A knife sharpener is a handy tool, and if you love cooking, you know that the quality of the cut is essential for the success of a dish or its decoration. Kitchen knives, scissors, and blades must be sharpened after a certain time to function fully. Fortunately, the cost of knife sharpeners is minimal and can ensure good efficiency and durability.
Over time, even the best knives are naturally damaged due to the materials and substances they come into contact with. A good knife sharpener can restore the blade edge bringing the knife practically like new, and not less importantly, it saves on the long distance as it will be necessary to change the knives much less frequently.
Also, most knife sharpeners can sharpen camping knives and garden tools, Swiss knives, hunting knives, or scuba divers. Hence, the field of use is very varied. Considering the low price of the electric knife sharpener manuals, investing in this type of accessory is undoubtedly an intelligent choice.
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How to choose a knife sharpener: Types and Characteristics
The first thing to choosing the best knife sharpener is determining if we want to use it only for sharpening knives or other tools such as scissors or screwdrivers. In this case, we need a universal knife sharpener. The second important aspect is to sharpen straight and serrated blades.
Having made these first distinctions, let’s see the other options to be evaluated.
Electric knife sharpener
An electric knife sharpener simplifies things and can easily sharpen even worn knives. Place the knife in the appropriate housing; the discs or wheels will do the job. The housing allows the right angle of the blade to be maintained without errors.
A professional electric knife sharpener will be equipped with three slots, one coarse-grained for rough sharpening or pre-sharpening in the case of heavily damaged blades, one for sharpening, and one for finishing and polishing. The best electric knife sharpeners are also designed to prevent blade overheating.
Manual knife sharpener
A manual knife sharpener provides a longer and more precise job. It is generally a tool suitable for the most experienced and takes great care of its knives and tools. In addition, a manual knife sharpener can sharpen a few simple movements with a well-kept blade, while bringing a very worn blade back into good condition will be more difficult.
A manual knife sharpener, how does it work? First, it is necessary to pass the blade on the instrument’s surface, which can be of various materials, as we will see later.
The most difficult thing in using a manual knife sharpener is finding and maintaining the right blade inclination, so some have a V-shaped insert to guide sharpening. A professional manual knife sharpener can also have rods to sharpen serrated knives.
Materials
Among the materials used for sharpeners, we find the diamond capable of sharpening any blade, even the most damaged, ceramic, sapphire, or tungsten. These materials are used to construct grinding wheels, discs, or rods to sharpen from various angles depending on the knife sharpener’s design. The materials used naturally also affect cost. For example, diamond discs will be more expensive than ceramics.
Electric or Manual knife sharpener?
An electric knife sharpener is suitable for everyone, is easier to use, and requires no effort. In contrast, the manual knife sharpener is more difficult for those unfamiliar with knives.
The latter does not need electricity and can also be available in tiny, pocket-sized versions, perfect for taking with you while hiking camping, or outdoor sports.
Another difference between electric and manual knife sharpeners is safety. Generally, electric knife sharpeners are designed to insert the knife blade into the slots without damaging the hands. Moreover, they have non-slip feet to adhere perfectly to the work surface for safer use.
It must be stable and positioned on a flat surface. Even among the manual knife sharpeners, we have models with special slots to insert the blade. The movements for sharpening require precision and dexterity and may not be suitable for everyone.
The best knife sharpener
To help you choose the best knife sharpener according to your needs, we now select the 10 best products currently on sale with their main characteristics, types, and prices.
![Longzon 4-in-1 Knife Sharpener [4 stage] with a Pair of Cut-Resistant Glove, Original Premium Polish Blades, Best Kitchen Knife Sharpener Really Works for Fruit Knife and Steel Knives, Scissors.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41ZEyGV5cEL._SL160_.jpg)
- Versatile 4-Stage Knife Sharpener: Experience the ultimate sharpening solution for a wide...
- Added Safety with Included Cut-Resistant Glove: At Longzon, customer safety is our top...
- User-Friendly Design: Compact and convenient, our knife sharpener offers broad...
- Precise & Long-Lasting Sharpness: Any serious chef knows quality knives are expensive....
- Powered by Diamonds: The knife sharpening kit is plated with nature's hardest,...
- A Finer Edge: A proprietary stainless steel helix disc on the other end of the kitchen...
- CONVERT YOUR KNIVES: Ideal for converting traditional 20-degree factory edges of household...
- DIAMONDS: Advanced stropping stage and 100 percent diamond abrasives for sharpening...
- EASY TO USE: Advanced, patented flexible spring guides for automatic adjustment and...
- 3-Step Knife Sharpener: With our incredible 3-slot system, we’re revolutionizing the art...
- Easy to Use: Whether you’re right or left-handed, the ergonomic handle allows you to...
- Cut-Resistant Glove Included: At Kitchellence, we put the safety of our customers above...
- 【Accurate and Long-Lasting Sharpness】Any serious chef knows that high-quality knives...
- 【Diamond and Ceramic Discs】AIERLIAN rolling sharpener are equipped with #400 diamond...
- 【Multi Angle Magnetic Support】The kitchen knife sharpener always maintains a constant...
- Easy 3-stage sharpening system for professional results at home, anytime.
- Sharpens kitchen and sport knives, even Santoku knives.
- Blade thickness selector adjusts guides to optimum sharpening angle.
- PROFESSIONAL KNIFE SHARPENING SYSTEM: A professional-level knife sharpener with metal...
- INCLUDES 7 ABRASIVES: The seven abrasive grits: 220, 320, 400, 600, and 800 diamond, fine...
- ADJUSTABLE SHARPENING ANGLES: The included digital angle indicator allows you to adjust...
- NEW & IMPROVED: The Mk.2 has all the capabilities of the MK, but for tools and sharpening...
- FLEXIBLE BELTS: The belts conform to the edge of any blade and can be used as a grinding...
- TWO-SPEED MOTOR: Providing more control and power you need for heavier sharpening or...
- PRECISION IS KEY: Our sharpener is angle-guided with a 3-sided abrasive jig-and-clamp that...
- ADJUSTABLE, REPEATABLE: The sharpening angle can be easily adjusted from 15- 30 degrees in...
- TRI-BRASIVE ROD: Quickly index between coarse and fine diamond and fine ceramic stone to...
- KEN ONION DESIGN: Designed and intended for edge enthusiasts who want precision,...
- PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL SHARPENING: The Ken Onion Edition Mk.2 Knife & Tool Sharpener delivers...
- EASY-TO-USE: It sharpens every knife you own using flexible abrasive belts, precision...
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