knife sharpenersSharpening knives brings back all sorts of memories for me, most especially of my Grandmother Ethel, who knew how to cook the parts of animals most people throw away and always had a medium carborundum stone handy for putting the edge back on her butcher knife quickly. I’m also reminded of John F., a former employer who had worked for years in a packing plant and totally revised my concept of what constitutes a sharp edge and how to achieve it. We talked, we argued, I tried what he suggested, and he was right.

The two basic schools of thought in sharpening are that it isn’t important; and it’s the most important thing. Some regard really sharp knives as dangerous, while other chefs demand edges that would slice through silk scarves drifting through the air. For most of us, good knives are somewhere in between those extremes.

If you have cheap knives or knives that have been badly used, they probably need a serious reworking with flat stones. Honing machines will do the same fundamental work if they include coarse wheels, but going through a set of knives once may be all the wheels can handle — most are replaceable and you should expect to do that. Knives in good shape — and I mean that literally, since the shape of the bevel is one of the most important factors — only need maintenance. Fine grit stones and fine grit honing wheels both do that, but in the kitchen the best solution for everyday upkeep is the honing steel.

It’s a complex subject today, based as much on the type of steel in the knife as on the habits of the user. Pay attention to the suggestions of the manufacturer or you’ll have real problems and damaged blades.

And be sure to check out our kitchen knife sharpening guide for a more in-depth look at technique.

Some of Our Favorites

One of several grades essential for the upkeep of Global’s fine knives, the Global waterstone series works just as well for knives of lower quality. If you want control of bevel angle as well as edge, stones are essential. Waterstones beat carborundum hands down.

An evolutionary step beyond the argument I had with John F., a diamond honing steel combines the best features of steel hones and whetstones, working well with many high grades of steel as well as ordinary cutlery.

Though a machine hone is a compromise, it does provide welcome help for chefs who feel that stones and steels are mysterious things to avoid. Definitely buy a powered version if you can afford it.

See All of Our Kitchen Knife Sharpener Reviews Below


Knife Sharpening

Victorinox Firestorm Knife Sharpener | Ceramic Manual European, Coarse & Fine 2 Stage 49000

For occasional sharpening of less expensive knives in the common European pattern, the Victorinox 49000 Firestorm could be a handy kitchen...
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Edge Pro Knife Sharpener Kit 2 | Sharpening Stones for Plain Edge Japanese or European Kitchen Cutlery

With the Edge Pro Knife Sharpener, you’ll be able to accurately restore edges to any of five different bevel angles and...
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AccuSharp Knife Sharpener 001 Review | Serrated Blade Handheld Tungsten Carbide

Everyone has different standards when it comes to knife edges, and the sharpness of a knife doesn’t actually control the quality...
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Shapton GlassStone Sharpening Water Stone | Japanese Kitchen Cutlery Diamond 8000 Grit

The 8000 grit Shapton GlassStone shapes the bevel of any plain-edged knife quickly, depending on the skill of the user for...
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1 min read

Shun Honing Sharpening Steel | Premier 9 Inch w/ Walnut Pakkawood Handle

The Shun Premier 9 Inch Honing Steel matches the appearance and quality of the Shun Premier line chosen as Blade Magazine’s...
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1 min read

Warthog Knife Sharpener, Japanese & European | V Sharp Professional Automatic for Kitchen Knives

Usually any chef interested in the best edge possible turns to the old system of whetstone and honing steel, but with...
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1 min read

Anolon Bronze Kitchen Cutlery Sharpener, Plain Edge | Universal Manual Knife Hone w/ Ceramic Coarse, Medium & Fine Grit

Made in the same style as Anolon’s Classic Bronze Cutlery, the Anolon Bronze Universal Sharpener takes knives through three stages of...
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56 sec read

Smith’s Electric Kitchen Knife Sharpener, Diamond Hone | Abrasive Edgeware Ceramic 2 Stage

When anyone offers an electrically-powered knife hone for this price, there must be a catch. With the Smith’s Abrasive Diamond Edge...
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1 min read

Messermeister Chantry Knife Sharpener, Manual Hone | European & American Cutlery Sharpening in Black, White, Silver, Red

Manufactured in Sheffield, England, the Chantry Knife Sharpener has a fine reputation and is even on permanent display at the New...
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Mundial Diamond Sharpening Steel | Professional Industrial Cutlery Hone, Black

The professional-quality Diamond Sharpening Steel from Mundial of Brazil will sharpen blades ordinary honing steels can’t touch. Harder steel and worn...
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Mundial Round Sharpening Steel w/ Polyacetal Handle | Regular High Carbon Stainless Steel, Black 10 12 or 14 Inch

Mundial makes this professional quality sharpening steel in three different lengths — one of them will be the perfect match to...
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Mundial Polished Butcher’s Sharpening Steel, Round | Plain Edge Knife Hone, Red 10 Inch 1301-10

Nearly every good cook knows the benefits of a honing steel, but strangely enough, not that many realize that the best...
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Mundial Knife Sharpening Steel 5100 | Professional Restaurant Cutlery Hone 10 Inch White

Mundial of Brazil offers this professional-quality honing steel for both home and restaurant use — buy one and it should last...
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AnySharp Knife Sharpener Review | Professional Kitchen Cutlery Hone As Seen On TV

One of the simplest and most efficient knife sharpeners I’ve seen lately, the AnySharp quickly restores a uniform bevel to a...
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1 min read

Shun Electric Kitchen Knife Sharpener, Black AP0119 | Asian Cutlery Ceramic 16 Degree Bevel Hone

A blend of good ideas and disappointing realities, the Shun APO119 Electric Knife Sharpener seems more suited to cheap cutlery than...
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1 min read

Diamondstone Electric Kitchen Knife Sharpener | McGowan Diamond Sharpening Fine Grit, Black

Designed for the chef who doesn’t use a whetstone, the McGowan Diamondstone Electric Knife Sharpener works well enough that you shouldn’t...
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1 min read

Folding Sharpening Steel, Diamond Fine Grit | Ultimate Edge Sportsman Ultra Light Oval 4 Inch 4NFP

The half-inch-wide oval cross-section honing rod of the collapsible Sportsman Ultra Light Diamond Sharpening Steel will restore the cutting edges of...
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Chef’s Choice Manual Knife Sharpener, 463 Pronto for Asian Cutlery | Ideal for VG-10 Steel, Coarse & Fine Grit

Manual sharpeners which work well are relatively new products — until diamond abrasive wheels were available, the results of using a...
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F. Dick Multicut Sharpening Steel | Kitchen Knife Cutlery Tool 11 Inch Hanging

F. Dick’s 11-inch Multicut Knife Sharpening Steel strives to combine seven different types and grades of sharpening steels into one product....
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KAI Combination Whetstone Sharpener w/ Kitchen Stand | Japanese Knife Sharpening Stone

The Combination Whetstone from KAI USA includes two grits for shaping and polishing edges plus a stable wooden stand to prevent...
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1 min read

ScissorPro Chef’s Choice Scissors & Shears Sharpener | Diamond Hone 500, Coarse or Fine

One of the trickiest tools to sharpen correctly at home is a pair of scissors. It always looks like an easy...
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Chef’s Choice Kitchen Knife Sharpening Steel | Diamond Fine Grit

Few tools in the kitchen are handier than a sharpening steel — except perhaps a diamond hone. The Chef’s Choice 12-inch...
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Global Shinkansen Knife Sharpener, Manual Ceramic | Minosharp Plus 440 GB

Since hand honing systems designed for western cutlery don’t match up with the acute bevels and hard cutting edges of Global’s...
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Sporting & Kitchen Knife Sharpener, McGowan Electric Firestone | Ceramic Hollow Grind

McGowan’s Firestone Electric Sharpener quickly hones kitchen and sporting knives to a short functional hollow ground edge. The Firestone works well...
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Chef’s Choice 450 Electric Knife Sharpener | Diamond Hone Wheel w/ Coarse & Fine Grit

The Chef’s Choice 450 two-stage diamond wheel knife sharpener allows even those chefs who don’t like to sharpen knives to work...
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The Ultimate Edge Ultra Fine Diamond Knife Honing & Polishing Steel | Oval 10 Inch 10NUF

The Ultimate Edge Model 10NUF Oval Ultra Fine honing steel finishes edges of blades with a high polish. If you already...
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The Ultimate Edge Diamond Knife Sharpening Steel | Oval Model 10W 10 Inch Fine Grit

Adding fine abrasive action to the resetting function of the steel hone, the Ultimate Edge Model 10W Gourmet 10-inch Oval Diamond...
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Chef’s Choice Commercial Knife Sharpener | Electric Diamond Hone 2000 | Extra Fine Grit

The Chef’s Choice Commercial Model 2000 Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener evens the playing field when it comes to knife sharpening. You...
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Global Diamond Sharpening Steel 10 Inch | Vanadium Chrome | Yoshikin Knives

Made from a solid rod of chrome vanadium stainless steel and embedded with a matrix of fine industrial diamonds, this unusual...
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Wusthof Sharpening & Honing Steel 10 Inch | Grand Prix 2 #4477

A matching sharpening steel for fine Wusthof Cutlery, this 10-inch honing steel quickly resets the blades of most good kitchen knives,...
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