Best Electric Knife Sharpeners and Why They're Worth It

The rapid results of the best electric knife sharpener might be the biggest benefit to home chefs.

• Electric knife sharpeners can transform a dull blade in about two minutes, which is much less time than it would take to pack your cutlery for delivery to a fee-based sharpening service.
• The convenience can’t be beat. Having your own knife sharpener means you’ll never be without your favorite essential tools.
• Performing quick touch-ups for your knives takes about 30 seconds, and with more consistent results than with manual knife sharpeners.

One of the first features you’ll notice when looking for the best electric knife sharpener is that some models have two stages for sharpening, and others provide three stages.

Each stage has a vibrating abrasive disc that removes part of the knife’s metal as the blade is drawn through the slot. The first stage has a coarser abrasive that aligns the dull blade and reshapes its angle to rejuvenate the edge.

The second stage has a finer abrasive to sharpen and polish the blade edge, refining the work of the first stage.

On models with three stages, the last step has a stropping material to further smooth, refine and polish the sharpened blade. In many cases, this third stage can be used for sharpening knives with serrated blades.

If you are looking for the best filet knife sharpener, be sure that the model you choose will accept the slightly curved blades. Most can, and successful results will simply require you to gently raise the handle as you draw it toward you during the sharpening stages.

The edge angle of a knife blade is measured in degrees. Lower bevel angles will cut better, but the sharp edge is fragile and becomes dull more quickly than a heftier edge.

For comparison, a razor blade might have a 10-degree bevel, Asian-style knives are often sharpened at 15 degrees and a typical chef’s knife will have a 20-degree angle on each side of the blade.

No matter the angle, it should be uniform along the entire length of the blade for optimal knife performance. Among the benefits of using the best electric knife sharpener in your kitchen is that, blade positioning guides help eliminate guesswork and keep the knife at the proper angle as it is drawn though the slots during each stage of sharpening.

These blade guides help new users achieve good results when first learning how to use an electric knife sharpener. Check product information to determine if specific models have adjustable guides or if they are fixed at a specific angle.

When used with a sawing motion, the scalloped teeth on a serrated knife are great for cutting through crusty bread, a ripe tomato or anything that is tough on the outside but has a soft interior.

Like all knives, this type will become dull over time. If you use your serrated blades frequently and are looking for your best kitchen knife sharpener, be sure to select a model that has a function to accommodate your often-used blade.

In most cases, three-stage models have a stropping material in the final slot that will handle the task of sharpening serrated knives.

A good set of cutlery is an investment worth taking care of. In addition to having the best kitchen knife sharpener, here are some tips to help keep the blades sharp and to extend their life.

• Always wash by hand using a soft sponge and warm, soapy water. Never use the dishwasher, as it can cause premature wearing of a fine-tuned blade.
• Keep knives stored in a knife block or on a wall-mounted magnetic strip to keep the sharp blades from rubbing against other utensils. This also will protect your hands from accidental cuts when reaching for a knife.
• Always be sure that knives are dry before storing to prevent rusting.
• Use appropriate cutting boards and avoid unnecessarily dragging a sharp blade across surfaces.