There are many different types of knife sharpeners out there, but when it comes to achieving the very best edge retention, there’s nothing better than the best electric knife sharpener that money can buy. The main reason this is true is because of the speed and precision of gaining the sharpest edge possible that an electric knife sharpener can provide versus a manual sharpener or whetstone.
Many would think an electric knife sharpener would be for kitchen knives but they also can sharpen pocket knives, swords, axes and garden tools. Basically, anything that needs to be sharpened with an edge. Some models also have the capability to sharpen serrated knives like bread knives and steak knives.
If you want to get the sharpest edge on all of your knives, use one of our best-picked sharpeners. Read on to find what the best models are and which may be the right fit for you and your needs.
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You may have to pay a little more for this machine than most others, but in the long run, it’ll last the longest out of all of them. If you use this machine correctly then you’ll gain the sharpest edges on all your blades in a safe manner.
Features & Benefits
Pros
Cons
Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition
Rating: 9.5/10
Editorial Review
This machine is top of the line when compared to others. Usually, you’d see this machine being used by professionals, but it can also be used at home. The machine is able to sharpen just about anything including serrated blades. It’s able to get in areas most other sharpeners cannot get into, plus the belts are flexible which make it easier to get the job done.
The belts are interchangeable and range in varying degrees of coarseness from rough to very fine. And there are features that allow you to change the speed of the belts for extra fine honing and/or to change the angle of the cut to get a precision fine edge on the blade.
What Others Are Saying
Positive – people love this machine because of the speed and efficiency it’s able to provide while creating a sharp edge. They also love how safe and easy the machine is to use. Very well worth the cost of the machine.
Negative – There are very few complaints about this machine and the ones that are, are mainly user errors. The machine may make scratches on the blade and tend to dull the blade if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Best Mid-priced Electric Knife Sharpener
Chef’sChoice EdgeSelect Professional Electric Knife Sharpener
This machine is a little over $100 which may seem like a lot but it does come with a 3-year warranty to protect it from all defects and damages that may occur while in use. It’s very easy to use and has plenty of safety features.
Features & Benefits
Pros
Cons
Chef’sChoice EdgeSelect Professional Electric Knife Sharpener
Rating: 9.5/10
Editorial Review
This knife sharpener is very easy to use with safety being number one in mind. It’s able to use straight out of the box without any kind of calibration or setup needed.
The machine has three different levels of sharpening, one for each intensity level that is needed. The first stage is for grinding, the second is for fine-tuning and the third is for polishing. The polishing stage can also be used to sharpen any type of serrated blade. The machine has rubber feet to keep it stabilized while running which makes it very sturdy and quiet to use.
What Others Are Saying
Positive – people love how easy the machine is to use that just about anyone could use it safely. The
machine is quiet and does not move around while it’s in use. It’s able to grind out even the dullest edges into sharp ones.
Negative – while there are very few complaints, they all seem to be user errors. Things like the blade being damaged when running through the cycles. Some people wish the settings were adjustable instead of
set to achieve a better edge.
This machine is very cheap to purchase and is made with lesser quality materials, but if you’re on a budget then this machine is for. You just have to make sure to use it correctly and safely. Plus, it’ll sharpen serrated blades.
Features & Benefits
Pros
Cons
Presto Professional Electric Knife Sharpener
Rating: 9/10
Editorial Review
This sharpening system is one of the cheapest machines on the market available currently for only $40. However, it’s made of lesser quality plastic and doesn’t come with a warranty.
It’s able to sharpen knives in three different stages and there is a lever to change the speed of the grinding stone. It can sharpen most knives but doesn’t sharpen serrated.
What Others Are Saying
Positive – pretty much people love how cheap the machine was to purchase. Sure, there will be some
flaws but if you know what you’re doing, you’ll be able to get a quality edge every time. Just treat the machine with care and it’ll deliver results.
Negative – people don’t like the fact that it’s made of cheap materials which make the machine shake a little while in use with some of the bigger knives. Some feel that the safety precautions weren’t considered when this machine was made.
Best Value Electric Knife Sharpener
Work Sharp Culinary E5 Kitchen Knife Sharpener with Ceramic Honing Rod
This machine will cost a little bit more but you get a lot that comes with it. It has the highest safety rating when it comes to electric knife sharpeners, which is very important when you are dealing with dull blades. A separate honing rod is also delivered — most other machines don’t include one in their sets.
Features & Benefits
Pros
Cons
Work Sharp Culinary E5 Kitchen Knife Sharpener with Ceramic Honing Rod
Rating: 9/10
Editorial Review
This is one of the safest knife sharpeners available for purchase on the market today. It comes equipped with finger guards, a one-touch operating system and guiding blocks making it very easy to use as well as very safe. Whenever the machine is not in use, it’ll automatically shut off after just a few seconds.
The machine is belt driven which makes it easier to sharpen in the hard to reach areas of the blade. And it comes with a honing rod to smooth out the rough-edged burr of the blade when it needs just a little fine-tuning instead of using the machine.
What Others Are Saying
Positive – the machine is really easy to use without any kind of calibration needed. Just place the knife in and go. People also like all the safety precautions that come with this machine as most other knife sharpeners don’t have these features.
Negative – out of the very few complaints the clearest of them is that people wish you could control the speed of the belts to hone in more finely. They also wish that the edge degree could be changed.
Buyers Guide to Electric Knife Sharpeners
How to Choose the Best Electric Knife Sharpener?
These machines usually don’t come cheap so it’s important to make sure you know plenty about them in order to make a smart decision.
Since these machines have a lot of moving parts, it’s wise to make sure that they’re covered by some kind of warranty or guarantee from the company. This will protect the machine from any damages or defects that may occur while in use or during the shipping process. If you can’t get one with a warranty then try not to pay too much money for one otherwise you may end up with a hunk of scrap metal on your hands.
You also want to make sure the machine is made with quality materials and great construction. Not only is the process of sharpening knives in this manner dangerous but so is the machine as well if you don’t know how to properly utilize one. Make sure to educate yourself on how the machines work and all the ins and outs of the machine before making a purchase.
What to Look for When Purchasing a New Electric Knife Sharpener
Electric knife sharpeners are very versatile. However, not all models will be able to do the same functions as each other.
Some of the more expensive models come with added features that allow you to sharpen a larger selection of knives. The ability to change the grit of the roller and plates will allow you to sharpen all kinds of knives. With a heavy plate or coarse grit roller, you’ll be able to gain a finer edge on a stainless-steel knife or heavier and harder metal. Whereas if you need to sharpen a softer metal or a high carbon steel knife, you would need to use a soft stone and a smooth roller. If you don’t follow these simple rules and decide to sharpen a knife on the wrong kind of grit or strength of the stone, then you’ll end up chipping or damaging the knife.
You may also want to look for different slots on the machine to see if it can change angles or depth for special knives or serrated blades. Not all machines will do these types of knives and it’s not completely necessary but is a huge bonus. An automatic shut-off switch or some type of safety guard will also come in handy to protect yourself from the machine while in use.
Furthermore, you’ll want the motor to be powerful enough to spin the heavy stones at a variable speed. The slower the roll, the more chance to hurt yourself or damage the blade itself.
Construction and Design
When it comes to the overall design of the model, they’re all pretty much the same looks-wise. The way the machine looks will not be all that important because one of these appliances is not necessarily an object to be displayed in the kitchen, so looks don’t matter.
What matters is the construction and integrity of the machine as a whole. You want to make sure the device is very sturdy and doesn’t shake while it’s in use. Maybe try and find a machine that’ll attach to a table or counter to secure the machine when in use or use a rubber bottom or rubber leg ends to prevent it from moving around while you sharpen knives.
Try to buy a machine that doesn’t make a lot of noise when you turn it on either. The process of sharpening the knife will be loud in itself so you don’t need any other extra noise distracting you from the task at hand.
There are some machines that have a tendency to spit out metal shavings as you grind the knife. Try to get a machine that has a mechanism or guard to deter these shavings away from you or to the floor.
How Often Should You Sharpen Your Knife?
If your knives at home get a normal amount of use as any other family when preparing food at home than the general rule of thumb is about 2 or 3 times a year. If you think your knife is becoming dull and soft then, by all means, sharpen the knife. But you should not need to use an electric knife sharpener every time you use your knife. Most knives will hold an edge for a long time and may never need to be sharpened but the cheaper knives will need to be sharpened a little more often than others.
If you work in a kitchen and the knives get used constantly all day by multiple people, then this will be a little different. Depending on the quality of the knife and the usage it should be somewhere between 2 weeks and 2 months to sharpen the knife on an electric knife sharpener. A better way to hone your knife’s edge before using every day would be to use a sharpening steel. This tool basically redefines the knife’s edge.
Feature image: Nndanko