There comes a time when your household knives, hunting blades, or pocketknife are going to become dull. Buying new knife sets or individual knives can be very costly and unnecessary. If you can take proper care of the knives you have, they can last for years.
It will be in your best interest to purchase one of the best electric knife sharpeners to save money and lengthen the lives of your blades. Electric knife sharpener are the way to go as they are simple to use and sharpen/hone blades much better than manual sharpeners.
There are a lot of products and reviews out there, so it can be hard finding the one right for you, so we are here to help!
Here on Healthdy.com, we have made a list of some damn good electric knife sharpeners for 2020.
Also, in our review, we will explain the basic principles of electric knife sharpeners, the benefits of owning one, and explaining terms/jargon when it comes to knives, blades, and sharpeners.
Now let us cut to the chase, shall we?
Related: The Best Electric Skillet
The Best Electric Knife Sharpener of 2020
Table of Contents
- 1 The Best Electric Knife Sharpener of 2020
- 1.1 1. Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener
- 1.2 2. Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition.
- 1.3 3. Presto 08800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener
- 1.4 4. LINKYO Electric Knife Sharpener
- 1.5 5. Chef’sChoice 250 Diamond Hone Hybrid Sharpener
- 1.6 6. McGowan FS1923 Electric Knife Sharpener
- 1.7 7. Chef’sChoice 15 Trizor XV EdgeSelect Professional Electric Knife Sharpener
- 1.8 8. EdgeKeeper Electric Knife Sharpener
- 1.9 9. Chef’sChoice 130 Professional Electric Knife Sharpening Station
- 1.10 10. GA Home Electric Knife Sharpener
- 1.11 Why do I need an Electric Knife Sharpener?
- 1.12 Why Does Having a Sharp Knife Matter, They All Cut Right?
- 1.13 How does a Knife Sharpener Work?
- 1.14 Does Sharpening Damage the Knives?
- 1.15 What is a Sharpening Angle?
- 1.16 What is the Difference Between a Tough Blade and a Hard Blade?
- 1.17 Sharpening and Honing – Are they the same?
- 1.18 How to tell When a knife Needs to be Sharpened?
[amazon bestseller=”Electric Knife Sharpener” =”10″]
1. Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener
With the holiday season coming up, buying a sturdy and reliable electric knife sharper for your loved one can be a great gift. This Work Sharp product is made for precision, speed, and sharpening a variety of blades and tools.
This product comes just under 2 pounds weight and dimensions of 5 x 9 x 5 inches.
Most blades, including straight, tanto, hunting, curved knives, serrated knives, gut hooks, and filet knives, are easily able to be sharpened with the 3 different grit abrasive belts (P80 Coarse, P220 Medium, 6000 Fine). There are many different abrasive grit belts for whatever knife needs to be sharpened.
This electric knife sharpener is even able to sharpen larger hardened blades like lawnmower blades, shears, kitchen knives, scissors, shears, and shovels. It can sharpen up to a 50-degree angle with no issues, perfect for larger blades/knives. There are also precision guides to make sure the knife is sharpened at the optimal angle while providing optimal safety.
This tool can be used by any amateur or professional to get very sharp blades. This tool has an electric corded power source of 110V where it can run from any house, car, boat, or RV.
Pros
- Multiple different guides for different knives
- 1-year warranty with the company
- Easy to use
- Very mobile able to use from a variety of power outlets
- Affordable
- Weighs less than 2 pounds
- Perfect for the man with a lot of tools that need to be sharpened.
Cons
- Creates fine particle dust so make sure you are wearing your eyewear
- Works better with longer blades
What the Customers Say: Learning curve is minimal, and when you use the right belts for the right blade and realize to let it do the work without forcing it to, it works very, very well. It puts an edge on a dull knife very well.
2. Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition.
The American company Work Sharp has created another masterpiece! This electric knife sharpener delivers a speedy and exquisitely sharp edge of whatever knife that is being sharpened, including kitchen knives, scissors, fillet knives, axes, and hatchets. It does this while being very safe to use with hand guards to prevent slips.
This product weighs just over 3 pounds and dimensions of 5.5 x 10 x 6 inches. It uses a corded electric power source of 110V and very portable as long as there is an electrical socket.
What is the key to this excellent design? The key is their unique abrasive belts, which are built tougher than any Ford out there. Also featured is a variable speed motor with adjustable settings. This machine can handle any task from grinding to honing without getting overheated because of its advanced cooling system.
I would say this is an elite product because you can work with blades of all kinds. The grit belt does a great job with short, uneven serrated edges as long flat hunting knives.
Work Sharp is in its fourth generation in developing cutlery. It also helps that the legendary cutlery expert Ken Onion helped design the pieces, including the belts. In 1996 he revolutionized the knife industry by introducing the assisted opening mechanism for folding knives. In 2008 this man was introduced into the cutlery hall of fame for his contributions to the industry.
Pros
- Easy for beginners to use
- 15-degree sharpening angle, perfect for very sharp blades
- 1-year limited warranty
- 5 different grit belts
- Able to sharpen more difficult blades like pocket knives and serrated knives
- Variable speed motor
- Designed by the legendary cutlery expert Ken Onion
Cons
- Very expensive so make sure you give this to someone with a lot of tools which will use it
What the Customers Say: The instructions are straightforward; this is why people are making mistakes and feel they can just gloss over them. I would say there are 3 sets of instructions on how you can sharpen a blade; I prefer the ones located on the cardboard table. This system has already paid for itself since my husband, and I did not need to buy new kitchen knives and or take them in on occasion.
3. Presto 08800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener
Presto in China manufactures the EverSharp electric knife sharpener. If you are looking at one of the more affordable sharpeners, then this is your pick. This device is an automatic sharpener that uses sapphirine sharpening wheels to get your blades to their sharpest. The key is that this product has precision blade guides that position whatever knife you are sharpening into its optimal position.
This corded electric product weighs just under 3 pounds and dimensions of 9.9 x 7.2 x 4.8 inches. It uses 120V for power and
It employs about 120V of power and works with all electrical sockets. There are 2 slots for knives, but there are a total of four spinning wheels with 2 being coarse and 2 being fine.
It has a simple 2 step blade sharpening process: Stage 1 creates the optimal sharpening angle, and Stage 2 ensures the blade is sharpened to professional standards. All you have to do is to pull the knife towards you in both steps gently. Trust me, this process is entirely safe, and you can do this without any protective gloves or eyewear.
This is the type of knife sharpener I would recommend for kitchen blades as it is safe and effective. This sharpener will be the perfect tool to help you in the kitchen and save money on buying replacement cutlery when they go dull.
Pros
- Makes almost no mess
- Uses solid sapphirine sharpening wheels
- Perfect for amateurs
- Does not take up much space
- Very affordable
- Lightweight
Cons
- No adjustable angles like other blades
- Much better with flat blades compared to serrated blades
What the Customers Say: You should most certainly purchase this, you should also most certainly be aware of the instructions, as well as the fact that this thing doesn’t just do “a good job,” it does an incredible job, and you should be careful with your knives after sharpening them if you’re accustomed to dull-ish blades.
4. LINKYO Electric Knife Sharpener
LINKYO is an American company that makes quality ink cartridges, printer toner, and one of the top electric knife sharpeners on the market. This is both a mess-free and easy to clean tool that will lengthen the lives of your kitchen cutlery.
This product comes in weighing under 3 pounds and dimensions of 9.8 x 4.9 x 7.2 inches. The sharpener is a corded electric powered device that uses 120V. This product is very safe and reliable. It has suction cup feet to prevent the machine from slipping when in use. They also built in an automatic stop switch to prevent the blade from being damaged if you are applying too much downward force.
Just like most automatic knife sharpeners, there is a simple 2 step process. The blade is angled so that all you have to do is to gently pull the blade using gravity to get excellent razor-sharp edges. Make sure you are not trying to pull the knife forward and backward like a saw or pull it down as that can ruin the machine.
Pros
- The price is budget friendly suction cup feet to keep the device stationary
- Very easy to clean as it has bins that store metal shavings
- Great for kitchen knives
- Small and light so you can take it anywhere or put in any kitchen corner
- Very quiet
- Simple 2 step process to sharpen your blade
Cons
- Does better with straight knives compared to serrated and knives with teeth
What the Customers Say: I was impressed with how well it’s made. I appreciate the suction cups on the bottom as I don’t have to worry about it moving around while I’m sharpening knives. So far, I am happy with the instant results. I have two paring blades (have had for 10 years!), and I’ve tried other sharpeners (non-electric as well as electric), and they just would not sharpen. As a last effort, before repurposing the knives, I decided to try the LINKYO, and, after following the instructions, I don’t think these knives were this sharp when they were new! So far, so great!!
5. Chef’sChoice 250 Diamond Hone Hybrid Sharpener
Here we have a hybrid between manual and electric sharpening. Chef’s Choice has made a reliable yet affordable sharpener that was created for both straight and serrated kitchen, sporting, household, and outdoor knives.
This product is very light, weighing about 2.3 pounds and dimensions of 11.2 x 6.2 x 5.2 inches. It is an electric corded device that uses 120V of electricity.
What is unique is that a tripe-bevel is created on your knife using the 3 stages. Stages 1 and 2 are electric and create the sharp shape of the first two bevels. The 3rd stage uses a custom diamond abrasive to create a razor shaped arch that gives that 3rd bevel extra strength and durability. The 3rd stage does not use electricity, so you can manually do this yourself even without power! Just make sure you are doing everything according to the manual.
This product is super safe and easy to use. It makes a minimal mess, so cleaning up is relatively straightforward.
Pros
- Ideal for fine edge and smaller blades
- Easy 3 step process
- The motor does not overheat easily
- 1-year household warranty
- Perfect for amateurs
- Inexpensive
- Extremely lightweight
- Uses unique diamond abrasive grit belt
Cons
- It is not the prettiest looking sharpener, and it only comes in white
What the Customers Say: I thought my knives were sharp because I kept them that way with a manual sharpener and a stone. I was wrong! I didn’t have the angle right, or something, because knives sharpened on the Chef’s Choice 250 are a LOT sharper than they were; almost razor-sharp. It takes a little while to get the hang of sharpening, but once mastered is quite easy. I have sharpened a bunch of knives, and they have all turned out great. This company makes a more expensive sharpener, but for the money this one is great.
6. McGowan FS1923 Electric Knife Sharpener
This product is made by McGowan to be a super fast and easy one-step sharpening tool. This sharpener is 100% electric that is both light and small to fit in any kitchen.
This product weighs less than half a pound at 3.52 oz. It has dimensions of 8.2 x 7 x 6.2 inches. It uses a corded electric power source of 120V. It can work just about any knife, including serrated and shorter ones.
Now the best thing about this product is that it is very, very quiet. It creates a nice razor-sharp and hollow edge that cuts like no other while being very safe.
You can sharpen up to 6-8 knives in 30 minutes, with all getting a razor-sharp edge.
What is unique to this product is that the abrasive grit wheel it uses is made up of not only ceramic but also of diamond and silica components.
Pros
- Durable design
- Easy to use
- Sharpens a variety of blades including European style blades
- Extremely lightweight and portable
- Uses unique diamond/silica/ceramic abrasive grit belt
Cons
- Not the most modern-looking sharpener and only comes in black
What the Customers Say: A handy compact sharpener. I have looked for a few years for a good knife sharpener that didn’t cost over one thousand dollars, and I am delighted with this one at $58. In 30 minutes, I had sharpened eight knives to a very moderate degree of sharpness. Our 10-inch chef knife took about 3 minutes to sharpen and is close to the factory sharpness.
7. Chef’sChoice 15 Trizor XV EdgeSelect Professional Electric Knife Sharpener
Chef’s Choice has again made another quality electric knife sharpener. This electric sharpener uses Trizor 15-degree XV technology to give extra durability and strength to knives by creating a unique triple bevel arch edge. It does this by converting regular 20-degree angle blades into the innovative Trizor XV edge. It also has a patented advanced flexible spring guide for accurate control of the sharpening angle.
Did I mention that??
The product comes in weighing 5 pounds and dimensions of 12 x 6.2 x 6 inches.
It also has a 3 stage sharpening process that includes diamond abrasives, flexible abrasives, and stropping disks to give it a beautiful polish and edge.
The 1st stage uses the diamond abrasives to create very fine grooves in the first bevel.
The 2nd stage uses an even finer diamond abrasive to shape the second bevel with even more fine microgrooves.
The 3rd stage uses flexible and abrasive stropping disks that create a polish over the first two bevels. It also helps create a sharp edge without taking too much of a bite fo the metal. This third stage can also sharpen individual teeth of knives and sharpen serrated blades.
Pros
You can convert a dull blade into the sharp and precise Trizor 15 degree edge angle for the best cutting knives 3-year limited warranty, Less than 10 seconds to sharpen a blade .More expensive than other sharpeners on the list only comes in grey so not much choice in customization
What the Customers Say: Oh man, I love this thing. I was letting my blades dull more than I’d care to admit because it was just too much hassle to whip out the whetstone regularly. After seeing this on America’s Test Kitchen, I decided to give it a go, and I’m glad I did. The process of regrinding the edge was straightforward and done quickly. And after that, I was cutting through everything with minimal pressure. It’s excellent and safer.
8. EdgeKeeper Electric Knife Sharpener
This little red machine is a very cute and affordable electric knife sharpener. This product can sharpen any style kitchen knives, including either American or European. The EdgeKeeper brand electric knife sharpener will sharpen your blades at the ideal angle using its 2 stage sharpening process.
Stage 1 is about getting the blade at the precise angle giving it a fine edge, and stage II gives it an excellent polish to make it look beautiful. Sharpening each side of the blade only takes about 5 to 10 seconds maximum. It has a unique diamond coating sharp sharpening wheel to give gives extra strength and durability. Did I mention this is one of the safest products on the market?
This product weighs less than 3 pounds, and the dimensions are 8.3 x 3.6 x 4 inches.
This product also comes with a removable magnet that can catch all dust and particle shavings making clean up very easy. It also has nonslip features so that it will stand sturdy in the kitchen on a wet surface.
Pros
- Compact size
- Comes in a beautiful red color
- Sharpens knives in under 10 seconds
- Clean up is easy as it has a separate compartment to collect metal shavings
- The diamond-coated grinding wheel helps create sharper edges
- Will not break the bank
- Useful for most kitchen knives
Cons
- Does not do serrated or ceramic blades as well as straight blades
What the Customers Say: My husband is a retired professional chef, and honestly, I was surprised he wanted this, as he always uses his honing stone and steel. But he wanted something to get knives sharpened quickly. He is continuously asked to sharpen others’ knife sets, so he thought this could help, plus we can recommend it to amateur cooks if it does a good job. He did a ten knife set of Cuisinart knives that had gotten dull. They came out razor-sharp.
9. Chef’sChoice 130 Professional Electric Knife Sharpening Station
This is a very professional looking electric knife sharpener that is super simple to use. As you can tell, Chef’s Choice has some excellent knife sharpeners and kitchen supplies in general.
First, this device is very compact, weighing less than 2 pounds and dimensions of 12 x6 x 6.2 inches.
This product has a 3 stage process for sharpening knives. Stage 1 uses a diamond abrasive wheel that grinds the knife to the highest quality. Stage 2 uses patented sturdy steel that provides ultra-fine microscopic serrations to give blades a better bite.
Stage I can be repeated after stage II if more sharpening is required.
Stage 3 uses flexible abrasive wheels to produce a beautiful polish on the edge of the blade. Do not worry, this product is 100% safe to use, and you do not need any protective equipment.
There are built imprecision angle guides that will guide the knife to the best angle. This device is excellent for sharpening kitchen, sports, hunting, pocket, and pocket knives of all kinds.
Pros
- 3-year company warranty
- Can handle most blades without issues
- Very sturdy and compact
- Easy to use for beginners or amateurs
- Weighs less than 2 pounds
Cons
- Higher cost than other ones on the list, but the price is so worth it
What the Customers Say: Today when the sharpener arrived, I put it through its paces — from standard 8-inch chef’s knives to long, serrated carving knives, and even to a cheap hand-made kit knife. To a one, the blades are sharper than new — they are razor sharp. This sharpener is worth the price.
10. GA Home Electric Knife Sharpener
This tool is a very precise home electric knife sharpener that not only does Blades but a variety of household tools like screwdrivers and scissors as well. This product has a two-stage sharpening process where stage I reshaped the angle of the blade to give about the perfect edge. Stage II liters the blade wonderfully smooth by polishing and holding the edge.
It is a compact device that makes finding space in your kitchen or living area to put it in quite easy. This product is super white weight weighing less than 1 1/2 pounds and dimensions of 6 x 6 x 4 inches.
Costing less than $30, this is the perfect gift that will not break the bank. This product is super safe to use and makes a very minimal mess.
Pros
- Can use on other tools than knives
- Very affordable
- Great for shorter knives
- High performance
- Very compact size
Cons
- Can overheat
- Cannot do ceramic knives
What the Customers Say: This small machine truly amazed me! It worked so well to leave my old, dull knives like new again with impressive sharpness. It’s also very safe to use, so you don’t have to worry about getting hurt.
Buying Guide
Why do I need an Electric Knife Sharpener?
As I said before, unless your knife is made of adamantium or vibranium ( Marvel comic book fans anyone?), it will dull over time.
From hunting knives to pocket knives to kitchen butcher knives, they will all lose their edge.
One reason is that most of us do not adequately take care of our knives. Unless we are Bobby Flay or a professional chef, we are not cleaning and properly handling cookware.
For instance, one is not supposed to leave knives in a sink. They should be washed with warm water, and soap then put away. Leaving them in the sink is a bad idea. Placing pots and pans on top of the knife can ruin the edge of the knife faster.
The Anatomy of a Knife
The anatomy of a knife consists of many parts, but here is a basic tutorial.
For reference, I will call the spine the top of the blade and call the edge the bottom of the blade.
- Spine- This is the thicker top or back part of the knife. The thickness of this part helps to give the blade more weight and strength.
- Edge- This is the part that cuts. It is thinner and sharper compared to the spine.
- Heel- The last 3rd of the knife-edge, this is closest to the handle. This part is used for cutting and chopping.
- Tip- The tip is the first 3rd of the knife’s edge.
- Point- The point is the end of the edge of the knife for stabbing or piercing
- Handle- The section of the blade where you grip it.
- Handleguard-this is right below the handle and forms an extra notch to prevent the knife from slipping out of your hand, giving a better grip, and giving it additional weight.
- Tang- The flat end of the knife where the handle goes over. You will not be able to see the tang once the handle is on the blade
- Scales- These are the portions of the handle that connect to the tang
- Rivets- They secure the scales into the tang
- Bolster- This is the connection between the blade and the handle that gives extra strength and balance.
- Bevel- the shape of the edge of the blade
- Honing- Maintaining the sharpness of a blade
- Sharpening- Creating a sharper edge by losing bits of metal on the edge of the blade
- Grit- The coarseness of the material used to grind a knife or blade
- The Sharpening Wheel: The sharpening wheel or westones are made of a natural abrasive material to sharpen the blade. Most usually are made of ceramic, silicon, diamond, or some steel compound.
- Number of Stages in the Sharpening Process: The sharpening process will usually have 2 or 3 stages but can all vary depending on the electric knife sharpener you buy. The first stage (the sharpening stage) removes the metal burrs or imperfections from the edge of the blade. The later stages will smooth and polish the edge.
- Angle Guides- These are built into the sharpener that guides the blade on the best sharpening angle.
- Portability: How easy is it to use an electric knife sharpener at home as compared to an RV or outdoors. As long as you have an electrical socket with a reliable power source, all on sharpeners on this list are very versatile.
- Safety Features: We do not mess around when it comes to safety. All products that have been reviewed meet standards up to both the company and customers for safety. Please make you read all the instructions for your electric knife sharpener before using it.
- Cleaning Ease: It is bad enough you already have to clean the dishes, but who wants to clean up and new mess?
- No one that is who!
- The great thing about electric knife sharpeners is that they make a minimal mess, and it does not get metallic particle dust everywhere compared to handheld knife sharpeners. Most of these products on our list are very easy to clean.
- Power Source: All of the products are corded electrical devices. On average, they will use about 100V to 120V volts of electricity.
Why Does Having a Sharp Knife Matter, They All Cut Right?
The answer is the sharpness of a knife ABSOLUTELY matters!
Having a sharp knife has nothing to do with your skill in the kitchen, but rather it is a safety issue.
Yes, getting cut by a sharp knife will make you bleed more compared to a dull knife. However, trying to cut with a dull blade will put you at risk of getting hurt. Due to the knife being blunt, you must apply a lot more force to cut. Using that force could make you cut too far and knick your finger.
Also, duller knives are less able to get a bite of what you are cutting. Say you are cutting a pepper, and the dull knife slips off of the onion or carrot. That slip can cause the knife to hit your finger awkwardly. I know this has happened to me on multiple occasions, but not anymore!
How does a Knife Sharpener Work?
A knife sharpener works by having the blade be sharpened by something harder than it. You can have stationary knife sharpener’s, or hand-held ones were you provide the force.
They are mostly made from granite, stainless steel, or sandstone. You also have many electric ones like the ones of our list that use a spinning wheel made of diamond, silica, sandstone, or other hard material. The machine does most of the work with you applying minimal effort.
Does Sharpening Damage the Knives?
Yes, if you use a poorly designed or cheaply made knife sharpener, it can cause nicked edges.
The best way to avoid damage is to buy a reliable knife sharpener and make sure you follow the directions to sharpen the knives. Sharpening blades incorrectly could cause ruin to the blades if you are too aggressive when pulling them through the sharpener.
What is a Sharpening Angle?
This sharpening angle is the best angle between the blade and the sharpening material to get the best combination of durability and sharpness.
You will find that most blades need to be sharpened between a 10 to 30-degree angle. The smallest degree angles are those less than 10 degrees. Lower degree angles (under 20 degrees) are typically for sharpening softer or smaller blades to get a very razor-sharp edge.
An example would be a razor blade or the blade that goes on a scalpel (a surgical blade). By doing this, one sacrifices durability for a sharper, better cutting edge.
The larger degree angles ( above 20 degrees) can go up to over 50 degrees. The larger degree angles are for larger blades like axes, swords, or meat cleavers that do not cut as well. The trade-off is that these blades are incredibly durable in return for their blunter edges.
You will find that most blades here in the US, Candian, and European blades have a sharpening angle of 20 degrees.
What is the Difference Between a Tough Blade and a Hard Blade?
At first glance, these two words may seem like synonyms, but that could not be farther from the truth. Hardness is a measure of an object’s ability to resist scratching or abrasions. A very hard material would be something like a diamond. Diamonds can only be scratched or cut by intense heat and pressure. Only things like lasers and high powered diamond saws can cut diamond. Hardness is measured using the Rockwell C scale.
Toughness is the measure of an object’s ability to resist being broken or fractured when a force is applied. An example would be again diamond, cast iron, carbon steel, and graphene (this is roughly 200x tougher than steel!) No matter how much you have been going to the gym; you cannot bend a very tough material. There are many different tests to measure the toughness of an object, including the Notch, Impact, and Fracture tests.
Now, can something be both hard and tough? Yes look at diamonds
However, most blades are a balance between hardness and toughness.
Usually, you must give up one for the other. If a knife is very hard, it will not be very tough.
This type of knife will have a sharp edge and cut things more quickly but can break if a strong enough force is applied.
On the other side, a blade that is tough but not hard is a durable duller blade. Think of larger blades like butcher cleavers, axes, and machetes. Since they are not hard, they do not cut as well, but you can apply a lot more force to that blade. For cutting wood and vines, these types of blades are tremendous! When it comes to slicing garlic or finely dicing a pepper, not so much.
It is very, very difficult to create something that is both hard and tough like diamonds. Diamonds get these high marks for toughness and hardness because they are unique.
These stones are the result of millions of years of pressure and heat under the earth’s surface. These forces pack carbon atoms into the tight and crystalline structure that we see in diamonds.
Sharpening and Honing – Are they the same?
Sharpening is creating a sharp edge on a blade or tool by grinding it against an abrasive substance that is harder according to the Mohs scale. The point of sharpening something is to give it a sharp edge.
Honing, on the other hand, is fine-tuning an already sharp blade. You use a softer type of abrasive material to remove the impurities or imperfect edges from the tool. By doing this, you can add additional lifetime use for your knife or blade.
How often should a knife be sharpened?
Again this depends all on the type of tool or blade you have.
I will generalize that most knives should be sharpened about 1-2 times a year if you do hone your blades.
2-3 times a year if you do not hone your blades in between sharpening them. In the multistep process that most of these electric knife sharpeners use, sharpening is usually 1 of the first steps. Honing is one of the later steps.
Honing is commonly done by a steel honing rod that you may see in the kitchens of professional and amateur chefs. Its job is to remove impurities and crooked edges while not taking bites of the blade. Anyone who has a set of knives should invest in a honing rod, plus you look so cool honing knives!
How to tell When a knife Needs to be Sharpened?
Remember, you do not need all of your fingers to live a healthy life. There is nothing that can test the sharpness of a blade than the thickness of a human finger…. I am joking. I am joking! Please do not test your blade by cutting your fingers off.
All joking aside, you can test the dullness of a blade by gently (again, gently) running your fingers along the edge of the blade. You should be able to tell if your knife is sharp or dull immediately.
That way is still a little dangerous, and I would not recommend doing it for knives that may be already sharp. However, there are other ways; here are 3 easy ways to determine if your knife is getting dull.
- Cut it against either a tomato or an onion- If a knife is appropriately sharp, then it should be able to cut through a tomato cleanly. It should not be a jagged cut where the tomato starts to become smashed when cutting. You can do this trick with onion too. What you are looking for with the onion is if the knife slips off of it. A sharp knife should be able to get a nice bite into the onion even through the flaky outer layer.
- The paper test- to do this, all you need is a piece of copy paper or loose-leaf paper. Make sure whoever holding the paper gives it a firm grip, the paper perpendicular to the knife. Use the knife to cut the paper. A sharp knife will cut paper no problem. A dull blade will tear the paper instead of cutting through it.
- The hair test- Guys will probably have an easier time doing this than girls. Take the knife and hold it carefully parallel to your arm hair. Then gently glide the blade above your forearm and see if the hairs are being cut. A genuinely sharp knife should cut the fine hairs on your arm while a dull one will not.
Conclusion:
Finding the best electric knife sharpener is about finding an affordable, reliable device that properly sharpens your blades. On our list, I am sure you will find one that can add value to your kitchen and your bank account. Just remember to follow the instructions, and the rest is easy. I hope you have learned a thing or two about blades and how they are sharpened.