The 10 Best Knife Sharpeners of 2022, Tested by Allrecipes

Few things are as satisfying as a brand new knife that still has that razor-sharp, factory edge. But with consistent (or even inconsistent) use over time, that blade that was once sharp enough to cut through paper now struggles to get through a tomato.

But just because your trusted chef's knife is dull doesn't necessarily mean you need to go out and buy a new one. Knives are meant to be sharpened and resharpened. With minimal effort, you can bring your knives back to life using a knife sharpener. But with so many types on the market, where do you even begin?

We tested the top-rated knife sharpeners on the market, including manual sharpeners, electric sharpeners, whetstones, and even honing rods (though not technically sharpeners, but more on this later). Keep reading for our thoughts on the 10 best knife sharpeners, plus learn all about the different types of sharpeners so you can select the right one for your needs.

Best Knife Sharpeners at a Glance

• Best Overall Knife Sharpener: Brod & Taylor Professional Knife Sharpener
• Best Value Knife Sharpener: Kitchen IQ Sharpener
• Best Electric Knife Sharpener: Chef's Choice Trivor XV
• Best Knife Sharpener for Daily Maintenance: Bob Kramer Double-Cut Honing Steel
• Best Whetstone Knife Sharpener: Sharpal Diamond Whetstone
• Best Knife Sharpener for Japanese Knives: Global MinoSharp Ceramic Wheel Water Sharpener

Types of Knife Sharpeners

Manual/Pull-Through Sharpeners

Arguably the most approachable type of knife sharpener, manual or pull-through sharpeners are a great choice for those new to knife sharpening. To use one, simply use the handle to keep the base secure on the countertop while you pull your knife through the sharpening slot. Oftentimes manual sharpeners will feature multiple slots with varying levels of abrasiveness.

Among the advantages of manual sharpeners is their safety, ease of use, and ability to quickly sharpen both sides of the blade at one time. However the most common critique of manual sharpeners (particularly inexpensive ones) is that they can strip away too much metal from the knives, so be sure not to use them too frequently.

Electric Sharpeners

Electric sharpeners, like manual ones, are great for beginners. You don't have to worry about holding your knife at the correct angle — electric sharpeners feature guides that make it easy to maintain the right angle. Simply insert your knife into one of the preset slots and slowly bring the knife towards you. The motorized, abrasive belts sharpen the blade at one stage, and then hone and/or polish the blade in later stages.

These types of sharpeners are relatively new to the market, but are becoming more and more popular for their ability to quickly sharpen knives to your preferred level of abrasion, without requiring you to maintain a certain angle. However, if used too often electric sharpeners can remove too much metal from your knives, significantly reducing their lifespan. They can also be noisy, and bulky to store.

Whetstones

Whetstones, also known as sharpening stones or water stones, give you maximum control over how you sharpen your knives. These are more commonly used among professionals, as they are not the most intuitive of kitchen tools. Whetstones require you to move your knife back and forth across the surface of the stone, all while maintaining a specific angle. They are most commonly used in combination with some type of lubricate, like water or oil, which creates a sludge that aids in the sharpening.

While whetstones are praised for their ability to sharpen knives without removing too much metal (and thus prolonging their lifespan), they can be difficult to use. You'll definitely need to consult the instruction manual, or even an instructional video or class before starting with a whetstone. You should also be aware that sharpening with a whetstone is going to take much longer than manual or electric sharpeners. Plus, all that oil or water is going to make for a messy task.

Honing and Sharpening Rods

Here's where things start to get a little technical. Although sometimes referred to as "sharpening rods," honing rods don't actually sharpen anything. Sharpening refers to removing material from the blade, unearthing a new, sharp edge. Honing on the other hand keeps this sharp edge in tip top shape by pushing the edge of the blade back into alignment. Think of it this way: Sharp knives have little teeth that can become misaligned with use. A honing rod pushes these teeth back into place so that your blade maintains its edge, reducing the amount of times you'll need to sharpen it.

Like whetstones, there is a technique to using a honing rod that can be somewhat difficult to master. But once you get the hang of it, you'll want to hone your knife after every use. Some manual or electric sharpeners include slots for honing, so a rod might not be necessary in those cases.

How We Tested Each Knife Sharpener

For this task, we called on product tester Samantha Lande to round up a collection of the best knife sharpeners on the market from familiar brands like Zwilling, Chef's Choice, and Cooks Standard. To test each sharpener, Samantha started by rounding up a collection of new, relatively inexpensive knives. Each one was dulled with sandpaper, because you need dull knives to test knife sharpeners! She also included some high-end, European knives, as well as a few Japanese-made knives. And when applicable, she tested serrated knives as well.

Samantha did a pre- and post-sharpening test on each knife, by using it to slice through a tomato. She paid special attention to the following factors:

• Ease of Use: How intuitive was the sharpener to use? Would it be better suited to someone more experienced at knife sharpening?
• Efficiency: How sharp did the knife get? Was it able to bring dull knives back to life?
• Cleaning/Storage: Is the sharpener difficult to clean? Does the sharpening process leave behind a mess? Can the unit be easily stored in a cabinet or drawer?
• Versatility: Is the sharpener compatible with serrated knives? What about non-kitchen items like scissors or pocket knives?

After much testing, Samantha narrowed it down to just six favorites. Wondering what else we tested? Keep reading to find her thoughts on the sharpeners that didn't quite make the cut.

The Best Knife Sharpeners of 2022