8 best knife sharpeners according to chefs, experts, and user reviews

Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone

Tim Nelson is the expert behind bbqsmarts.com, a site where he writes in-depth guides to achieving peak excellence in barbecuing, product reviews, and more standard recipes. Needless to say, he knows a thing or two about sharp knives and gave us two recommendations for how best to hone your blade.

“For sharpening a knife, nothing beats a whetstone,” Tim tells us. “I use this Sharp Pebble Sharpener which is double-sided with fine and coarse grit levels. The coarse side is for sharpening, while the finer grit is for finishing. It also comes with a little guide that clips to the dull side of your knife to ensure that you're sharpening at the correct angle.”

He also suggests hitting up YouTube to find a visual guide on how the proper use of a whetstone since, in his words, “nothing beats a visual guide.”

KitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener

Tim also threw in a more accessible option for those looking for a lower price point that can be used anytime without soaking like the whetstone mentioned above.

“I also have a cheap sharpener which works surprisingly well in a pinch. A whetstone needs to be soaked in advance, so it's nice to have something you can use without any prep. Just be aware that this type of sharpener does create small metal shavings, so it's a good idea to give your knife a rinse after using one.” More than 16,000 ratings tend toward agreement, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars corroborating Tim’s claims.

Chef’sChoice 15 Trizor XV

In addition to the wonderful question poised in this article’s introduction, Chef Nathan did in fact have a fantastic recommendation for a professional-grade sharpener that will set you back a bit more money but handles the largest variety of knives with unwavering accuracy. As with the rice cooker, he had plenty of top-shelf advice to complement his pick:

“So most Asian style knives are a 15 degree angle, which means they're sharper, and classically speaking, European or German style knives have a 20-degree angle, so they're not as sharp, but it's more of a workhorse thing–you can bang through bones and stuff like that. But very few American consumers break down an entire hog or an entire chicken, so they want a sharper knife. The Chef's Choice Trizor XV gives all that more, plus they've finally figured out–'they' meaning the industry– a way for sharpening straight edge knives like your chef's knife or your paring knife and serrated blades like your bread knife. Historically speaking, serrated knives had been very difficult to sharpen.”

Imarku 2-Stage Kitchen Knife Sharpener

Our next suggestion is one of the highest-rated models on Amazon with a staggering 98% approval rating and reviews that suggest this mid-priced tool is a safe bet for those looking. "I’m not a knife enthusiast, but from what I see, this sharpens EVERYTHING and does it very well," claims one enthusiastic user who has only recently dived into the sharpening game. They add, "I’ve done scissors, kitchen knives, and I can tell this is going to be a great sharpener I’ll hopefully have a long time!!"

Redi Edge Original Knife Sharpener

Another option selected through the sheer approval of the masses is the very unique and colorful design of the Redi Edge. The lowest review is a 3 out of 5 stars, and there's only one of those among more than 80 others proving this one does exactly what it says it will and looks stylish while doing so. The compact design means it will fit nicely in your flatware drawer as well, and if you're still not convinced, take for example one longtime fan who writes, "I have been using them for 10 years and it has out sharpened every sharpener out there. A friend of mine, who uses a diamond edge sharpener that was double the cost, asks to use it. I never leave home to fish camp or hunting camp without it."

Wicked Edge Knife Sharpener With Quartz Stone Base

Our final sharpener is the most expensive of the bunch and designed with not only chefs but also avid outdoorsmen for whom the Everyday Carry lifestyle is more than just a popular Instagram hashtag. The price point isn't a light one nor is the counter space this will take up, but for those looking to make a long-term investment for the workshop or crafty garage setup, the Wick Edge is an aspirational piece of equipment that will keep all your handy sharps at their peak.

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twinstone Pro

Sure it looks cool sitting on your counter, but the J.A. Henckels Twinstone Pro will also use its 250 grit to remove existing damage from the blade before the 1000 grit side sharpens it into like-new perfection.

"The synthetic material is great and quick to use," one user raves, noting there is no presoaking required and, "It brings my knives back to their razor sharp edge with ease."