • Price
  • Ratings
  • Reliability
  • Ease of use
  • The overall value for money

KitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener, Black

1. KitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2-Stage (The Top-Rated Knife Sharpener)

Price: $
Weight: 0.03 pounds
Dimensions: 4.3” x 2.1” x 5.9” (L x W x H)

This manual kitchen sharpener is hands down the best one out there at the moment as it offers unarguably the best value for money.

It’s dirt cheap, highly-effective and frequently hovering around the best sellers in its class (it’s not uncommon for this K0itchenIQ sharpener to be ranked #1).

Now, it’s ideal for sharpening all kinds of knives thanks to the two unique slots it has:

  • A coarse slot for damaged, dull knives
  • A fine slot that’s meant for polishing an already sharp knife

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You’re also getting a sturdy base with anti-slip protection as well as a special feature designed to safeguard your kitchen counter from the tip of bigger knives.

Last but not least, it’s incredibly compact, lightweight and ergonomic – you can take it/use it anywhere without any hassle.

  • Patented Edge Grip feature allows sharpening on the edge of the table or countertop – prevents the tip of larger knives from dragging over the surface of the counter
  • Compact for easy storage. Carbide blades (Coarse) provide quick edge setting capabilities, and the ceramic rods (Fine) are used for the final edge honing
  • Non-slip base for added stability and control

Pros:

  • Mega compact and lightweight
  • Incredibly affordable
  • Fast and very easy to use
  • Non-slip base and a Patented Edge Grip feature

Cons:

  • Not ideal for serrated blades
  • Only has 2 slots

Kitchen Knife Sharpener - 3-Stage Knife Accessory Sharpening Tool Helps Repair, Restore and Polish Blades - Cut-Resistant Glove Included

2. Kitchellence Kitchen 3-Stage Knife Sharpener (Rated ‘Easiest to Use’)

Price: $$
Weight: 0.58 pounds
Dimensions: 8.3” x 2.2” x 3.4” (L x W x H)

The Kitchellence 3-stage sharpener is made of a solid ABS plastic base with non-slip rubber underneath for effortless sharpening.

Also, this knife sharpener comes with a 3-stage system that consists of:

  • Diamond rod (slot #1) – Ideal for ceramic blades, while being able to straighten and repair damaged metal blades too
  • Tungsten steel blade (slot #2) – Best used to restore and coarsely sharpen the V-shape of metal blades
  • Ceramic rod (slot #3) – Polishes, fines tunes and gets rid of any burrs on the edges

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Another great thing about this product is the fact that this is actually a kit – it includes a neat cut-resistant glove for extra safety.

On top of that, this knife sharpener is quite durable and long-lasting thanks to the quality materials used.

The manufacturer (Kitchellence) also has a 30-refund policy meaning you can return the product and get your money back if you’re not happy with it.

Pros:

  • High-quality materials
  • Cut-resistant safety glove included
  • 3 different slots

Cons:

  • Not serrated blades-friendly
  • There are less expensive options out there

Chef'sChoice 0315101 Versatile Professional Diamond Hone Electric Knife Sharpener with XV Technology for Straight Edge or Serrated Knives 15 and 20 Degree, 2-stage, Black

3. Chef’sChoice Versatile Professional Diamond Hone Electric Knife Sharpener

Price: $$$
Weight: 4.4 pounds
Dimensions: 10.5” x 6.0” x 6.0” (L x W x H)

This is the first electric knife sharpener on our top 15 list and it’s arguably the best money can buy.

The ChefChoice’s sharpener relies on a 2-stage system that utilizes the 5XV edge and double-bevel edge technologies.

As a result, you can use both standard, single-bevel Asian-style knives and those modern double-bevel ones too.

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You’re also getting 2 different slots for two different things:

  • 100% diamond abrasives used for honing and sharpening blades
  • Advanced flexible polishing disks for polishing edges

And perhaps it’s worth mentioning that this product is assembled, designed and engineered on US soil.

Lastly, this knife sharpener also works equally good with both serrated and regular, straight-edged blades.

Pros:

  • Fully electric
  • Handles serrated blades well
  • Superb sharpening and polishing tech

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Far from lightweight

SunrisePro Supreme Knife Sharpener for all Blade Types, Razor Sharp Precision & Perfect Calibration, Easy & Safe to Use, Ideal for Kitchen, Workshop, Craft Rooms, Camping & Hiking

4. SunrisePro Supreme Knife Sharpener For All Blade Types (Best for ‘Suction Power’)

Price: $
Weight: 0.21 pounds
Dimensions: 2.4” x 2.6” x 2.4” (L x W x H)

Up next we have a compact, highly affordable and hands-free manual knife sharpener.

Although this SunrisePro product doesn’t have a bunch of bells and whistles, it still has one trick up its sleeve – the non-slip suction base.

There’s a powerful suction pad at its bottom so that the sharpener stays in place, meaning that you don’t need to use one of your arms to support it.

It’s dead easy to use too since all that you need to do is to fasten it via the suction pad and give the knife a few pulls to sharpen it.

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And thanks to its compact size and ergonomic safety handle, this sharpener is great for taking it with you outdoors.

Even better, it can sharpen outdoor/survival knives too in addition to all kinds of other blades like straight and serrated ones.

Pros:

  • Super compact
  • Very easy to use
  • Quite affordable

Cons:

  • The angle is not adjustable
  • Not ideal if you’d like to get a fine edge

Presto 8800 08800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener, 1, Black

5. Presto 8800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener

Price: $$
Weight: 2.95 pounds
Dimensions: 9.9” x 7.2” x 4.8” (L x W x H)

This Presto 8800 unit is a 120-volt knife sharpener that’s fully electric – you just have to hold your blade in place and it’ll take care of the rest.

Now, the neat 2-stage system will sharpen almost all non-serrated blades out there nice and easy.

This sharpener also relies on sapphire sharpening wheels that are typically associated with professional sharpening tools.

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There are also four slots (2 per stage) – two, stage 1 slots and two, stage 2 slots:

  • Stage 1 slots (precision grinding) are meant for efficient sharpening
  • Stage 2 slots (fine honing) are used for polishing the blade of your knife

You have also 2 angles (per stage) to choose from so that the blade is sharpened (or polished) equally well on all angles.

Pros:

  • Several angle options
  • Fast and easy to use
  • 100% electric

Cons:

  • Not recommended for sharpening quality hunting or folding knives
  • Not serrated-blade friendly

Zulay Premium Quality Knife Sharpener for Straight and Serrated Knives Stainless Steel Ceramic and Tungsten - Easy Manual Sharpening for Dull Steel, Paring, Chefs and Pocket Knives, Sharpens Scissors

7. Zulay Premium Quality Knife Sharpener for Straight and Serrated Knives

Price: $
Weight: 0.51 pounds
Dimensions: 8.0” x 2.2” x 2.5” (L x W x H)

Zulay Kitchen’s sharpener is designed to be a simple, yet professional tool for sharpening both knives and scissors.

The quality transitions to the 2-stage system used:

  • The coarse stage – The incredibly strong Tungsten blades will enhance the sharpness of your dull knives
  • The fine stage – This stage is meant to give your blade a nice, smooth edge via Ceramic blades

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Apart from that, this product comes with an ergonomic and stylish handle with chrome finish, as well as a non-slip base for extra protection.

Zulay Kitchen even claims that this sharpener will be able to sharpen all kinds of knives including kitchen, hunting, serrated, pocket and even scissors.

Pros:

  • Works on a wide range of knives
  • Can sharpen scissors too
  • Great value for money

Cons:

  • Only 2 slots
  • Can’t adjust angles

Wüsthof - 2 Stage Hand-Held Sharpener (2922)

7. Wüsthof 2 Stage Hand-Held Sharpener (2922)

Price: $$
Weight: 0.38 pounds
Dimensions: 9.0” x 1.5” x 3.5” (L x W x H)

The Wusthof 2-stage knife sharpener (2922) is all about German-built quality as it’s manufactured in Germany.

It’s hand-held i.e. manual and as most of the other more straightforward sharpeners it utilizes a 2-stage system:

  • Coarse sharpening stage – This is how you sharpen a knife thanks to the hard carbide, steel blades
  • Honing stage – This stage will give the blade a nice finish with the help of the fine ceramic rods

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It’s also compact and rather stylish, while the handle itself is weighted for added safety.

And don’t worry, the bottom of the handle is made of rubber so it won’t be moving around as you sharpen your knives.

Pros:

  • Simple and easy to use
  • German quality
  • Weighted, non-slip design

Cons:

  • Doesn’t come with a safety glove
  • Could be cheaper for what it is

Upgraded Kitchen Knife Sharpener, Ulwae 3-Stage Chef Knife Sharpener to Restore Non-Serrated Knife Blades Quickly, Safely, and Easy to Use for Kitchen, Camping & Hiking

8. Ulwae Upgraded 3-Stage Kitchen Knife Sharpener

Price: $
Weight: 0.4 pounds
Dimensions: 3.9” x 2.0” x 1.2” (L x W x H)

This is a neat little manual knife sharpener with a sleek design and several different slots.

In fact, this portable sharpener utilizes a 3-stage system consisting of:

  • First stage (advanced carbide) – This coarse setting is ideal for restoring damaged blades
  • Second stage (fine abrasive) – The diamond slot is supposed to give your blade that nice V-shape
  • Third stage (barber-strop ceramic) – The last stage relies on ceramic and it should remove any burrs on the blade

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Although it’s so small and lightweight, this sharpener is still quite sturdy and it’s dead easy to use.

It’s quite versatile too as you can use it to sharpen various knives such as hunting and hunting ones and even one of those steak knives.

It shouldn’t be used for serrated or ceramic knives though!

Pros:

  • Super affordable
  • Quite versatile (compatible with many different knives)
  • Offers 3 different slots

Cons:

  • Doesn’t come with a safety glove
  • Not recommended for serrated and ceramic blades

Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener

9. Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener

Price: $$$
Weight: 1.9 pounds
Dimensions: 5.0” x 9.0” x 5.0” (L x W x H)

Up next we have a brilliant electric sharpener that can help you sharpen your knives or tools like a pro – all that you need is electricity.

Clearly, this product is much different from other electric sharpeners as it relies on abrasive grit belts to do the sharpening.

The belts themselves don’t burn and they’re even replaceable as there are 3 belts to choose from:

  • Fine (6,000)
  • Coarse (P80)
  • Medium (P220)

There are several guides included for all the different sharpening angles.

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Indeed, you can choose between 20° and 25° angles for the different things that you’re going to sharpen.

Speaking of which, apart from knives, you can also use the Work Sharp sharpener on scrapers, shears, lawnmower blades, shovels and other tools.

Pros:

  • Incredibly versatile (works on all kinds of knives/tools)
  • Includes various guides depending on what you’re sharpening
  • Manufactured in the US

Cons:

  • Requires more attention and concentration when sharpening
  • Far from cheap

Smith's PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener, Grey

10. Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener

Price: $
Weight: 0.02 pounds
Dimensions: 3.5″ x 1.0″ x 0″ (L x W x H)

Since we’re all about survival stuff over here it’s only logical to include an ultra-compact pocket multifunction knife sharpener!

This little fellow is incredibly popular, very highly-rated, dirt cheap and above all – it can fit in your pocket.

It comes with two primary stages:

  • Coarse slot made of carbide blades
  • Fine slot made of ceramic stones

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There’s also a folding, tapered and diamond-coated rod that you can use to sharpen both standard and serrated blades.

Last but not least, this knife sharpener comes with a lanyard hole as well so that you can attach it to your belt, backpack, jacket etc.

Pros:

  • Incredibly survival-friendly
  • Mega compact and lightweight
  • Super affordable

Cons:

  • Doesn’t offer more slots
  • Not as good as some of the more upmarket knife sharpeners

Presto 08810 Professional Electric Knife Sharpener

11. Presto 08810 Professional Electric Knife Sharpener

Price: $$
Weight: 5.07 pounds
Dimensions: 18.4” x 11.2” x 2.2” (L x W x H)

This is Presto’s second entry on our list of the 15 best knife sharpeners on Amazon.

But this product has 3 stages (instead of 2), although it’s much larger and heavier.

Now, here’s what the 3 different slots are all about:

  • Stage 1 – Sharpening using a coarse-grinding wheel made of Sapphirite
  • Stage 2 – Provides additional sharpening with a medium-grinding Sapphirite wheel
  • Stage 3 – Provides polishing through a fine-grit ceramic wheel

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You can also select between a few different sharpening angles like ‘Thin’ for filled knives and ‘Thick’ for hunting blades.

Lastly, this Presto knife sharpener can also sharpen Santoku knives too.

Pros:

  • 3-stage sharpening and polishing system
  • Adjustable angles
  • Works with various knives (e.g. Santoku knives)

Cons:

  • Takes quite a bit of space
  • Heavy

Official As Seen On TV Bavarian Edge Kitchen Knife Sharpener by BulbHead, Sharpens, Hones, & Polishes Serrated, Beveled, Standard Blades

12. BulbHead Bavarian Edge Kitchen Knife Sharpener

Price: $$
Weight: 1.1 pounds
Dimensions: 7.7” x 6.9” x 5.0” (L x W x H)

This manual Bavarian edge sharpener is supposed to add a style of class and poshness to your kitchen counter.

It’s made of 2 independent tungsten carbide arms to give your blade a nice and sharp edge.

In fact, this sharpener manufactured by BulbHead will not only be able to polish, sharpen and hone your knives.

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Even better, this Bavarian Edge sharpener is meant to sharpen all kinds of blades including serrated and beveled ones.

And apart from the knife sharpener itself, there’s also an instructions manual included

Pros:

  • Very stylish and classy
  • Works with serrated blades
  • Very simple to use

Cons:

  • A bit flimsy
  • Not that compact

Chef'sChoice 4643 ProntoPro Diamond Hone Manual Knife Sharpener Extremely Fast Sharpening Euro-American and Asian Style Knives Precise Bevel Angle Control Diamond Abrasive Made in USA, 3-Stage, Silver

13. Chef’sChoice 4643 ProntoPro Diamond Hone Manual Knife Sharpener

Price: $$
Weight: 0.5 pounds
Dimensions: 9.2” x 2.0” x 2.0” (L x W x H)

This is Chef’sChoice arguably the best manual knife sharpener that uses diamond abrasives across its 3 stages.

Now, stage 1 and stage 2 rely on 100% diamond abrasives to sharpen and hone your blades, while stage 3 utilizes a micron-sized diamond abrasive for precise polishing.

You’re also benefiting from the precise bevel angle control feature to make your 15° and 20° edges as sharp as possible.

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Another cool thing about this Chef’sChoice sharpener is that it’s equally good for sharpening Western and Asian-style knives.

There’s also a neat Soft Touch ergonomic handle for added grip.

Pros:

  • Features a 3-stage system
  • Compact
  • Serrated blade-friendly

Cons:

  • A bit expensive for a manual sharpener
  • Doesn’t come with a safety glove

AccuSharp 001C Knife Sharpener

14. AccuSharp 001C Knife Sharpener

Price: $
Weight: 0.13 pounds
Dimensions: 5.0” x 5.0” x 5.0” (L x W x H)

The AccuSharp knife sharpener is perhaps one of the most simple and easy to use models out there as you can only do one thing with it – sharpen your knife!

In fact, apart from sharpening knives with it (including serrated blades), you can even use this little sharpener for machetes, cleavers and axes.

It’s compact and pretty straightforward to use although you’ll need both hands – one hand to hold the sharpener and the other to hold the blade steady.

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As for the sharpening blades used on the AccuSharp knife sharpener, they’re made of diamond-honed Tungsten carbide so reliability shouldn’t be an issue.

You can also use it on either hand as the full-length finger guard will ensure that your fingers stay where they’re supposed to.

Pros:

  • Very affordable
  • Compact
  • Ergonomic

Cons:

  • Only 1 slot
  • Your other hand will be occupied holding the knife

10 Inches Honing Steel Knife Sharpening Steel Sharpening Rod

15. 10 Inches Honing Steel Knife Sharpening Steel Sharpening Rod

Price: $$
Weight: 0.71 pounds
Dimensions: 15.5” x 2.0” x 2.0” (L x W x H)

Okay, although this is actually a honing rod (not a true knife sharpener per se) it actually gets the job done pretty well.

That’s exactly what this Utopia Kitchen product does and apart from standard knives, it can sharpen pocket, kitchen and even sport knives.

As for the rod itself, it has a fine surface and it’s made of carbon steel that’s plated with nickel-chrome.

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Also, the ergonomic handle can be used with both hands and even better, it’s made of slip-resistant rubber for extra grip.

There’s a reason why it’s so popular and highly-rated among online users – it’s affordable, quality and simply gets the job done.

Pros:

  • Simple and dead easy to use
  • Works with multiple knife types
  • Easy to clean and maintain

Cons:

  • Far from compact
  • Not as sophisticated as typical knife sharpeners
Best knife sharpener, sliced onions
You knife should be able to slice onions like that – if it can’t, then it needs sharpening.

Best Knife Sharpeners – Buyer’s Guide

When you’re in the market for a quality and suitable knife sharpener, there are several key factors to consider before buying one:

Stages (slots)

Most decent knife sharpeners offer at least two different stages, generally one for sharpening and one for polishing.

However, there are also products that use a 3-stage system so you have to figure out whether you need all the extra slots or not.

For example, here’s what a 3-stage system includes:

  • Stage 1 (sharpening stage) – Removes some of the metal on the blade to create a new, sharper edge
  • Stage 2 (straightening stage) – Restores and straightens the existing edge of the knife
  • Stage 3 (polishing stage) – Fine-tunes the edge, essentially getting rid of any burrs

But unless you have some high-end kitchen knives that require extra care, you’ll do just fine with a standard 1-stage sharpener.

Price

Your budget will determine what kind of knife sharpener you end up with since as a general rule of thumb, electric sharpeners are that much more expensive than standard, manual ones.

Another factor that comes into play when forming the price of a given sharpener is the built quality and materials used.

Generally, more expensive options tend to be more durable and long-lasting.

But for the most part, just look for a knife sharpener that provides the most value for money like our top pick that sits on top of the list above.

Safety

The last thing you want when using your newly bought knife sharpener is to cut one of your fingers.

To prevent that, look for products that have comfortable, slip-resistant handles or an anti-slip base.

Thankfully, our list is full of quality and safe knife sharpeners that are encased and/or have a slip-resistant design.

However, if you need a knife sharpener for outdoor use you’ll need a super small and compact one, so all those fancy anti-slip features will most likely be non-existent.

In this case, just be extra careful when sharpening your hunting or survival knife since you’d have to prioritize compactness and lightweightness over additional bells and whistles.

Electric vs Manual

It’s entirely up to you to decide what type of knife sharpener do you need – a fully electric one or a standard tool by which you sharpen your knives manually.

Electric Sharpeners

Pros:

  • Minimal effort required
  • More functions
  • Intuitive to use

Cons:

  • Require electricity
  • Bulkier and heavier

Manual Sharpeners

Pros:

  • More affordable
  • More compact and lightweight
  • Survival and hunting-friendly

Cons:

  • You have to be more involved
  • Higher chance to cut yourself

Electric knife sharpeners have one main advantage is the hassle-free sharpening process as all that you have to do is hold the blade in place and the sharpener will do the rest.

Manual sharpeners, on the other hand, require more handwork (see what I did there?) since the sharpening motions will be manually done by you.

And as you might imagine the convenience of electric sharpeners comes at a price as they’re generally way costlier.

Nonetheless, go for whichever kind of sharpener suits your needs!

Best knife sharpener, grindstone
This is what a grindstone looks like in case you didn’t know!

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we’ll focus on answering some of the frequently asked questions regarding knife sharpeners.

What is a knife sharpener and why is it important?

A knife sharpener is a tool used to restore the sharpness of a knife blade.

It is an essential tool for anyone who uses knives regularly, whether in a professional kitchen or at home.

Maintaining sharp knives is essential for several reasons:

  • Firstly, sharp knives are safer to use as they require less force to cut, reducing the chances of slips and accidents.
  • Secondly, a sharp knife provides more precision and control, allowing for clean and precise cuts.
  • Finally, sharp knives can enhance the overall cooking experience by ensuring ingredients are cut with ease, resulting in better food presentation and more enjoyable cooking process.

Important information:

  1. A knife sharpener is used to restore the sharpness of knife blades.
  2. Sharp knives are safer, more precise, and improve the overall cooking experience.
  3. Knife sharpeners are beneficial for both professional and home use.

How Does a Knife Sharpener Work?

The way knife sharpeners work is quite simple – they remove tiny pieces of the metal on each side of the knife through abrasive material e.g. diamond abrasives.

This is done by utilizing 2 pieces of abrasive material forming a V shape so that you can give your blade/s a nice edge on both sides.

What is the Best Way to Sharpen Kitchen Knives?

The most optimal way to sharpen a standard kitchen knife is by using a manual knife sharpener such as a honing steel rod .

Alternatively, you might have to use sharpener steel rod  that has a ceramic or diamond powder coating (that’s what differentiates it from honing steel).

The addition of this special coating means that you’ll be able to remove more metal that’s essential if your kitchen knife is hopelessly dull.

Here’s how to do sharpen your knife using a honing or sharpening steel:

  1. Grab the kitchen Western knife that needs sharpening
  2. Hold it against the sharpening or honing steel rod at approximately 22.5°
    Note: Asian-style knives call for a greater angle – 10° to 20°
  3. Start swiping the blade up and down across the steel rod’s length
    Note: Don’t press too hard as the knife’s weight will provide enough force
  4. Clean the now sharpened knife and rod with clean water
  5. Dry them using cloth so that you can also remove any leftover metal pieces
  6. Test the knife on a tomato – it shouldn’t crush it

What Degree Should a Knife be Sharpened?

The exact bevel angle that you should use for the optimal sharpening of your blade depends on its type and specific needs.

Regardless, here are a recommended bevel angles depending on the type of knife that you’re sharpening:

Angle: 30°-35°

  • Machete
  • Cleaver

Angle: 25°-30°

  • Sport knives
  • Hunting knives
  • Survival knives
  • Pocket knives

Angle: 17°-25°

  • Carving knives
  • Chef’s knives
  • Boning knives
  • Kitchen knives
  • Smaller-sized knives

Angle: 12°-17°

  • Asian cutlery (mainly Japanese)
  • Fillet knives
  • Sushi knives
  • Paring knives

Angle: 7°-12°

  • X-acto knives
  • Straight razors
  • Razor blades

Then again, going for a bigger angle is recommended if you’d like your knives to have a more durable edge less likely to chip.

How Many Types of Knife Sharpeners are There?

There are 4 main types of knife sharpeners out there:

AccuSharp 001C Knife Sharpener

1. Handheld/Manual Knife Sharpeners

Manually-operating sharpeners can range from anti-slip base models that you place on a flat surface and ones that you hold upright in one of your hands.

These sharpeners are typically incredibly compact and lightweight, making them ideal for outdoor use since they don’t require electricity as well.

Chef'sChoice 0115207 Hone Electric Knife Sharpener for 15 and 20-degree Knives 100% Diamond Abrasive Stropping Precision Guides for Straight and Serrated Edges, 3-Stage, Gray

2. Electric Knife Sharpeners

This kind of sharpeners relies on electricity to automatically sharpen your blade – you just have to hold it in place.

Generally, electric knife sharpeners come with at least a 2-stage system that includes a sharpening and polishing stage.

They’re also dead easy to use and require minimal effort, although you’d need to have access to electricity to use them.

Utopia Kitchen 12 Inch Honing Steel Knife Sharpening Steel Sharpening Rod

3. Honing / Sharpening Steel

Honing steel rods are meant to hone and fine-tune a blade, not so much as to sharpen it.

While sharpening steel rods provide better sharpening due to the diamond or ceramic (or both) abrasive materials used.

The idea of these steel rods is to maintain an already sharp blade as they won’t be able to bring a dull knife back to life.

Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone 2 Side Grit 1000/6000 Waterstone | Best Whetstone Sharpener | NonSlip Bamboo Base & Angle Guide

4. Sharpening Stones

Sharpening stones are one of the more old school and classic ways for sharpening a blade.

They’re typically made of several different materials (or a combination) silicon carbide, novaculite and aluminum oxide.

And some sharpening stones even add a diamond abrasive into the mix for a sharper edge.

Can any knife be sharpened with a knife sharpener?

While most knives can be sharpened with a knife sharpener, it is important to consider the type of knife and its construction.

Knife sharpeners are generally suitable for:

  1. Straight-edge knives – Knife sharpeners are ideal for sharpening straight-edge knives, such as chef’s knives, utility knives, and paring knives. These knives have a continuous cutting edge, making them easier to sharpen.
  2. Single-bevel knives – Single-bevel knives, often used in Japanese cuisine, have only one beveled side. Specialized knife sharpeners designed for single-bevel knives are recommended for maintaining their edge.
  3. Serrated knives – Traditional knife sharpeners are not suitable for sharpening serrated knives. However, some specialized sharpeners offer serrated knife sharpening capabilities. Alternatively, serrated knives can be sent to professional sharpening services.

Important information:

  1. Knife sharpeners are suitable for straight-edge knives.
  2. Single-bevel knives require specialized sharpeners.
  3. Serrated knives may require specialized sharpeners or professional sharpening services.

How can I choose the best knife sharpener for my needs?

When selecting a knife sharpener, there are several factors to consider to ensure it meets your specific needs:

  1. Sharpening method – Decide whether you prefer a manual or electric sharpener. Manual sharpeners provide more control and precision, while electric sharpeners offer convenience and speed.
  2. Knife types – Consider the types of knives you own and ensure the sharpener is compatible. Some sharpeners may not be suitable for certain knife styles or sizes.
  3. Grit levels – If choosing a whetstone or manual sharpener, consider the grit levels available. Lower grit levels, such as 200 to 400, are used for repairing heavily damaged or dull blades, while higher grit levels, such as 1,000 to 6,000, are used for fine sharpening and polishing.

Important information:

  1. Consider the sharpening method, whether manual or electric.
  2. Ensure the sharpener is compatible with your knife types.
  3. Take into account the available grit levels for manual sharpeners.

How Often Should You Sharpen a Kitchen Knife?

This depends entirely on the type of knife and what you’re using it for.

But since you’ve asked, here are some pointers:

  • Carbon steel knives – These require honing after each use
  • Stainless steel knives – Should be honed once every 2 to 4 uses

Keep in mind that honing a blade on a regular basis will keep it sharp so that you won’t have to sharpen it in the real sense of this word that often.

In fact, knives that are regularly honed might require only 1 sharpening session per year or even 2 years!

What’s the Best Knife Sharpener for Hunting Knives?

Based on the lots of superb reviews online, reputation, price and overall perceived quality, our recommended knife sharpener for hunting knives is the Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener .

It utilizes a 3-position ceramic rod, diamond plates and a leather strop to give your knives a razor-sharp edge.

You’re also getting two angle options – one (20°) for sharpening and one (25°) for honing.

Last but not least, this hunting knife sharpener is ridiculously compact and lightweight so you can take it anywhere you go.

Conclusion

So there you have it folks – based on overall rating, price, reliability, ease of use and value for money, the absolute best knife sharpener out there is the KitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener .

This particular sharpener is also incredibly compact and lightweight, making it survival-friendly.

But hey – you might prefer the convenience of electric knife sharpeners (especially if you intend to only use them at home) and that’s perfectly okay.

Now, what’s your personal favorite knife sharpener and why?

Drop a comment below with your answer!

Survival copywriter at Atlantic Survival Gear | Website | + posts

Evelyn is a young and adventurous spirit fueled by her unwavering passion for the outdoors and survival. From an early age, she was captivated by nature's beauty, and her thirst for exploration knows no bounds.

Evelyn's love for the wilderness extends beyond admiration. She has dedicated herself to mastering survival skills, from building shelters to foraging for food. Fearless and determined, she embarks on thrilling expeditions, conquering rugged terrains and embracing the challenges that come her way.

As an advocate for environmental stewardship, Evelyn strives to protect and preserve the landscapes she cherishes. Through her inspiring journeys and responsible outdoor practices, she encourages others to connect with nature and discover their own inner strength.

She stands as a beacon of inspiration for young women seeking adventure and a deeper connection with the natural world. Join her on an unforgettable journey of discovery, self-reliance, and the boundless beauty that awaits in the great outdoors.

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