Have you ever been cutting vegetables only to realize that you aren’t actually cutting them? This happens to the best of us. While knives are made to easily slice through objects, we find that sometimes they just fail to accomplish this. Knives can get abraded by excessive use and neglect, and can lose their sharpness very quickly. That is why we present to you the top five best knife sharpeners. Knife sharpeners are extremely handy when you need to sharpen your knife to give it an extra boost, or for when you want to make old knives work better.
So without further ado, let’s dive in to read about the best knife sharpeners!
Contents
How Knife Sharpeners Work
Most knife sharpeners make the use of miniature steel wheels to sharpen the fine cutting edge of the knife. This is easily done by repeatedly moving the knife back and forth and allowing the wheels to do their job. Electric knife sharpeners use electricity to rotate the wheels at a very fast speed to do the sharpening for you.
A stone sharpener uses the abrading quality of stone to sharpen the edge of the knife, allowing for a smooth edge that can cut through anything easily. Sharpening steel can also be used, which does not actually sharpen the knife but only straightens the edge, making it more smooth and easy to use.
All in all, almost all knife sharpeners work in the same way. They use steel and sometimes stone to straighten the edge of the blade and to sharpen it further. The blunt edge is thinned until it reaches the desired sharpness, and then the knife is as good as new!
How to Find The Best Knife Sharpeners
We desire quality, and only knife sharpeners that have the following properties can fulfill our needs:
- Great Performance
The best knife sharpeners have the best performance. This only means great sharpening capabilities, but also good grip, a smooth surface, rough abrasive sharpening wheels, and an easy to use and understandable design. But it all comes down to the sharpening ability. Many cheap brands will promise very thin edges, but only a few can actually accomplish that. Always look for quality.
- Abrasive Gritty Surfaces
Abrasive rough surfaces are important for a smooth silky finish. The grit in the stone or steel allows the blade to be fined until it reaches the desired quality. This is extremely important when you want effective long-lasting sharpness. A gritty surface promises better and faster sharpening than a smooth polished surface. Look for metal with a hard finish when buying sharpeners. For wheel sharpeners, it is near impossible to see if the wheels are smooth or rough, as they are usually covered with a metal casing.
- Safety Features
Sharpening a knife is a dangerous task. You need to be pretty careful with pull-through knife sharpeners as the knife can sometimes slip and land on the table, cloth, or worse; your hands. It is extremely important for knife sharpeners to have safety features. Buy a sharpener that holds the knife in place and allows as little slipping as possible. Electric sharpeners should be your next best option as you don’t have to even move the knife, so there is little to no risk. However, some electric options can be cheap and prone to overheating or electrocuting. A good tight handle is a great option too, as it helps keep the knife in place.
- Multiple Sharpening Stages
Seeing how compact modern knife sharpeners are, it is near impossible to sharpen multiple knives at once. But sharpening wheels, just like knife blades, can get blunt as well. It is important that the sharpener has multiple sharpening platforms, so that the other can be used in case the first one goes blunt or jams.
- Easy Grip
Most sharpeners come with wooden or plastic handles. The handle shouldn’t be too polished as it’ll be too slippery. Buy a sharpener with a rough handle, specifically designed to create a maximized grip.
Types of Knife Sharpeners
- Electric Sharpeners
Electric sharpeners utilize electricity to provide rapid torque to the sharpening wheels. Electric sharpeners may use batteries, or they may need to be charged or plugged in during use. These may cost more and may use up more power, but they do not have the risk of slipping.
- Pull-Through Sharpeners
Pull-through sharpeners usually make use of steel wheels to sharpen the knife. The knife has to be rubbed against the sharpening stage for a smooth finish. While these are cheaper, they certainly have a risk of slipping and causing damage to property or life. Still, they do not present any electrical hazards.
- Sharpening Kits
Sharpening kits are modern equivalents of knife sharpeners. They usually contain three or four stones or hone sharpeners, a clamp for holding down the knife, Allen wrenches, and honing oil. While some love to use this, we do not see the need for excessiveness.
- Stone Sharpeners
Stone sharpeners use a hard gritty stone surface to sharpen knives. These are actually pretty effective as they use the hard abrasive surfaces of natural rocks to give the knife a fine edge.
Top 5 Best Knife Sharpeners Reviews
| Short Reviews | AUTOMATIC | Best for | MULTIPLE STAGE SHARPENING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chef’s Choice | Yes | Electric sharpening | 3-Stage |
| Linkyo | Yes | Kitchen | 2-Stage |
| Kitchen IQ | No | Money | 2-Stage |
| Smith’s Pocket Pal | No | 2-Stage | |
| Zulay Kitchen | No | Manual sharpening | 2-Stage |
Chef’s Choice 1520 – Best Electric Knife Sharpeners
The Chef’s Choice Hone doesn’t just have a fancy name, it also performs perfectly well on almost all types of knives. It has been designed to recreate both a 15 degree and a 20-degree angle, which is only one of the reasons why it makes its way to our list.
Angle Adjustment
The Chef’s Choice Sharpener has an angle adjustment of 15 degrees and 20 degrees. Use the 15 degrees setting for Asian style cutlery and the 20 degrees setting for American and European knives.
Polishing Discs
The Chef’s Choice Knife Sharpener uses 100% steel abrasive polishing discs to sharpen the edges of knives. This product has also been approved by Canadian chefs and certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). The discs are extremely safe, and protect from slipping.
Polishing Discs
The Chef’s Choice Knife Sharpener uses 100% steel abrasive polishing discs to sharpen the edges of knives. This product has also been approved by Canadian chefs and certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). The discs are extremely safe, and protect from slipping.
Features
- 15 and 20-degree angle adjustment
- Sharpens Asian, American, and European style knives
- Certified by Underwriter Laboratories
- Approved by Canadian chefs
- Modern urban design
Can Sharpen Asian, American And European Knives
You won’t believe it, but the Chef’s Choice Diamond Hone can work on almost all types of household cutlery. The Hone can be used to sharpen Asian, American, and even all sorts of European knives. This, in turn, allows for a wider range of versatility, and the Chef’s Choice Sharpener can be used for almost all types of kitchen utensils.
May Require Additional Parts to Work
One downside of this product is that it requires additional parts in order to work properly. It may need an AC adapter, as the required voltage is 110V. This may cause damage to the product.
Pros
- Extremely safe
- Looks chic on the kitchen counter
- Certified by various organizations and industries
- Angle can be easily adjusted
Cons
- May require an AC adapter
LINKYO Knife Sharpener – Best Kitchen Knife Sharpener
We didn’t know about the Linkyo Knife Sharpener before, but once we found out, we didn’t want to know about anything else. This unique sharpener not only has a great urban design, but also has two sharpening stages.
Two Stage Sharpening
The first sharpener refines the edge and reshapes the angle, whereas the second stage polishes the blade and keeps it well equipped for the next use. This is why we absolutely love the Linkyo Knife Sharpener. It’s easy to use, and works great with all kinds of knives.
Safe and Secure
The Linkyo uses a heavy-duty suction cup to hold the knife in place and prevent slipping. This makes it easier for the user to use the honing machine.
Features
- Two-stage sharpening platform
- Comes with a 3.5 feet long cord
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Backed by a 1-year warranty policy
- Safe; secures the knife in place
Comes With A 3.5 Feet Long Cord
The Linkyo Knife Sharpener is powered by electricity and ships with a 3.5-foot long electrical cable with a polarized plug. You don’t have to spend more on additional parts and requirements. This means lesser additional purchases and lesser trips to the hardware store. It’s extremely cheap and simple to use!
Is Not Waterproof
One downside of using the Linkyo Knife Sharpener is that it is not waterproof. Avoid putting in the dishwasher or submerging in water.
Pros
- Automatically adjusts angle
- Has a 1-year warranty
- Ships with additional parts included
- Safe and secure
Cons
- Not waterproof
- May arrive broken or refurbished
Kitchen IQ 50009 – Best Knife Sharpener for the Money
Rarely do people dislike the Kitchen IQ Knife Sharpener. This unique sharpener also features a two-stage design and an optimal grip, which is why it makes its way to our list.
Two Stage Design
The Kitchen IQ uses a two-stage design for sharpening the knives and polishing them. The first stage is for sharpening dull and damaged blades, while the second is for honing already sharp knives. The process is simple and effective.
Carbide and Ceramic Blades and Rods
The carbide blades and ceramic rods used in the two-stage sharpening process are definitely one of our favorites. These allow easy sharpening with a refined polished edge, giving you optimal performance.
Features
- Two-stage design for easy polishing and refining
- Carbide blades for optimal sharpening
- Ceramic rods for polishing and touch-ups
- Easy to grip and stays in place
- Manually operated
- Pull-through sharpener
Easy to Grip and Stays in Place
Say goodbye to slippery surfaces, as the Kitchen IQ Knife Sharpener changes everything. This product is well equipped with sturdy sharpening stages that hold the knife in place and creates friction to prevent slipping. The entire body of the sharpener is easy to grip.
Manually Operated
A drawback to the Kitchen IQ is that it is manually operated. This means that this exceptional product is a pull-through and is not automatic.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Safe and secure grip
- Can sharpen both coarse and sharp knives
- Polishes easily
- Easy to clean up
Cons
- Not automatic; requires knowledge of angles and sharpening skills to use
Smith’s Pocket Pal – Best Pocket Knife Sharpener
If you’re looking for a small compact solution to a blunt knife, then we’ve got the product that’s made for you, Smith’s Pocket Pal. This miniature beast is a definite plus, as it uses carbide and ceramic blades to function. This is what makes it our personal favorite.
Carbide and Ceramic Blades
We’ve seen the carbide and ceramic blades before, but never like this. The Smith’s Pocket Pal makes use of the traditional blade designs to allow for easy two-stage sharpening and polishing. This is what makes it one of the best in the world. We absolutely adore the performance of the Pocket Pal.
Compact Design
There’s a reason why it’s called the Pocket Pal. This mini sharpener can fit right in your pocket! It is small, compact, easy to use, and will remain by your side whenever you encounter a blunt edge.
Features
- Small compact design
- Traditional look
- Wooden handle for holding the product
- Two-stage sharpening
- Carbide blades and ceramic rods ensure full potential
Traditional Look
Although the Pocket Pal may not sport a modern look, the traditional antique look is definitely an eye-catcher. The design is simple and unique, and the long wooden handle is minimalism. The light azure color and weathered look actually make it all the more interesting and outstanding.
May Not Be Durable
Some customers have reported that the ceramic and carbide blades dull easily. This was definitely a disappointment.
Pros
- Two-stage sharpening system for maximum performance
- Uses high-quality blades
- Easy to handle and support
- Fits in your pocket
- Looks antique and interesting
Cons
- May arrive late
- Customer service may be a bit inconvenient
Zulay – Best Manual Knife Sharpener
The Zulay Kitchen Knife Sharpener is one of the very few knife sharpeners that combines the traditional look with modern design. This machine has a two-stage sharpening surface, and can even work on serrated knives!
Traditional yet Modern
While the entire world had completely forgotten about manually operated traditional products with handles, the Zulay brings it back and gave it a very new modern twist. This is what makes the Zulay Sharpener perfect for everyday kitchen use.
Durable Construction
The Zulay has a tough surface and a durable body that ensures that this knife will work for a long time before rusting, jamming, or breaking apart. And if it does, you can get a warranty and a refund.
Features
- Two-stage sharpening platform
- Cost efficient
- Sleek and modern design
- Traditional structure
- Durable and easy to use
Cost Efficient
Who actually wants to spend money for a knife sharpener? Not many people do, that’s for sure. The Zulaay KJicthen Knife Sharpener ensures that you’re saving money while also ensuring that there is no fuss and no sudden malfunctions. The Zualy Kitchen Sharpener is definitely one that is budget friendly.
Not Suitable For Serrated Knives or Scissors
As people who love to cook, we also love to use all sorts of objects and utensils. However, the Zulay may not be efficient with serrated knives or scissors.
Pros
- Easy to use and handle
- Only costs a few dollars
- Looks great in the kitchen
- Strong, durable, and sophisticated
Cons
- Manufacturing faults may be present
- Also read: How to Boil Corn on The Cob
Conclusion
We have compiled the top 5 best knife sharpeners for different categories. If you’re looking for a best electric knife sharpener then we would recommend Chef’s Choice 1520 due to its ability to sharpen all kind of European, Asian and American style knives. The use of 100% diamond abrasives will give your knife an incredible durability and sharpness.
Zulay Kitchen knife sharpener is one of its kind when it comes to manual sharpeners. You can sharpen all kind of knives and other different tools like scissors and other cutleries. Don’t trust our words, what do you think about the 100% satisfaction money back guarantee.
Are you searching for the cheap best knife sharpener then we would recommend KitchenIQ 50009. The price tag is not the only reason for the recommendation but the features and convenience it offers at this low price. The use of carbide blades and ceramic rods will give the knife quick edge settings. Patented Edge Grip will polish the knife for quick touch-ups.
We can only wrap this up with one thought: that knife sharpeners are no easy game, and choosing the best one can be difficult. Nonetheless, when you do find the right one, knife sharpeners can be extremely useful.
We hope you enjoyed our top five list, and have found it to be helpful. Our list was chosen not form our own personal opinions, but from the opinions of customers worldwide, making this list one of the most authentic ones out there.