The Best Knife Sharpeners to Keep the Edge on Your Kitchen and Pocket Knives

It’s important to keep your pocket knife sharp and ready for any task. A dull blade not only makes cutting difficult but also increases the risk of injury. But with so many options for sharpeners and sharpening styles out there, it can be overwhelming to decide which knife sharpener to invest in.

What Is the Best Knife Sharpener on the Market?

The best knife sharpener on the market depends on what size your knives are and what you use them for. If you’re looking to sharpen knives quickly before each use, a sharpening steel is the best option for you because you can store it easily with your knives and it takes no maintenance (and no electrical outlet). For EDC multi-tools and less-frequently sharpened knives, as well as with high-end home kitchen knives, angled knife sharpeners are the way to go.

What Knife Sharpener Do Professionals and Chefs Use?

Professionals in the culinary field employ a range of knife-sharpening tools and techniques to ensure their knives stay razor-sharp. Choices vary among chefs based on personal preference, the types of knives they use, and their specific culinary tasks. Traditional whetstones offer precise control and varying grits for a customized edge, while knife sharpening systems with angle guides ensure consistency. Honing rods, such as diamond-coated or ceramic options, help maintain edge alignment between sharpenings. Electric knife sharpeners find favor for their speed and convenience in busy kitchens, and some chefs opt for professional sharpening services known for precision. Pull-through sharpeners, though less common among pros, offer quick results when time is limited. Some recommended knife sharpeners for aspiring chefs include the Tumbler Diamond Rolling Knife Sharpener Set and the Work Sharp Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener. Ultimately, professionals rely on a mix of these tools and methods, shaped by years of culinary experience and individual preferences.

What Does Gordon Ramsay Use To Sharpen His Knives?

Gordon Ramsay employs a knife sharpening steel as an essential tool for maintaining the sharpness of his knives. The knife sharpening steel, also known as a honing rod, plays a crucial role in realigning and straightening the blade’s edge between more intensive sharpening sessions. This regular maintenance ensures that his knives remain in peak condition, allowing for precise and effortless cutting while minimizing the risk of accidents in a fast-paced kitchen environment. For a chef of Ramsay’s caliber, the knife sharpening steel is not just a tool; it’s an indispensable companion that helps maintain the precision and safety that his culinary creations demand.

The Best Pocket Knife Sharpeners

When searching for an effective pocket knife sharpener, consider several critical factors.

• Evaluate the sharpening method, whether manual, pull-through, or sharpening stone, ensuring it aligns with your preferences and sharpening needs.
• Look for a sharpener that offers control over the sharpening angle, either through built-in guides or adjustable settings.
• The choice of abrasive material is pivotal, with options like diamond, ceramic, or tungsten carbide, each catering to specific blade materials.
• Portability is essential, so prioritize a compact, lightweight design suitable for carrying in your pocket or backpack.
• Durability matters, particularly if you plan on regular or outdoor use.
• Finally, consider your budget while seeking products from reputable brands with a track record of quality sharpeners, ensuring you find the ideal pocket knife sharpener for your needs.

Tumbler Diamond Rolling Knife Sharpener Set

The Tumbler Diamond Rolling Knife Sharpener Set excels at sharpening multi-tools due to its versatile design, featuring multiple sharpening slots to accommodate various blade styles commonly found in multi-tools, including straight edges and serrated blades. Its diamond abrasives ensure effective sharpening and honing, even on the toughest stainless steel blades, maintaining peak performance. This sharpener’s user-friendly rolling design simplifies the sharpening process, making it accessible to users of all skill levels while its compact and portable nature ensures it’s always on hand for on-the-go sharpening needs. Additionally, its durable construction aligns with the rugged nature of multi-tools, providing a reliable solution for maintaining sharpness in various conditions, whether you’re in the field or tackling DIY projects.

Work Sharp Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener

The Work Sharp Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener stands out as an ideal choice for sharpening multi-tools thanks to its adaptability, precision, and user-friendliness for smaller knives. Its adjustable features allow for precise customization of sharpening angles, ensuring compatibility with the diverse blade types commonly found on multi-tools. This sharpener guarantees consistent and uniform edge restoration, essential for multi-tools that serve various functions. Its efficiency and speed make it especially valuable for users on the go, quickly revitalizing multi-tool blades to peak performance levels. Moreover, its versatility extends to handling different blade shapes, including serrated edges, broadheads, and more, making it a comprehensive solution for maintaining the sharpness of all your multi-tool blades in various situations.

The Best Kitchen Knife Sharpeners

When choosing the best kitchen knife sharpener, it’s important to consider the type of knives you have and their blades. While the fist impulse may be to go electric, depending on your use case (for instance, if you don’t sharpen knives very often, or like to maintain firm control over how they come out), manual kitchen knife sharpeners are your best bet. Look for sharpeners that offer multiple stages, including coarse and fine sharpening options for optimal results. Ease of use and portability are also important factors to consider, and the two options below excel at both.

Professional VG2 Knife Sharpener

Kitchen-focused knife sharpeners with manual sharpening tools don’t sharpen as quickly as their electric counterparts, but they do excel in simplicity and (when maintained) consistency. Take the Professional VG2 Knife Sharpener, the most consistent knife sharpener available on the market. One of its standout features is its compatibility with VG2 (and similar) knife steels, which are known for their high-quality edge retention. The sharpener offers multiple sharpening stages, each meticulously designed to refine and hone the blade to perfection, from coarse to fine grits. Its intuitive design ensures ease of use, with built-in angle guides to maintain the ideal sharpening angle consistently

Ikon Hand-Held Knife Sharpener

With its ceramic sharpening rods, the Ikon Hand-Held Knife Sharpener ensures a sharp edge on your kitchen knives. The sharpening slots feature precision-angle guides and abrasive materials that swiftly reestablish a keen edge on dull knives. Meanwhile, the honing stage ensures a polished finish, enhancing the blade’s cutting prowess. What sets the Ikon Hand-Held Knife Sharpener apart is its adaptability to various knife styles, making it suitable for both European and Asian blades. Its ergonomic handle and non-slip base provide stability and comfort during use, making knife maintenance an effortless and satisfying task.

The Best Electric Knife Sharpeners

Electric knife sharpeners are versatile and suitable for all types of knives, and they’re also super easy. There’s no need to manually grind the knife, all you gotta do is position it correctly and guide the knife through the sharpener.

Chef’sChoice Professional 130 Platinum Electric Knife Sharpener

The Chef’sChoice Professional 130 Platinum Electric Knife Sharpener is highly favored by professional chefs, and is widely considered to be the best electric knife sharpener. It boasts precision sharpening angles you can set in just a few seconds, guaranteeing optimal results. Its three-stage sharpening process ensures a consistently razor-sharp edge. With advanced sharpening technology, this electric sharpener is definitely worth the investment. You can enjoy a sharper edge on your EDC pocket knives as well with the Chef’sChoice Professional 130 Platinum Electric Knife Sharpener.

Mercer Culinary M10000 Triple Diamond 3 Stage Professional Electric Knife Sharpener

The Mercer Culinary M10000 Triple Diamond 3 Stage Professional Electric Knife Sharpener is found in restaurant kitchens around the country. There’s good reason: Its three stages enable sharpening, honing, and polishing, while precision angle guides make achieving professional-level sharpness effortless. There’s no better sharpener for keeping heavily used chefs’ knives consistent, and this electric sharpener also ensures your EDC pocket knives stay sharp, preventing the frustration associated with using a sharpening rod on small knives.