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Many culinary experts agree that a whetstone is the most effective tool for sharpening knives. When used correctly, it can achieve a razor-sharp edge while minimizing metal loss from the blade. However, mastering the use of a whetstone can be quite challenging for beginners. For those who don’t own high-end single-bevel knives, electric or pull-through sharpeners offer a practical solution for maintaining a sharp edge with minimal hassle. While a honing rod, often included in knife sets, is useful for edge maintenance, dull knives pose a safety risk, increasing the likelihood of slips that can lead to cuts and injuries. Therefore, having a straightforward sharpening option on hand is essential for ensuring your safety in the kitchen.
The Importance of Sharp Knives
Dull knives can be hazardous because they tend to slip instead of cleanly slicing through food, creating potential hazards for your fingers. Furthermore, using a sharp knife significantly enhances cooking efficiency. Sharp blades facilitate faster food preparation, leading to cleaner cuts that promote even cooking of vegetables and proteins. While all knives will eventually require sharpening to maintain their functionality, some styles demand it more frequently than others. For instance, carbon-steel knives generally retain their sharpness for longer than stainless-steel or high-carbon stainless-steel alternatives, but they typically come with a higher price tag. For those who possess premium carbon-steel knives, learning to use a whetstone or opting for professional sharpening services is advisable. Conversely, stainless-steel knives are more prevalent in home kitchens and often need sharpening more regularly. In such cases, an electric sharpener can streamline the sharpening process, making it quick and efficient. If you’re finding that your knives need more frequent sharpening, the following options can help keep them in excellent condition without relying solely on a whetstone.
The Best Electric Knife Sharpener: Chef’s Choice 15 Trizor XV EdgeSelect Professional Knife Sharpener
The Chef’s Choice 15 Trizor XV is well-regarded for its ability to rejuvenate and reshape knife edges effectively, making it a reassuring choice for even the most hesitant knife users.
Benefits: Can sharpen single-bevel knives, sharpens at a precise 15º angle, and offers the ability to sharpen, hone, and polish with a strop disc.
Drawbacks: Lacks an adjustable angle guide and may require practice for first-time users.
This model features three stages of sharpening, allowing it to both sharpen and polish various kitchen knives. Unlike manual sharpeners or whetstones—where the knives are pushed against a fixed material—the Trizor utilizes a motor-driven approach with spinning disks, closely resembling the grinding belts used by professionals. It employs diamond abrasives for both the sharpening and honing phases, as well as a flexible abrasive material for polishing. Impressively, it can convert a standard 20º edge into a sharper 15º angle, mimicking that of Japanese-style chef’s knives. A key advantage is its separate slots for left and right-sided blades, enabling it to sharpen single-bevel Japanese knives, an ability most electric sharpeners lack. Furthermore, the flexible polishing wheel adapts to serrated knife edges, which is a rarity in this category of sharpeners. In our tests, the Trizor was remarkably efficient, restoring our chef’s knives to the point they could slice through paper with ease. Thanks to its quick operation, it is easy to refresh your knives even during the busy weeknight dinner rush. The spring-loaded guides securely hold blades in place while the sharpener’s weight ensures stability during use.
While the Trizor offers ease of use, mastering its operation can take some time. The extensive manual provides detailed instructions for sharpening various knife types, including Western, Japanese, and serrated knives, each requiring different techniques. Its multiple speed settings may also necessitate some experience to navigate effectively. It is essential to note that the Trizor does remove more material with each use compared to manual sharpeners, which could affect the longevity of your blade over time.
The Best Budget Electric Knife Sharpener: Work Sharp Culinary E2 Kitchen Knife Sharpener
The Work Sharp Culinary E2 provides an affordable sharpening option, priced at less than half of the Trizor, making it ideal for the average home cook.
Benefits: Can sharpen single-bevel knives and includes a timed shut-off feature to prevent oversharpening.
Drawbacks: Offers some flexibility in the sharpening slots, though not ideal.
Although the Work Sharp E2 is simpler than the Trizor, it often meets the sharpening needs of many home cooks. It’s straightforward to set up and operate, featuring two sharpening slots with opposing angle abrasive discs to create a 20° edge on both sides of a knife. A ceramic honing slot deburrs the knife after sharpening. It automatically shuts off after one minute, which is particularly helpful for anxious or inexperienced users. The sharpness achieved with the Work Sharp was satisfactory, allowing knives to slice through tomatoes effortlessly. We appreciated its price point and the option to replace grinding disks, making this sharpener a good investment over time. It suits those who aim to maintain their kitchen knives without delving into the depths of knife sharpening expertise.
While the E2 produced effective results, it did not render knives as sharp as the Trizor, which is to be expected given the lower price. Additionally, while the slots provided reasonable accommodation for various knives and kitchen shears, we wished for a tad more security in their fit.
A Professional Knife Sharpener Upgrade: Tormek T-1 Kitchen Knife Sharpener
Offering performance comparable to professional models, the Tormek T-1 stands out as a top-tier knife sharpener, although it comes at a higher price point that may not suit every home cook.
Benefits: Features an adjustable angle guide and professional-quality sharpening discs, and can sharpen single-bevel knives.
Drawbacks: High cost and may be more powerful than beginners might anticipate.
Among electric knife sharpeners, the Tormek T-1 has proven to be the best we’ve encountered. However, its cost may be prohibitive for casual cooks. This model is a user-friendly scaled-down version of Tormek’s renowned professional sharpeners. It utilizes a diamond-coated abrasive wheel that spins slowly, providing optimal control over material removal. Angle settings can be adjusted from 8° to 22°, offering customization that is typically unavailable with pull-through sharpeners. Additionally, the honing wheel polishes and deburrs the edges, though users must follow instructions carefully to avoid damaging the wheel. Other notable features include a surprisingly quiet motor and a built-in magnet that captures metal shavings during use. The Tormek can sharpen one side at a time, making it useful for single-bevel knives.
While intuitive to use compared to many sharpeners, caution is recommended as this tool can remove more metal than intended if misused. Furthermore, the honing wheel lacks guides, resulting in a learning curve for achieving optimal polishing results.
The Best Manual Sharpener: KitchenIQ Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener
For users seeking a basic yet effective tool for regular knife maintenance, the KitchenIQ Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener is both affordable and user-friendly.
Benefits: Extremely easy to use and very inexpensive.
Drawbacks: More suited for maintenance rather than major revitalization of knife edges.
The KitchenIQ is designed with simplicity in mind, housing a coarse sharpening slot with a carbide “V” alongside a ceramic honing slot. While it may not restore a knife’s edge to its original glory, it effectively refines dull blades. This sharpener acts as a more aggressive honing tool rather than a full-fledged sharpener. Its compact size allows for quick maintenance after each use, making it accessible for those who may not need advanced sharpening solutions.
It is worth noting that while this manual sharpener is inexpensive and functional, it cannot match the performance of higher-end options like electric sharpeners or whetstones. Its static sharpening “V” angle is fixed at 20º, limiting its versatility compared to pricier alternatives, but it satisfies basic expectations for its price point.
How We Tested Knife Sharpeners
To assess the effectiveness of each knife sharpener, we utilized our dullest knives on various challenging vegetables, such as butternut squash, as well as on more delicate items like tomatoes. After completing the evaluations, each knife was sharpened according to the guidelines provided with the tooling, followed by a reassessment of their cutting efficiency. We also considered ease of use and overall design across the board.
What Makes a Good Knife Sharpener
A good knife sharpener should excel in two primary areas: sharpening effectiveness and user-friendliness. In our evaluation process, we prioritized high-quality materials, such as diamond abrasives and ceramic components, ensuring the safety of our knives during the sharpening process. If a sharpener was convoluted or difficult to use, it didn’t present clear advantages compared to traditional whetstones. Features like adjustable angles were evaluated for effectiveness, along with safety mechanisms to reduce the risk of nicks and cuts. Ultimately, the core criterion was the sharpness attained on our knives. We were surprised to discover that a significant number of sharpeners failed to deliver adequate cutting performance.
Other Knife Sharpeners We Tested
Horl
The Horl sharpening system distinguishes itself from our top selections by employing a magnetic block that holds the knife at designated angles (15 or 20 degrees), complemented by a rolling cylinder that uses diamond abrasives for sharpening and honing. However, the system’s manual nature restricts edge sharpness based on user-applied pressure, and it did not consistently yield the desired sharpness in our tests.
Tumbler Diamond Rolling Knife Sharpener
Similar in design to the Horl, the Tumbler uses magnetic assistance for angle adjustment and features a rolling tumbler mechanism. However, testers noted issues with the magnetic strength, raising safety concerns as higher applied pressure could risk displacing the knife during use.
Work Sharp Precision Adjust
This sharpener features a swivel arm for angle adjustments and was able to deliver exceptionally sharp edges. However, its multi-piece design made it cumbersome, necessitating assembly for each use, which detracted from its overall usability.
Brod & Taylor Professional Knife Sharpener
While this pull-through model was costly, its lack of a honing stage and unintuitive design did not justify its price point. It failed to deliver satisfactory results, placing it on par with better electric options.
SunrisePro Supreme Knife Sharpener
As yet another entry in the pull-through category, the SunrisePro disappointed due to its single-stage sharpening process, resulting in rough edges, and a less secure suction-based attachment method.
Zwilling V-Edge Sharpener
Despite offering multiple angle guides and different ceramic inserts, the Zwilling V-Edge faltered in execution due to an awkward setup and steep pricing that didn’t result in performance commensurate with its cost.
Presto EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener
Although equipped with angled slots, the Presto EverSharp proved challenging in positioning the knife accurately, showcasing limitations in sharpening capability, particularly when compared to other electric options.
Wusthof Easy Edge
Though recognizing the appeal of a belt-style grinder—commonly used by professionals—the Wüsthof Easy Edge disappointed by offering only one belt, thereby limiting its effectiveness. While it allows for upgrades, prospective buyers may find it more advantageous to invest in a more capable sharpener such as the Tormek.
Additional testing conducted by other collaborators.
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