5 Of The Best Knife Sharpeners That Bring Back The Edge To Your Favorite Knives!

How do you ensure that your knives stay sharp? Well, it’s a no-brainer: with knife sharpeners!

There are practically thousands of different knife sharpeners around the world to choose from. From the cheapest to the bank breakers, we will be taking a look at what I think are today’s 5 best knife sharpeners that can bring the edge back of your dull knives.

But first things first: go and check your favorite knives if they are still sharp. If not, then, this article will definitely help you decide the best knife sharpener for you.Take note though, if your knives are Japanese-made or Japanese Influenced, then, you should NEVER EVER use knife sharpeners. Instead, use a whetstone or a special knife sharpener that is specifically built for these kinds of blades.

Why, you might ask?

The reason is because there are differences between Western knives and Japanese inspired knives which means that caring for them require different approaches. Below, we will quickly discuss the main differences between Japanese and Western knives.

Japanese-Made Knives VS. Western-Made Knives

1. Material

Japanese made knives are made of two types of substances which are hard steel and soft iron forged together. This amalgamation results in the distinct curved feature many Japanese knives and swords are known for. Western knives on the other hand are made only of a single material – hard steel.

2. Hardness & Sharpness

Compared to Western-made knives, Japanese-made knives are harder and sharper because of the mixed materials that were used in forging the blades of the knives. Based on the Rockwell Scale, the hardness of Japanese-made knives ranges between 62-64 RHC. For Western-made knives, their Rockwell Scale usually ranges just between 52-56 RHC. This means that Japanese-made knives have better cutting quality compared to its Western-made counterpart. The only downside of Japanese-made knives is that because of its higher Rockwell scale, Japanese-made knives are more difficult to sharpen.

3. Weight

Japanese-made knives are more lightweight compared to Western-made knives. Japanese knives are specifically made to be handled by smaller hands for faster cutting and slicing.

4. Lifetime

Because Western knives are softer than their Oriental counterpart, they are also sharpened more often, thus, making their lifespan shorter compared to Japanese knives.

Now before we move on to our top 5 best knife sharpeners, let’s also first establish the characteristics one needs to look for when choosing a knife sharpener.

Characteristics That Make A Good Knife Sharpener

• Ability to produce smooth edges

Whether electric or manual, the ability to produce smooth edges without damaging the blade of the knife is the most important feature of a knife sharpener that you should look for. Also, choose a knife sharpener that is best suited for the kind of knife that you are using.

• Choose a knife sharpener with a hard surface

There are three types of knife sharpener materials that you can choose from: diamond, polished ceramic and tungsten carbine. Of these three, the diamond sharpening material is the hardest.

• Multiple sharpening stages

It is wise to choose a knife sharpener with multiple sharpening edges because you can use this in sharpening different dull or damaged knives that you do not want to throw away. At the first stage, the knife is sharpened and a small material is removed, while at the last stage the finer stone material only polishes the knife and gives the blade a smooth edge.

• Safety features

Even experts opt for knife sharpeners that come with great safety features. The most important thing to remember when choosing a knife sharpener is that it should be comfortable and safe to use so that accidents such as cutting your fingers while sharpening a dull knife are avoided.

Here Are My Picks for the Top 5 Best Knife Sharpeners

1. Smart Sharp By: Lantana

Material: Plastic

Advantages:

• Sharpens wide-serrated and straight-edged knives
• Three slots for preparing, honing and sharpening

Disadvantage:

• Not for Japanese and ceramic knives

It is one of the best knife sharpeners because:

The Smart Sharp Knife Sharpener is one of the bestselling knife sharpeners in the market today. It is not only versatile but it also sharpens three ways. The Smart Knife Sharpener can prep, sharpen, and hone steel and hardened steel blades with its ceramic, tungsten carbine and diamond rod sections. People who have already used this knife sharpener say that what they liked most about the Smart Sharp is its ergonomic handle that provides maximum grip and safety to the user. The Smart Sharp Knife Sharpener can also be used for a whole range of different knives.

2. Anysharp Knife Sharpener with Powergrip

Material: Plastic

Advantages:

• Can sharpen hardened knives
• Safe suction grip

Disadvantage:

• Shaves a lot of metal off

It is one of the best knife sharpeners because:

Weather your knife has a hardened steel blade or serrated edges, the AnySharp knife sharpener can sharpen it without any problem. It is also the most recommended knife sharpener for beginners because it is easy to use and it’s also much cheaper than most knife sharpeners in the market. The AnySharp’s “Power Grip” function is also one of its best assets. The suction system of the AnySharp can attach the sharpener securely to any worktop making it safe even for first time users.

3. Global Combination Whetstone MS-471

Material: Plastic, synthetic grit

Advantages:

• Works on damaged blades
• Pro-grade results

Disadvantage:

• Not as simple as the options above

It is one of the best knife sharpeners because:

This knife sharpener comes with two-sided whetstone that can be used even for knives with damaged blades. Its rough side can bring blunt and chipped knives back from the edge, while its medium rough side is responsible in maintaining the blades sharpness.

The Global’s large and small guard rails allows for the perfect angle for sharpening knives big or small. It also has a non- slip base for additional safety.

4. Salter Electronic Knife Sharpener

Material: Stainless Steel

Advantages:

• Easy to use
• Sturdy
• Safe
• Reliable

Disadvantage:

• Can’t be used for Japanese or serrated knives

It is one of the best knife sharpeners because:

The Salter Electronic Knife Sharpener is one of the easiest knife sharpeners to use that even a five year old can operate it ( but we do not recommend you letting your kids do the knife sharpening for you).

To use the Salter, just put the blade of your dull knife into the sharpener and let the Salter do the job. DONE!

5. Robert Welch Signature Handheld Sharpener

Material: Stainless steel

Advantages:

• Comfortable to hold
• Non-slip properties
• Great performance for less

Disadvantage:

• It only has one setting

It is one of the best knife sharpeners because:

You will never go wrong with this knife sharpener. It’s proven tested and very affordable. It also comes with a 25 year guarantee and it is the knife sharpener that is used by most starter chefs around the world. So, that speaks a volume about the greatness of this knife sharpener.

This knife sharpener’s safety features are also superb. It has a comfortable weighted handle, non-slip base and sharpening wheel guard. The only disadvantage of the Robert Welch’s Handheld Sharpener is that it can only be used for non-serrated western knives. So, check your knives first before using this knife sharpener.

Final Word

Choosing a knife sharpener is not easy. And with the different kinds of knife sharpeners out there that brag that they are the best, it is wise to do a little bit of research about the product that you are planning to buy. With our top 5 best knife sharpener picks, I hope that you will now have an idea on what a good knife sharpener should be. The choice is yours!

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