The Best Knife Sharpeners, According to Experts
You’ve probably heard it before: A dull knife is far more dangerous than a sharp one. With a dull knife, you could end up hacking away at something until you slip and get a finger. Whereas a sharp knife will cut right through nearly anything — like it’s butter. How do you make sure you have a sharp knife, though, short of constantly buying new ones? You just need a sharpener or a honing steel (we’ll explain the differences below).
While it’s entirely possible to ruin a good knife with some overzealous sharpening, lots of gadgets out there now make it totally easy for a novice to sharpen their own knife at home. We looked to see what knife sharpeners and honing steels our competitors are recommending and then we added our own two cents at the end.
Let’s get to the point. (Sorry.)
The Differences Between a Knife Sharpener and a Honing Steel
Now before we get into the top picks, let’s talk about the difference between a sharpener and a honing steel:
Knife sharpeners: When a knife is sharpened, bits of the blade are ground and shaved off to produce a new, sharp edge. This can be done with a water stone, whetstone, or an electric or manual knife sharpener. It’s not something that has to be done too frequently — usually just a few times a year, depending on how much you use a certain knife. Note: Water stones and whetstones are harder to use correctly, so it’s not surprising that they didn’t come up in our searches.
Honing steels: A honing steel essentially pushes the edge of the knife back once it’s started to roll over (which it will naturally do over time with use). It corrects the edge without shaving off much, if any, of the blade. Honing doesn’t actually sharpen the knife but it will make your knife seem sharper. This should be done more often than sharpening — some people hone their knives before every use!
Do you have a knife sharpener or honing steel that you like that didn’t make this list? We want to hear all about it! Tell us about your favorite finds in the comments below.
Chef'sChoice Trizor XV EdgeSelect
The Best Knife Sharpener, According to Wirecutter
The editors at Wirecutter tested 11 manual and electric knife sharpeners before picking the Chef’s Choice Trizor XV Edge Select. They said it quickly and reliably put a razor edge on almost any kind of knife. (Yes, the product does work with serrated knives, but Wirecutter only tested straight-edge blades.) It had the most consistently impressive results, is super durable (it’s what’s been in their test kitchens for years), and is basically impossible to use incorrectly. See, the slots have spring-loaded guides that grip the blade at just the right angle and keep it from shifting around during the sharpening process. Do yourself a favor, though, and read (and hold onto!) the manual that comes with the sharpener. The folks at Wirecutter say it’s one of the selling points of this gadget and that it’s super detailed to really help you minimize mistakes.
Winware Stainless Steel Sharpening Steel
The Best Honing Steel, According to Serious Eats
When it comes to honing steels, you’re not going to see much difference in performance from brand to brand. (The difference, for the most part, comes from the materials — whether it’s stainless steel, ceramic, or diamond. The latter of the two actually remove some metal from the blade, which means they have a slight sharpening effect.) That said, Serious Eats picked this stainless steel option from Winware because it’s comfortable to hold, feels decently solid, and is inexpensive. If you want a ceramic option, Serious Eats picked this one from DMT, which, funny enough, is known for its diamond-honing steels. For diamond, Serious Eats went with this reasonably priced Messermeister. Their post explains the differences in more depth, if you’re curious.
KitchenIQ Knife Sharpener
The Best Knife Sharpener, According to Amazon
At just $10, it’s hard to beat the price of the KitchenIQ knife sharpener. And it’s not just the price that shoppers like — this thing really works (Check out our review of this knife sharpener for an in-depth breakdown.) Some reviewers come back years later to say that they’re still shocked at how well it’s working, while new shoppers leave reviews saying they’re amazed it works so well. especially given the pricepoint.
The Best Knife Sharpeners, According to The Kitchn
As for us, there are a couple of ways to go when it comes to a knife sharpener. If your knives are just so-so, you only have a few on the nicer end, or you don’t cook all that often, go with the $10 one from KitchenIQ. Again, it’s just $10 bucks! And yet it has some impressive results.
If your knives are on the nicer side (like, $100 each) or you cook (and chop!) regularly, it’s worth splurging on one of two options: the electric Chef’sChoice option or another pick we love, the manual Tumbler Diamond Rolling Knife Sharpener Set. We know what you’re thinking: Ugh, one more gadget that I have to store! And we hear you. But they really will make a difference and keep your knives on point.
The Chef’sChoice pick has three sharpening slots, which, when used in order, gradually build up a smooth, incredibly sharp edge on any knife. And you really don’t even need to know what you’re doing — the guides hold your knife at the correct angle (read: you can not mess this up). We stand by this choice for novices and even highly skilled home cooks (This pick also made our annual Kitchn Essentials list!). It just takes the risk out and means your knives are one less thing you have to worry about.
Tumbler Diamond Rolling Knife Sharpener Set
If you’re looking for a manual knife sharpener, however, you really can’t beat the Tumbler. While there’s a slight learning curve, using this sharpener is easy, and dare we say, fun? You basically just attach the knife to the angled base magnetic sides, then roll the sharpening wheel along the side. This way, you don’t have to worry about guesstimating the correct angle like you would using a whetstone, and you can use a softer touch than you would with a pull-through sharpener, resulting in less overall metal loss and preserving your knife for a longer time. It’s also super stylish, too, with a wooden finish and stand that helps it all stay organized in a neat little station that looks great on your counter. Another reason to give this sharpener a try? The Kitchn readers can score a 10% discount using code KT10 at checkout!
