Erin Elizabeth
There is a common saying regarding kitchenware in both professional and household settings; a sharp knife is a safe knife. One thing you never want to be caught doing is trying to handle your knives too hard because of a dull edge. Dull knives are one of the leading causes of kitchen accidents.
Even if you take accidental cuts out of the equation, a sharp knife is easier to work with. You’ll be able to work longer with less effort when you’re cutting up your food.
You can see why having sharp knives to work with is essential.
Just as essential is having a good kitchen knife sharpener to help you maintain your cutlery. Below, we’re going to get into the 9 best options and the pros and cons for each of them to give you the best information possible in choosing the best kitchen knife sharpener for your kitchen.
Best Kitchen Knife Sharpeners
Find the best knife sharpeners to keep your kitchen knives, from meat cleavers to steak knives, nice and sharp.
Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone
The first kitchen knife sharpener we’re going to be looking at is the Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone.
The first thing you’ll want to note is that this is a whetstone, meaning nothing is automated.
You’ll have to pay attention to how the knife lays against the stone, which takes practice. A whetstone is not recommended for casual cooks who want a quick fix.
However, as far as whetstones go, this one is quality. It’s double-sided, so you’ll have something available for both well-cared-for knives that need a tune-up and the ones with serious nicks in them.
Shenzhen Knives Electric Diamond Knife Sharpener
If you’re looking for an automated process that maintains a little bit of control and the feel of sharpening your knives, the Shenzhen Knives Electric Diamond Knife Sharpener is not a bad choice.
There are guides built-in, and replacing the worn-out parts isn’t particularly expensive when you get to that point.
The Shenzhen is particularly good if you work with ceramic knives. A few quick passes will have your cutlery as good as new.
This one is very affordable and well worth the cost attached to it, considering most electric knife sharpeners tend to run on the pricey side.
Chef’s Choice ProntoPro Knife Sharpener
The ProntoPro is a pull-through sharpener, meaning no plugs and easy storage.
Multiple stages ensure your knife reaches a true state of sharpness rather than just honing it to a single shape.
Although Chef’s Choice can be a bit on the expensive side, the quality of the sharpener makes it ideal for someone sharpening knives in a professional setting.
It’s quick and easy to use, doesn’t require much maintenance, and will last you a long time, so if you have it in your budget to get one of these it is well worth it.
Accusharp Knife Sharpener
The Accusharp is on the less expensive end of things, but the best thing it has going for it over other choices is that it plays well with serrated knives in a way that electric sharpeners do not.
It’s a good knife sharpener for beginners, easy to clean with a protective grip that keeps your fingers well clear of the blade as you handle it.
It is suited not only for kitchen knives but for hunting knives, as well.
If what you are looking for is a low barrier of entry and versatility, you will not find a better option than this.
Presto EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener
The Presto EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener works much like a pull-through, but it’s automated.
Despite this, it is lightweight and low maintenance. The whole thing is about a pound and 8 inches long making for easy storage.
The angle of the stages of this sharpener is not adjustable, but the good news is that it works just fine on scissors if the blades are thin enough to fit into the slot.
Are there better sharpeners out there? Yes. Can the quality of the Presto be beaten in its price range? I have yet to see it.
Brod & Taylor Professional Knife Sharpener
The Brod & Taylor Professional Knife Sharpener looks weird at a glance, but bear with me.
This sharpener is not recommended for beginners because it has a steeper learning curve.
However, if you already know what you’re doing, this knife sharpener is incredibly versatile. The edges can be adjusted to give you more control over what you’re doing with your edge.
Once you know what you’re doing, it’s quick and works on serrated knives.
If you don’t mind the learning curve and want a good versatile knife sharpener that will give you a professional quality finish, this might be the choice for you.
Work Sharp E2 Kitchen Knife Sharpener
The Work Sharp is fully automated and versatile enough to work on scissors alongside your various kitchen cutlery.
It’s serrated blade friendly and comes at a cost that won’t break the bank, which is an excellent sharpener for beginners, fully guided, and push-button activated.
It’s small enough to pack away in a drawer, which means it will be easy to get out of the way when you aren’t using it and won’t clutter your countertops.
With a low barrier for entry, this is an excellent choice if you want a quick and easy fix for your dull knife needs.
Zwilling V-Edge Knife Sharpener
The Zwilling is a professional-grade knife sharpener that’s built to last and is easy to use.
If you work in a professional kitchen and are going to need to sharpen your knives all the time, you might consider spending the extra money on this one.
While the others will serve, this is the knife sharpener you go for if you want to pamper your cutlery.
However, it is worth noting that this is one of the largest models.
It will not fit away easily in a drawer, and at two and a half pounds, it’s easily one of the heaviest.
Wusthof 10-Inch Sharpening Steel with Loop
If all you’re looking for is a sharpening rod, the Wusthof is one of the best choices.
However, the thing about sharpening rods is that they’re more for ongoing maintenance than upkeep after your knife has already been dulled.
If you have sharp knives and want to keep them sharp, you can save quite a bit of money and space in your kitchen by investing in the Wusthof early and getting it out after every use of your knife.
It’s even got a nifty loop on the back to hang it up when you aren’t using it, so it doesn’t have to take up space in your drawer if you don’t want it to.
Best Kitchen Knife Sharpeners
- Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone
- Shenzhen Knives Electric Diamond Knife Sharpener
- Chef’s Choice ProntoPro Knife Sharpener
- Accusharp Knife Sharpener
- Presto EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener
- Brod & Taylor Professional Knife Sharpener
- Work Sharp E2 Kitchen Knife Sharpener
- Zwilling V-Edge Knife Sharpener
- Wusthof 10-Inch Sharpening Steel with Loop
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of choices for the best kitchen knife sharpener available out there.
Consider how much space you are willing to dedicate to it, the amount of noise you want to put up with, how much effort you are willing to put into learning how to use your sharpener, and the kinds of implements you need to keep sharp.
Regardless of your needs, one of these will surely suit your purposes.
I’d even be willing to bet you have an idea of which one you want right now, don’t you? So what are you waiting for?
Find the best of every type of knife here on Restaurant Clicks so that you can make the most of your home kitchen.
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