What's The Best Knife Sharpener America's Test Kitchen? Consumer Reports

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When it comes to gearing up your kitchen, pinning down the best knife sharpener hardly makes it to the top of your priority list. Most kitchen knives, including the strongest ones like losing their edges with time, which means your cut will have tears and rags.

Therefore, it’s important to consider investing in a set of quality knives, and also sharpeners to help maintain them properly. However, finding the right sharpener is not an easy process, just as pinning down a decent knife.

Sharpeners are available in a wide variety of options, as some models only work on a particular type of knives. Plus, the quality of the sharpener determines the level of sharpness it offers, including how much effort and time you’ve to invest.

What is the Best Knife Sharpener on the Market?

Here are reviews of top rated knife sharpener 2020

Best Premium Knife Sharpener: Chef’s Choice 130 Professional

When it comes to sharpeners to deliver consistency and remove the guesswork, you want to lean towards Chef’s Choice 130 Professional Electric Knife Sharpening Station. This product offers sharp edges anytime, thanks to its built-in precision angle guide.

For one thing, this unit delivers professional stropping, steeling, or sharpening for any type of 20-degree class knives. It’s suitable for sharpening both serrated and straight-edge knives, including pocket, sports, household, and kitchen knives.

On top of that, it comes with three electric sharpening stages. The first stage is a 100% sharpening diamond; the second stage is super-hardened sharpening steel, and the last features flexible stropping disks.

To ensure this handy kitchen tool is up to every cutting task, it features an optimized edge and stabilizing rubber feet to keep the sharpener on the work surface securely. Also, there’s a single On/Off button, which makes operating this unit simple and straightforward. Besides, it comes with a 3-year limited manufacturer’s warranty to assure buyers of high quality.

Pros:

Sharpens both straight edge and serrated knives
Optimum edge to handle any cutting task
Re-sharpens all types of knives
Easy to use
Good value for the money

Cons:

Directions are not very clear.

Best Electric Knife Sharpener: Chef’s Choice Electric Knife Sharpening

This is another brilliant sharpener from Chef’s Choice and the best electric knife sharpener on our list. Chef’s Choice 130 Professional Electric Knife Sharpening Station features an inbuilt precision angle guide that takes out the guesswork and ensures you get sharp edges consistently at any time.

What’s more? It allows professional stropping, sharpening, and also steeling to all types of 20-degree class knives. This model is a brilliant choice for sharpening both straight edge serrated and straight knives, including sports, household, and kitchen.

More so, it utilizes electric 3-stage with stage 1 featuring 100% diamonds, stage 2 features a super-hardened sharpening steel and flexible stropping disks in stage 3 to suit your needs. Nevertheless, Chef’s Choice 130 Professional Electric Knife Sharpening Station offers optimum customized edges to meet more sharpening requirements. Lastly, there’s a stabilizing rubber at the product’s base to ensure the sharpener stays in place during use.

Pros:

3-stage sharpening system
Single on/off button
Stabilizing rubber feet
Built-in precision angle guides
3-year limited warranty

Cons:

Might not be suitable for very thick European cleavers

Best Manual Knife Sharpener: Chef’s Choice 4643 ProntoPro

When it comes to manual models, the Chef’s Choice 4643 ProntoPro Diamond Hone Manual Knife Sharpener is our top pick. This unit is a 3-stage professional sharpener offering ultra-sharp edges on either your 20 or 15-degree class knives.

This model is equipped with 100% diamond abrasives in all three stages. It sharpens and hones your knives using 100% diamond abrasive, which is the initial stage. Finally, the third stage features micron-sized diamond abrasives for polishing the edges.

Chef’s Choice 4643 ProntoPro Diamond Hone Manual Knife Sharpener is an ideal choice for sharpening serrated and straight-edge knives, including pockets and sports knives. Further, it comes with Chef’s Choice advanced CrissCross sharpening technology to deliver the super sharp edge. Also, the abrasive wheels allow you to sharpen simultaneously to eliminate burr edge without much effort.

That’s not all: it features a precise bevel angle control to ensure 15 and 20-degree ultra-sharp edges. For a more durable and stronger razor-sharp arch-shaped edge, it comes with separate stages for sharpening and polishing/honing. Above all, its Soft Touch feature makes gripping easy and secure.

Pros:

Diamond abrasive wheels
Precise bevel angle control
CrissCross sharpening technology
Long-lasting, strong razor-sharp, arch-shaped edge

Cons:

Polishing could be better.

The Best Honing Steel: Utopia Kitchen 10 Inches Honing Steel Knife Sharpening

When it comes to the best honing steel to purchase, the Utopia Kitchen 10 Inches Honing Steel Knife Sharpening Steel Sharpening Rod is our topic for two reasons – functionality and affordability.

This rod helps you hone your knives like knights honing their sword for the battle. This unit is available in two lengths – 10 or 12 inches, which depends on the knives’ average length. However, for those that are more than 6ft tall, the 12-inch long option will likely suit your needs.

The sharpening steel is made of carbon steel and a thick-layered nickel-chrome, which makes it feel decently weighted. The solid plastic handles feature bolter to balance out the metal part’s weight for a more comfortable honing process.

One the handle’s end, there’s a large ring for hanging on a hook or rack on the wall. The well-designed rod will straighten the edge and keep the blade smooth and sharp by taking away those little metal chips.

In addition, – Utopia Kitchen 10 Inches Honing Steel Knife Sharpening Steel Sharpening Rod does not create new edges but helps keep them sharp and ready for any cutting task.

Pros:

Affordable option
Easy to use design
Available in two length options
Ergonomic handle for secure grip

Cons:

Can’t create new edges

Best Pocket Knife Sharpener: Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener

Our next best knife sharpener is Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener for its versatility, compactness, and low sticker price. This product is a must-have for people who often need to sharpen their pocket knives during outdoor activities.

This option is compact enough to fit into your jeans pocket easily. Its rear is enameled with diamonds and folds swiftly into its shell. To ensure it does its job properly, Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener has a very small pit point to allow it to slide into narrow space between your serrated knife’s teeth with ease.

That’s not all: there are two sharpening slots, which get the task done with taking all day. One of the slots is made of carbide to make it coarse for creating a new edge on a dull straight blade, and the other is made of ceramine for smooth honing. The later is suitable for both serrated and straight knives.

Even better, it comes with three sharpening options to allow this sharpener to handle most type of pocket blade from straight camping pocket knife to toothy hunting knife. While Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener can tackle cleavers or swords just fine, it’ll be time-consuming and exhausting.

Pros:

Tackles both serrated and straight blades
Compact, portable
Brillant honing option

Cons:

Might be awkward for people with larger hands

Best knife sharpener stone: Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone

For people looking to pin down a high-quality sharpening stone, then Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone will likely please you. This model comes with everything to ensure a pleasing, sharpening experience.

It includes an angle guide, a beautiful holder, and a double stone. This option features two Waterstones to make it convenient to use.

The blue Waterstone has a grain density of 1000 to sharpen the dull blade with ease, while the white part has a grit of 6000 to hone your knives to satisfaction. Both parts work to ensure experts and newbies can sharpen their knife to razor sharpness.

Keep in mind that the blue part is not meant for use often, but every 4 – 6 months since it’s coarse. The holder is made from bamboo, which makes it feel solid and slip-resistant.

Pros:

Perfect duo grit
Impressive customer service
Includes an Ebook guide
Complete set with everything necessary
Affordable price point

Cons:

The high guide hardness might scratch your knives.

Best Straight Knife Sharpener: Presto 8800 08800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener

Sharpening your dull knives in the kitchen manually is not only time consuming but also tiring, especially your arms. With this electric knife sharpener, you can have your knives sharpen and shiny in less than one minute.

Presto 8800 08800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener is one of the best electric sharpeners equipped with sharpening wheels for polishing your blade. This unit automatically sharpens the knives with effective results without consuming your time.

Pros:

No manual work required.
Sharp edges in less than a minute
Excellent sharpened knives
Easy to use

Cons:

Requires a bit of stroking techniques for impressive results

Best Hunting Knife Sharpener: Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener

If you want a basic knife sharpener to help you get your hunting knives sharper in no time, the Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener can just be what you are looking for. This unit will do all the work without being energy-consuming or breaking the bank.

This model is an ideal choice for newbies tackling a plethora of tools and knives. Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener has only one-speed options and guides to achieve different angles. Sadly, this product is not suitable for 15-degree Asian blades.

Nevertheless, this package comes with nine belts in three levels of coarseness. The Fine belt helps hone and sharpen serrated blades; the Medium belts are best used for typical kitchen knives, and the Coarse belt tackles dull blades and thicker tools.

Pros:

Low price option
Three-ring sets include
Achieve razor-sharp edges
Features angle guides

Cons:

Likely to scratch the blade

Best Sharpener Kit: Edge Pro Apex 4 Knife Sharpening System

Last but not the least is Edge Pro Apex 4 Knife Sharpening System that will sharpen any blade regardless of its shape or size, including serrated knives. Also, it ensures that users can sharpen their blade at the same angle every time with ease.

The Edge Pro water stone not only makes resharpening easy but also offers a mess-free experience. They last longer and cheap to replace when the time comes. Unlike electric grinders or sharpeners, this unit helps improve your knives performance and life since it removes lesser metal.

Further, it offers consistent and reliable results with a mirror-like finish. Edge Pro Apex 4 Knife Sharpening System kit includes DVD and full instruction.

Pros:

Easy to use
Good value for money
Complete kit
Improve knives life and performance

Cons:

Take a bit of practice to get it right

How to Choose the Best Knife Sharpener on the Market

Suitability

The best knife sharpener should be suitable for the task. For longer blades, a large knife sharpener will be suitable, but for razor-sharp blades, sharpener with hard abrasive material is your go-to/

Safety

Mishaps can happen while using a sharpener; therefore, you should only consider a product with some safety features.

Power & Wattage

While it’s normal for household appliances to consume energy, it’s important that the sharpening process period is short.

FAQs about knife sharpener

How long should it take to sharpen a knife?

It might take newbies a longer period to sharpen their knives since they have little or no idea of the process. Usually, it should take 15 minutes with a manual sharper and less for electric models, which are easier and faster to use.

Do knife sharpeners really work?

Yes, they do! Knife sharpeners are available in different options, and work faster and provide better results than stones or any rudimentary methods.

What should you not do when sharpening a knife?

Applying too much force
Less knowledge about the edge
Using lesser stroke
Getting distracted

Beginners Guide To Real Knife Sharpening by video

Check “King Whetstone” on Amazon

Conclusion

Trying to pin down the right knife sharpener can be a tiring experience, which is why we’ve expertly handpicked the top 9 best knife sharpeners on the maket to keep the blades razor shape.