10 Best Knife Sharpeners in 2022 (Chef-Reviewed)
Today, many types of kitchen knife sharpeners are available on the market, ranging from electric sharpeners to whetstones. But different sharpeners have different uses. If you need help choosing one, our buying guide and list of popular products will help you narrow down your choices. At the top of our list was Chef's Choice Pronto Pro Sharpener. Find out why below!
Quick List - Top Knife Sharpeners
Vremi
A Handy Sharpener That Works for Both Western- and Asian-Style Knives
Danilo is an Italian chef who has grown up cooking traditional dishes under his nonna and mamma's tutelage. He has also worked in Italian restaurants in various countries such as Australia and Japan. The skills he has acquired in a home and professional kitchen have enabled him to preserve and expound on Italian cuisine while dabbling in recipes from other cultures.
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How to Choose Knife Sharpeners
Get the Best Performance From a Whetstone
While these may scare amateur cooks, whetstones, also known as waterstones, are the best way for you to sharpen your knives.
Whetstones Help Maintain the Durability of a Knife
Professional chefs often turn to whetstones when they sharpen their knives. Sharpening stones give you a razor-sharp edge, without removing too much material from the knife.
Besides being efficient, whetstones will keep the edge sharper for longer. It’ll take a bit of practice before you get the hang of them, though. Once you do, you will be surprised how easily and quickly you can sharpen your knife.
Whetstones aren’t all made naturally or from stones and minerals. There are two types of whetstones or sharpening stones – natural or synthetic stones. The first is usually made by quartz, such as novaculite. The latter is often made of bonded ceramic, corundum, among other materials.
While it’s true that the ancient Romans used naturally occurring stones to sharpen their weapons and tools, things have progressed, and now even professionals find artificial whetting stones equally efficient. I personally find synthetic stones more reliable in giving me quick and consistent results.
Although, natural whetstones have become a novelty for their beauty and rarity, so you can also consider it a collector’s item. If you’re new to knife sharpening, I recommend going for a synthetic one as these are much easier to work with.
Pay Attention to Grit Size, as They Have Different Purposes
Coarse stones that are less than 1,000 grit are for repairing chipped and damaged knives. Finishing stones range from 40,00 to 8,000 grit.
For regular polishing, 4,000 to 5,000 grit stones are more than enough. But if you’re slicing fruit and vegetables, or filleting fish, then the 8,000 comes into play. It’ll make your knife delicate - too delicate to force its way through red meat, actually - so don’t overdo it.
Whetstones come in various grit sizes, with numbers indicating size. Your typical stone ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 grit. They’re used for dull knives that need a good sharpening.
If you’re chopping away every day, pull out this medium stone about once a month. If you aren't often in the kitchen, then sharpen your knife once every three.
Let’s talk grit, as this is crucial to the result of your sharpening endeavor. It all boils down to what state your knife is in. If you have a damaged or blunt blade, go for 200-1,000 grit.
The value often refers to JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) as many sharpening stones still come from Japan. If you need to sharpen for cutting meat, then a 4,000 JIS stone is advised. Lastly, an 8,000 JIS stone is for filleting fish and cutting fruits or vegetables.
I don’t recommend having multiple sharpening stones unless you’re a professional with multiple delicate knives. The bare minimum is 300 and 1,000 grit. You can also find stones with double grit on each side for extra convenience.
Look for Pull-Through or Electric Options for a Speedy Fix
Besides whetstones, which are a little harder to use, pull-through or electric sharpeners that are more friendly for beginners are also an option. They tend to be more convenient and adjustable, too.
Perform Quick Touch Ups With a Pull-Through Sharpener
Also, it’s light and compact, so it’ll easily fit into your kitchen drawers. However, there are some sharpeners that aren’t suitable for single-edged blades, so make sure your sharpener is compatible with your knife.
Because only the very edge of the knife touches the grinding stone, it won’t stay sharp for long. Use these for a quick touch up between full sharpenings.
Electric Knife Sharpeners for Convenience and Speed
Maintain a Perfect Edge Between Cuts With a Sharpening Steel
Regularly realigning the blade will help maintain it, so not only do your slices slide like butter, but you also don’t need to pull out your sharpener as much. These are usually made of metal, and you can also find some that have been coated in diamond or ceramic.
There is often a misconception that the sharpening rod is for sharpening because you see someone use it right before cutting something like turkey. However, you should treat this tool as a quick fix. You cannot use this as a substitute for sharpening but for honing.
Whenever you feel resistance as you slice, that means your blade isn’t as aligned as before. A sharpening rod will put all of the microscopic parts of the blade’s edge back together like a nice haircut. When you don’t feel improvements after sanding, it’s time to sharpen.
Make Sure You Know What Knives You Have First
So before purchasing, you need to consider some additional factors, such as the type of knife (European or Japanese), the type of blade (single-edged or double-edged), material (stainless steel, carbon steel, or ceramic), the shape of the blade (straight, curved, and so on), and the angle of the blade.
Note that European knives use a 20-degree angle and Asian knives use a 17-degree angle. You'll have to look at this when purchasing a sharpener, but electric ones that can adjust are the easier choice. Serrated blades don't work with all sharpeners either, so make sure to check the product descriptions.
My Japanese father-in-law, a chef of 40 years, passed down one of his treasured knives to our family. It was a beautiful double-edged hand-crafted chef’s knife that required careful sharpening. It had about 60 HRC or degrees Rockwell C (the hardness level of a knife). Due to its relatively high HRC, we needed a higher grit to match.
If you have a knife ranging from 52 to 56, a sharpening stone of up to 800 grit will do. Medium hardness between 53 and 59 will require about 1,000 to 3,000 grit. High hardness knives, 60 HRC and above, will need grit from 3,000 to 8,000.
Knowing the HRC of your existing knife allows you to pair it with the correct grit because using a 3,000 grit stone on 52 HRC will do nothing.
10 Best Knife Sharpeners Ranking
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chef’s Choice Pronto Pro Sharpener | | Simple, Accessible, and Keeps Knives in Tiptop Shape | |
2 | Sharp Pebble Premium Knife Sharpening Stone | | A Beginner-Friendly Way to Get a Professional Edge | |
3 | Chef’s Choice 290 Angle Select Hybrid Sharpener | | An Electric and Manual Hybrid Machine | |
4 | Vremi 4-Stage Manual Knife Sharpener | | A Handy Sharpener That Works for Both Western- and Asian-Style Knives | |
5 | Winco Stainless Steel Sharpening Steel | | Touch Up Your Knife's Edge With a Reliable Steel | |
6 | Chef’s Choice Electric Knife Sharpener｜0101500 | | Quick, Easy, and Versatile Machine for Japanese-Style Knives | |
7 | KitchenIQ 2 Stage Sharpener | | Very Light, Compact Design for Easy Storage | |
8 | Kota Japan Sharpening Steel | | Diamond Sharpening Steel to Keep Blade Edges Aligned | |
9 | LINKYO Electric Knife Sharpener | | A Simple, Wallet Friendly Electric Knife Sharpener | |
10 | Tatara Sharpening Stone 3000/8000 Grit | | Perfect Stone for a Mirror-Like Finish |
Simple, Accessible, and Keeps Knives in Tiptop Shape
This comes in handy when you don’t have time to set up an electric sharpener or work with a whetstone. It requires no set-up. Slide a dull knife through the slots, three, four times each, and the blade will come out really sharp. In terms of accessibility, effectiveness, and speed, this sharpener is head and shoulders above the rest.
Reviewers with German knives had damage issues with using this sharpener, though one reviewer mentions that you have to use a sawing motion and use plenty of pressure to sharpen knives with this. However, most other reviewers say that the Pronto Pro works fast and extremely well.
A Beginner-Friendly Way to Get a Professional Edge
This stone can sharpen all types of knives. The 1000 grit is great for sharpening dull blades, while the 6000 grit leaves you with a polished finish. The base sports a slip-resistant bottom, so it’ll sit firmly on a kitchen counter. On top of that, there’s a rubber cover for the stone, preventing it from slipping.
Reviewers report that the stone does break and wear down quite easily. One received it with the corners worn down. Other reviewers were fans of the dual-sided grits and the comprehensive eBook.
An Electric and Manual Hybrid Machine
Since this thing is laced with the hardest mineral in the world, it works quickly—and also leaves you with an even finish. And reviewers love that it works as described, sharpening their knives with minimal effort.
A Handy Sharpener That Works for Both Western- and Asian-Style Knives
The sharpener also works for other straight-edged blades–such as paring, fillet, and steak knives–but not for serrated blades. Because of its compact size, it’s portable and fits easily into kitchen drawers. Whenever you need it, whip it out and sharpen dull knives with only three or four pull-throughs.
One reviewer mentions that it takes a lot of metal off your knives—so be aware. On the other hand, reviewers love that it's easy to use and its compact size makes it easy to take on-the-go or store in a drawer.
Touch Up Your Knife's Edge With a Reliable Steel
The handle is plastic and big, though. If you have smaller hands, this steel might not be the most comfortable. However, you can use it to make sure your knives stay sharp. Since it’s long, you only need a few passes to true up the blade.
Reviewers find that the steel scratches easily. It's also bigger than expected, as the steel is 12-inches, not including the handle. Reviewers like that you can use the ring on the end to hang it on the wall, and they say it works well to touch up knives.
Quick, Easy, and Versatile Machine for Japanese-Style Knives
This sharpener is versatile, with three different slots. With slot one, you can sharpen dull or even damaged knives. The second slot refines blades that need some touching up. Flexible stropping disks in the third slot polish the blade until it’s razor-sharp. It’s easy to set up, easy to use, and spits out quick results.
Some reviewers say their package came without the instructions or seemed repackaged. It also isn't recommended for use on knives that you are particularly attached to, as it can ruin the finish. Reviewers like that it's safe and fast to use plus sharpens fairly well.
Very Light, Compact Design for Easy Storage
The item is super light, weighing only 0.48 of an ounce. This compact sharpener can be easily stored in a drawer and is great if you have a tiny box kitchen.
Reviewers say it chips blades, taking off more metal than they wanted. Some also say that, since the device is quite small, you have to be very careful not to cut yourself when pulling the blade through. But, overall, reviewers say it works well on dull, old knives and the non-slip handle is truly non-slip. It's also portable.
Diamond Sharpening Steel to Keep Blade Edges Aligned
The diamond is excellent for hard steel, like the kind found in Japanese knives. However, exercise caution when handing German knives, as they use softer steel. Over honing can scrape material off the blade. But, at least you get an unconditional lifetime warranty.
Reviewers say that the diamond plating wears off within a year of use, meaning that this is only able to temporarily keep your blades sharp. But they also say that just 3 to 4 strokes on the steel restores your knife. It works well on steel knives.
A Simple, Wallet Friendly Electric Knife Sharpener
Reviewers say that the sharpener doesn't sharpen as well as advertised and that it misses the portion close to the handle because of a design flaw. The suctions on the bottom of the device also do not hold.
On the other hand, reviewers say that it does sharpen blades enough for around the house use and to follow the instructions closely, so you aren't shaving too much metal.
Perfect Stone for a Mirror-Like Finish
You’ll love how thinly you can cut vegetables and how easily you can work with delicate fish. The stone, which is made from professional grade aluminum oxide, soaks up water very well and is easy to use.
Many reviewers tried the stone out and felt that the grit levels were actually lower than advertised, so it didn't work as well as expected. Others were also unhappy it didn't come with instructions on how to use it. However, positive reviewers like that the stone uses water rather than oil and that it does provide a sharp edge.
More Expert Tips for Sharpening Knives
Danilo says, "If you’re new to sharpening using a whetstone, keep in mind that it’s all about the angle. Put the blade - sharp side inwards - at a 90 degree on the stone. Then, half this to get 45 degrees. Tilt once more in half to get about 20 degrees for European knives and a bit more to 17 degrees for Japanese knives.
I recommend choosing a sharpening stone with a surface area close to your blade's size and length. This way, with every swipe, you get a more even finish."
More Knives for Different Purposes
Not all knives are equal. Some are better suited for cutting bread, some for fish, and some for spreading jam. If you're looking for more specific types of blades, check out our other articles below.
Buying Guide Reviewed by Chef Danilo Specchiulli
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
Top 5 Knife Sharpeners
No. 1: Chef’s Choice｜Pronto Pro Sharpener
No. 2: Sharp Pebble｜Premium Knife Sharpening Stone
No. 3: Chef’s Choice｜290 Angle Select Hybrid Sharpener
No. 4: Vremi｜4-Stage Manual Knife Sharpener
No. 5: Winco｜Stainless Steel Sharpening Steel
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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