Keeping knives sharp is crucial because they are by far the most important kitchen equipment. Using a dull knife may put you at risk and make things harder to do. Whenever a blade’s edge or bevel isn’t correctly sharpened, it might be more difficult and laborious for you to chop, cut, or dice your food. This could result in the knife falling and perhaps injuring someone. Regularly sharpening your knives will maintain them in excellent condition, enhancing their usability and safety. You could save money by maintaining and sharpening dull knives rather than throwing them away and buying new ones.
If you don’t know how to begin, the thought of sharpening your blades can be intimidating. Although you may get your knives sharpened by a professional, many individuals prefer to do it themselves. The decision of which knife sharpener to purchase is largely on personal choice and experience because there are so many various methods and sharpeners available. We break down the fundamentals of sharpening knives and the various types of sharpeners available in this thorough article so you can pick the one that best works for you.
What To Consider When Choosing The Best Knife Sharpener
When shopping for a knife sharpener, there are many factors to consider. The following section looks at some of the most important features that can help you find the best knife sharpener for your needs.
Intended Use
Before deciding on which model is right for you, think about how often you’ll need to sharpen knives and whether any particular type or style will be used. If it’s not common practice to use a knife beyond its prime, then an inexpensive, light-duty option might work just fine. However, if you frequently cut meat or vegetables with a paring knife, then it could make sense to invest in a high-quality product that ensures consistent results.
If the answer is yes, then you may want to look into heavy-duty models that can handle large kitchen knives as well as smaller steak knives and even scissors. These products tend to have larger motors and produce more torque than lighter-weight knives, making them ideal for heavier cutting tasks.
Power Source
The majority of knife sharpeners operate using either electricity or manual power (i.e., by turning a crank).
- Electric knife sharpeners rely on electric motors to spin rapidly and efficiently sharpen knives without overheating. They’re typically found in professional kitchens but also in home offices and craft rooms where they offer convenience and accuracy.
- Manual knife sharpeners require the user to turn a crank manually to sharpen knives. While these sharpeners don’t provide the same level of precision as electric sharpeners, they do take the guesswork out of trying to determine when a blade has truly become sharp enough. Plus, the user gets to see exactly what they’re doing to improve the quality of their knives.
Size and Weight
A good knife sharpener should feel comfortable to hold while maintaining control over the movement of the knife. Most sharpeners weigh between 1 and 2 pounds, though some heavy-duty models can weigh up to 5 pounds.
For those who struggle to keep track of multiple knives or simply prefer a hands-free approach, automated knife sharpeners that maintain the blades’ angle automatically are a popular choice. Other options include magnetic knife sharpeners that contain metal plates with grooves that hold onto the knife edge; however, these sharpeners aren’t particularly strong and can wear down quickly.
Material
Most knife sharpeners consist of plastic, steel, or resin parts, though some heavy-duty models feature cast iron components. Each material has advantages and disadvantages.
- Plastic knife sharpeners are lightweight yet durable. They’re made from polymers that are molded into shape. This design makes them affordable and easy to clean. However, they don’t rust like steel or corrode like cast iron, so they must be washed after each use.
- Steel knife sharpeners are stronger than both plastic and cast iron. They’re built to last and resist damage from moisture, temperature changes, and pressure. Sharpeners made from this material are generally more expensive than plastic or cast iron.
- Cast iron knife sharpeners are very sturdy. They’re designed to withstand being dropped on hard surfaces or thrown into a fire. These sharpeners aren’t particularly cheap nor are they particularly efficient. However, they do stay sharper longer than plastic or steel because they’re less prone to damage. Cast iron is harder than plastic or steel and requires greater effort to dull. It takes much longer to go through the process of sharpening a cast iron knife than a plastic or steel one.
Quality Construction
In general, low-cost knife sharpeners are made from thinner materials and thus have a lower strength-to-weight ratio. As such, they tend to bend easily and crack fairly quickly. High-end products usually have thicker walls and are constructed with better welding techniques, resulting in a higher durability score. However, no matter the quality, all knife sharpeners will eventually stop working due to friction caused by the spinning blade wearing away the motor or gearbox. So while constructional quality matters, it isn’t everything.
Additional Features
There are additional features that users can look for when searching for the best knife sharpener. Some manufacturers incorporate special coatings to protect against corrosion and prevent rust buildup. Others come with carrying cases to keep the device safe during transport.
Types Of Knife Sharpeners
There are several different types of sharpening machines on the market. Each one is designed for a specific type of sharpening job, so it’s important to know what you’re working with before you spend your hard-earned money.
Metal On Metal
Probably the most common and least expensive way to sharpen knives is with some kind of metal rod or stone that has been attached to a rotating platform. This allows you to rotate the blade while pushing the unwanted portion of the blade against the metal plate to remove the burr. The downside of this system is twofold: first, there isn’t much variety in size or shape of the plates available; second, these systems tend to be very slow at removing old blades. It can take upwards of 10 times as long to work on a dull knife than it does on a freshly sharpened one.
Oil/Water
Another option is an oil/water sharpener. These sharpeners use rollers coated in either oil or water to grind away at the edge of the blade. The process works similarly to using a metal shard except you don’t have to worry about breaking anything. These machines are significantly faster at sharpening but also more limited in terms of the types of stones they will accept.
Because these machines use softer materials like rubber, you’ll get better performance when sharpening stainless steel blades. However, because these machines aren’t made from metal, they won’t hold up well under heavy duty usage. If you plan to put these sharpeners to heavy use, we recommend looking into other options.
Diamond
Finally, you can opt for a diamond sharpener. These sharpeners employ small diamonds in place of traditional grinding wheels. Since these diamonds are so tiny, you won’t have any issues getting them inside tight spaces. Additionally, since they are not wedged between pieces of wood, you won’t have to worry about damaging the machine. Lastly, these sharpeners offer incredibly fast cutting speeds – typically taking only 1/10th the time required by other methods.
How We Chose Our Top Picks
We began by looking for the top-rated and most well-liked choices on Amazon, specialized journals, and other online sellers. We focused our search on effective and high-quality knife sharpeners. From there, we narrowed our focus to knife sharpeners that were made of materials with decent overall quality control (QC) reports. Finally, we excluded any knife sharpeners that don’t offer much benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions Knife Sharpening
How do you sharpen a pocket knife?
The best way to sharpen your pocket knife is with a file, then use one of the many available grinders or sandpaper kits to smooth off any rough edges. Make sure to dry off the blade as soon as possible after being exposed to water, and wipe it down every other week or so with a thin layer of oil more frequently.
What should I look for when buying a portable knife sharpener?
When shopping for a portable knife sharpener, first determine how much space you have in your home/work area. Next, decide what type of operation you need (fileting, slicing, etc.). Third, check out the warranty details and make sure they meet your needs. Finally, consider getting a hand guard if you plan to use it regularly. It will protect your hands while lowering the risk of injury if you were to fall during usage.
Is there anything I can put in my pocket knife that won’t rust?
Pocket knives are designed to be carried on your person, either concealed or not, so they’re going to pick up some level of exposure to the elements regardless. To minimize this effect, you’ll want to keep it somewhere dry and preferably non-magnetic, such as another metal container or pouch.