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Extending the life of your knives is easy with our top picks. Manual Drilling Machine
Summer is a freelance food and travel writer who began by writing about Swedish cheesemaking traditions in 2018.
A good knife sharpener helps keep your favorite chef’s knife performing at its best. Those crisp, clean, precise cuts we all love from a brand-new knife won’t last forever — not unless the blade is properly maintained. Sharp knives are much safer to work with, too. Dull knives require more force to use, which increases the risk of slipping and catching a finger instead of slicing cleanly through that pesky onion.
While knife sharpening may sound like something you should leave to the pros, it’s perfectly possible to safely sharpen your knives right at home, especially since a quality sharpener can be had without breaking the bank.
Knife sharpeners come in a variety of prices and sizes, and which one you choose will largely depend on your budget, kitchen storage, and personal preferences. Our lab experts recently put 22 knife sharpeners to the test, considering their durability, grip, ease of use, and overall value. Six emerged victorious for their ease of use and excellent performance. Topping the list is our pick for best overall, the Wusthof Easy Edge Electric Sharpener. Read on to discover the best knife sharpeners on the market.
Pros: An easy-to-use sharpener from a leading name in knives.
Cons: It’s a splurge.
German-made Wüsthof knives are some of the best you can buy, so it’s no surprise we were impressed with the brand’s Easy Edge electric sharpener. We found the instructions clear and the sharpener easy to use clear, with helpful indicator lights for each stage of the sharpening process, including shaping, sharpening, and refining the knife edge. Sharpening with the Easy Edge significantly improved our test blade, so it easily passed tests slicing through paper, carrots, and tomatoes. We'd recommend the Wüsthof Easy Edge to both novice knife sharpeners and experienced kitchen pros.
Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore
Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore
Pros: An effective, affordable manual sharpener with a minimal curve.
Cons: We suggest doubling the pull-through strokes of the manufacturer’s suggestion.
We were pleasantly surprised by this Longzon four-in-one sharpener and how well it helped a dull blade feel sharp and new again. We liked how sturdy it felt, and how easy it was to use. Though instructions only call for five to 10 pulls of the blade, we found the sharpener performed even better when we doubled the strokes to 20 or more. The pull-through design of this knife sharpener means it can also be used to sharpen scissors, too, which is a nice perk. Overall, this sharpener is an excellent value and one you’re likely to actually use on a regular basis.
Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore
Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore
Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore
Pros: A safe and sturdy device that sharpens three different edge types.
Cons: Users must understand how to check for burrs.
While this sharpener only clocks in at a few dollars more than our pick for best overall, we consider it worth the price based on its performance. That said, the Chef’sChoice Pro didn’t do as great of a job with sharpening serrated knives, and the instructions describe checking for burrs when sharpening a knife — which isn’t something everyone is familiar with. Extra homework aside, this is a fantastic option for anyone considering investing in a high-quality electric knife sharpener.
Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore
Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore
Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore
Pros: A user-friendly, quick sharpener with clear instructions.
Cons: It takes a little more effort to sharpen the heel of a blade.
If you like the idea of an electric sharpener but are less enthusiastic about dropping $200+ on one, Chef’sChoice Model 320 may be your pick. We appreciated how easy it was to use this sharpener. In fact, the manual is so clear that it outlines the parts of a knife, how to position the knife, and how many pulls are required. We calculated that it made one dull blade 70% sharper, making it a great value and suitable for either a professional or home kitchen.
Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore
Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore
Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore
Pros: A great, easy-to-use knife sharpener that eliminates the guesswork.
Cons: It doesn’t quite bring back that “brand new” edge.
We enjoyed working with the Chef’sChoice ProntoPro. This sharpener performed well with serrated knives — not a claim to be made by all sharpeners — but we did note that the blade only came back to about 50% of its original glory. Compared to never sharpening your knives, though, the ProntoPro produces great results. Its clear instructions and simple design make it easy to start sharpening your knife collection.
Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore
Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore
The Wüsthof Easy Edge Electric Sharpener edged out the competition thanks to its effectiveness and ease of use. It is capable of standing up to professional environments as well as home kitchens. For sharpening on a budget, the Longzon 4-in-1 Knife Sharpener offers an impressive price-to-performance ratio.
Choosing a manual or electric sharpener depends on personal preference and budget. Higher-end electric sharpeners can be pricey, while cost-effective manual sharpeners can produce excellent results. Consider how likely you are to use the sharpener, and don’t be afraid to spring for a more costly model if it means you’re more likely to maintain your knives!
All of the knife sharpeners we tested for this list were of the pull-through variety, which tends to be easier to use. A good sharpening stone is also highly effective for maintaining your blades, but there’s a steeper learning curve.
Consider the cut of the blades you’re interested in sharpening. Be sure that the sharpener you’re eyeing can accommodate those scissor blades or serrated knives, for example.
The sharpeners we’ve recommended here all come with clear instructions and were praised by testers for their ease of use. That said, don’t be discouraged if it takes a moment or two to determine which angle and pressure to apply to best sharpen each blade.
The most versatile sharpeners can accommodate knife blades of different lengths and widths, and generally will offer more than one type of grit to ensure a smooth, even edge.
We tested a total of 22 knife sharpeners (10 electric pull-throughs and 12 manual pull-throughs). Using the Edge-On-Up Professional Edge Tester tool, we were able to measure initial blade sharpness.
Our tests evaluated both straight and serrated edges by slicing through sheets of paper, brunoise carrots, tomatoes, and — for serrated knives — a baguette. Knife sharpeners were evaluated according to their usability, design, effectiveness, and value.
While some pros insist on sharpening knives before each use, the more realistic option is to implement a regular sharpening schedule. “I sharpen my knives once a month, but that might be overkill for someone cooking infrequently,” says Jessica Randhawa, a chef and recipe creator at The Forked Spoon. “If cooking regularly, sharpening knives at least once a month is good practice. Otherwise, sharpening knives every two months is a safe practice to get into.”
Sharpening with a stone is all about the angle — between 10 and 20 degrees, according to experts — and drawing the blade carefully across the dampened surface several times.
While ceramic knives can be sharpened, it’s best to avoid tackling this one yourself. “Ceramic knives are known to chip when sharpening at home,” Randhawa says. “It’s best to have a professional with experience in sharpening ceramic knives handle them accordingly.”
Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore
Presto 08800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener ($40 at Amazon) The EverSharp sharpened very effectively, leaving one blade 80% sharper than we found it. But, it also left scratches down the slides of the blades. If this doesn’t bother you, the Presto EverSharp may be worth a closer look. It feels sturdy enough to last a while.
Presto Professional Electric Knife Sharpener ($43 at Amazon) This is another solid choice from Presto, improving the sharpness of smooth and serrated edges by about 60% each. We wish it left the tips of the knives sharper, though.
Mueller Professional Electric Knife Sharpener ($20 at Amazon) The Mueller cut through produce easily, for the most part, but its edge wasn't clean enough to finish off carrots without them splitting. We found it did a better job of sharpening the middle of the knives than the tips. It's also not compatible with serrated blades.
Cylinder Liner Honing Machine This piece was written by Summer Rylander, a food and travel journalist who has written about food, beverage, and cooking products for Food & Wine, Allrecipes, Serious Eats, and The Kitchn. The recommended products were determined using data resulting from Food & Wine’s knife sharpener tests.