A knife is a crucial tool in the kitchen. Thus, when it becomes blunt, you will face a great difficulty, cutting, dicing, slicing or chopping through ingredients. This makes it difficult to prepare a short and simple meal. To overcome this problem, it is important to sharpen your knife regularly. There are two major types of knife sharpeners: Electric and Manual sharpeners. There is necessarily no difference between the two sharpeners as both can get the job nicely. It is advisable that you review both manual and electric options before purchasing so you can weigh the pros and cons of the best knife sharpeners. In this article, we are going to focus exclusively on the electric knife sharpener only.
The Best Top 10 Electric Knife Sharpeners To Choose in 2018
Chef’s Choice AngleSelect 1520 Diamond Hone Electric Knife Sharpener
The Chef’s Choice AngleSelect 1520 Diamond Hone Electric Knife Sharpener is considered the most versatile electric sharpener due to its ability to restore 20 degrees edges on European style blades and 15 degrees edges on Asian style blades. Measuring 10 x 4.25x 4.25 inches and weighing approximately 4.15 lbs, this electric sharpener can be used on a large variety of knives including fillet knives, pocket knives, hunting knives, bread knives, Santoku knives and chef’s knives. It is a perfect electric sharpener for those looking to sharpening both single bevel Japanese knives and double bevel western knives.
The Chef’s Choice AngleSelect 1520 Diamond Hone Electric Knife Sharpener uses a 3-stage sharpening technology. Asian style knives that need a 15 degrees angle are sharpened using the stages 1 and 3. Knives that require a 20 degrees angle are sharpened using stages 2 and 3. The first two stages sharpen and hone the edges with 100 percent diamond abrasives. The third stage features a flexible polishing disk that microscopically polishes the edges of your knives for a flawless, incredibly sharp finish. The sharpener comes with a 3- year manufacturer limited warranty.
To get the most out of the Chef’s Choice AngleSelect 1520 Electric Sharpener, it is recommendable you read the owner’s manual before using it. Take your 10 to 15 minutes to understand how the sharpener works, how much pressure to apply, and what angles to use. Once you understand how it works, you will find using it to be very easy. The guided system ensures you get correct sharpening angles and gives maximum control all the way down the length of the blade.
Pros of the Chef’s Choice AngleSelect 1520 Electric Sharpener
- No guesswork. The spring guided system allows you to quickly pass the blade via the wheels while maintain a constant angle.
- Designed to sharpen nearly all types of knives, including American, European and Asian style knives.
- Allows to restore a 20 degree angle on your American and European style knives and a 15 degrees angle on your Asian Style knives
- 100 percent diamond abrasives help to create a “gothic arch” edge structure popularly known for its razor sharpness
- Made and assembled in the United States
- Comes with 3-year limited manufacturer warranty
Cons of the Chef’s Choice AngleSelect 1520 Electric Sharpener
- Care must be taken not to run a single bevel knife via the wrong slots so as not to ruin it
Chef’s Choice 250 Hybrid Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener
Engineered and assembled in the United States, the Chef’s Choice Hybrid 250 Electric Sharpener comes with a 3-stage hybrid technology that combines manual and electric sharpening for serrated and straight blades. The sharpener creates a triple bevel edge using its three successive stages. Stages 1 and 2 use 100 percent diamond abrasives to sharpen and shape the first two edge bevels of your blade. The third stage is used for honing and polishing the blade’s third bevel using ultra-fine diamonds for an incredibly sharp professional cutting edge. The sharpener can be used to sharpen all quality straight, serrated, pocket and sporting knives.
Measuring 3.2 inches diameter x 7.3 inches width x 4 inches height and weighing only 2.5 lbs, the Chef’s Choice 250 Hybrid Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener is fairly easy to use and carry around. However, it is highly recommended that you take your time to read the owner’s manual to get a good feeling of how the sharpener works, what angles to use and how much pressure to apply. The Chef’s Choice M250 Electric sharpener is fast and easy to use and there is a well guided spring system that ensures there is guesswork. Additionally, you do not require water or oil when using this precious electric sharpener.
Overall, the build quality of the Chef’s Choice M250 Electric sharpener is great. It boasts a durable and attractive plastic housing and a wipe clean exterior. It comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty and 1 owner’s manual.
Pros of the Chef’s Choice 250 Hybrid Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener
- Fast and easy to use. The spring guided system allows you to quickly pass the blade via the wheels while maintain a constant angle.
- Beautiful and extremely durable plastic housing and a wipe clean exterior
- No messy oils or water is needed when using this precious electric sharpener
- Ideal for sharpening all types of knives including chef’s knives, serrated knives, bread knives, sporting and pocket knives.
- 100 percent diamond abrasives in the three stages help to create a “gothic arch” edge structure popularly known for its razor sharpness
- Energy efficient, it only requires 42 watts of electricity to operate
- 1-year manufacturer warranty
- Engineered and assembled in the united states
Cons of the Chef’s Choice 250 Hybrid Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener
- It comes with a higher price when compared to other sharpeners in the same class
Wusthof PEtec Electric Sharpener
Just like other Wusthof cutlery, the Wusthof PEtec Electric Sharpener is known for its precision edge technology that sharpens knives to a razor sharp edge. This electric sharpener comes with three unique stages that allow for different types of sharpening. Stage 1 has a 100 percent diamond abrasive wheel that sharpens dull knives and creates a new edge onto the blade. Stage 2 boasts a finer grit diamond wheel that refines and hones the edge. Stage 3 features an advanced stropping material that polished the knife blade to incredibly sharp edge. Just like most electric sharpeners, the Wusthof PEtec Electric sharpener can be used to sharpen, hone and polish both straight and serrated edge blades.
The Wusthof PEtec Electric sharpener is fairly light when compared to other sharpeners in its class. It weighs about 5 pounds and measures approximately 10 inches by 6 inches by 6 inches. This also means that it occupies less than most other electric knife sharpeners. The sharpener is held up by a non-slip rubber feet. The feet support the sharpener while the rubber material keeps it from sliding and slipping during use. This ensures that the appliance is stable and ultimate
ly safer to use. The electric sharpener comes with a generous three year warranty from the manufacturer.
Pros of the Wusthof PEtec Electric Sharpener
- A fairly light body makes it easy to carry and store the sharpener
- Non-slip rubber feet keeps the sharpener from slipping and sliding while on use
- Advanced stropping material smoothens out scratches and applies finishing touches
- 3-stage design provides different options for honing your knives
- Precision edge technology sharpens your knife to an incredibly sharp edge
- Engineered and assembled in the USA
Cons of the Wusthof PEtec Electric Sharpener
- Occasionally produces scratches on sharpened knives
Chef’s Choice 120 Diamond Hone Pro EdgeSelect Electric Knife Sharpener
The Chef’s Choice EdgeSelect 120 Electric Knife Sharpener allows you to sharpen both serrated and straight knives. This 3-stage knife sharpener uses two precision conical sharpening and honing stages with fine 100 percent diamond coated disks and one final stropping or polishing stage that gives your knife a razor sharp edge. Each stage has a right and left slot that positions the blade of your knife in the perfect sharpening angle.
Made and assembled in the United States, this electric sharpener is incredibly easy to use. It comes with a rugged polymer spring guide that firmly hold your knife for accurate sharpening angles while the unique suction cups secure the unit. Just like most electric sharpeners from Chef’s Choice, this unit uses all diamond abrasives to create a razor sharp cutting edge on your knives. The EdgeSelect 120 knife sharpener can also be used to restore damaged blades as well as recreate the 15 or 20 degrees edge on any knife.
To get the most out of this electric sharpener, it is recommendable you take your 10 to 15 minutes to read the owner’s manual to get an understanding of how the sharpener works. The Chef’s Choice EdgeSelect 120 Electric Knife Sharpener is a well-built unit and is aesthetically pleasing to look at. It comes with three year household warranty.
Pros of the Chef’s Choice EdgeSelect 120 Electric Knife Sharpener
- Can sharpen a wide variety of knives, including chef’s knives, bread knives, hunting knives, pocket knives and many more
- The unit is simple to operate
- Diamond abrasives of the 1st stage quickly remove any damages to your knives blades
- The Trizor-plus cutting edge can be customized to match each cutting task
- A sturdy elastomer feet hold the sharpener securely to the surface
- No sharpening oils or liquids are required
- Made in the United States, thus quality is guaranteed
- Three year household warranty
Cons of the Chef’s Choice EdgeSelect 120 Electric Knife Sharpener
- A super thick blade may not fit into the slots of this sharpener
Presto 08800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener
The Presto 08800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener is the newest knife sharpener from National Presto Industries Inc. It features a sleek modern design that fits well in most kitchen décor styles. The electric sharpener comes with a black and silver motif that looks right at home in a modern, stainless style kitchen. However, its soft edges and rounded shape allow it to blend well with more traditional style kitchens. The unit runs on 120V 60 watt power, meaning its energy efficient. It measures 8-1/4 by 5-3/4 by 4 inches and weighs approximately 3 pounds, making easy to carry around and store.
With its retail price ranging from $28 to $35 , Presto 08800 EverSharp Electric Sharpener is one the most economical electric sharpeners available on the market today. The sharpener uses a 2-stage sharpening system to ensure that your knives receive an even razor-sharp edge every time you use it. Stage 1 is the rough stage used to grind down and sharpen the dullest knives. The next stage is a fine stage used for honing the blade to a very nice and incredibly sharp edge. Both stages are well marked with 1 denoting the first stage and 2 denoting the next stage. This electric sharpener is incredibly easy and simple to operate.
Pros of the Presto 08800 EverSharp Knife Sharpener
- It comes with a very low retail price when compared to other electrical knife sharpeners
- Two stage sharpening system
- Precision blade guides to ensure you maintain a consistent sharpening angle
- Features strong sapphirite sharpening wheels made of hard materials to sharpen the dullest knives
- Ergonomic design, this knife sharpener looks great in place on the worktop
Cons of the Presto 08800 EverSharp Knife Sharpener
- It does not work well with thicker blades
- It does not handle hard steels very well and it may take several attempts to get a satisfactory edge
Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener
Created by the Work Sharp Engineering Company, the Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener is one of the most popular electric sharpeners on the market today. This unit is designed to sharpen every knife you own. Using its flexible abrasive belts, the Work Sharp Electric Sharpener will not only sharpen serrated blades, but also straight, tanto and curved blades. The unit uses precision angle sharpening guides to make sure you always get the correct every time. The spinning speed of the belt is adjustable to prevent it from overheating the blade.
The sharpening guides are interchangeable to allow you to get a precise cutting angle for your knives. The 40 degree guide is ideal for filet, kitchen and other precision blades. The 50 degrees guide is suitable for heavier duty blades, such as outdoor knives, pocket knives as well as hunting knives. The 65 degrees guide is meant for sharpening household scissors and single side serrations
The Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener can also be used to sharpen other common tools such as shovels, garden shears, mower blades, hatchets, axes and other tools with a blade. The versatility of this electric sharper and its affordable retail price makes it one of the best selling sharpeners on the market.
Pros of the Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener
- Designed to sharpen all types of knives and common tools
- Precision sharpening guides to ensure you get correct and consistent results
- Flexible abrasive belts to create a razor sharp edge
- Variable speeds and heavy duty motors
Cons of the Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener
- It retails at a higher price than other sharpeners, but this is due to its multiple sharpening features and capabilities
LINKYO Electric Knife Sharpener
LINKYO Electric Knife Sharpener is a 2 stage knife sharper with an automatic blade position guide. This makes a perfect option for both beginners and pros. Made to deliver you perfection, this knife sharpener uses its 2 stage sharpening technology to sharpen and polish your knives. The automatic blade positioning guide ensures that your knife blade is placed accurately into the unit, while the heavy duty suction cup feet ensure that the sharpener remains in place as it sharpens your knives.
In the initial stage, the knife is realigned, sharpened and revived. In the stage 2, the blade is polished par excellence for a clean razor sharp edge. The unit boasts mess free receptacles with easy to remove plugs that capture metal fillings and shards for easy disposal. Measuring 8.25 inches by 5.75 inches by 3.25 inches, this unit does not occupy a large space.
The electric sharpener comes with a LINKYO two year 100 percent quality guarantee. The LINKYO knife sharpener is a sharpener that prevents damages if it is used incorrectly, for instance, when you use too much pressure, it will shut down automatically to avoid damaging the knife. The electric knife sharpener is used for only straight blades and cannot be used for serrated blades or scissors.
Pros of the LINKYO Electric Knife Sharpener
- Automatic blade positioning guides ensure that the blade is in an optimal position
- Suction cups on the bottom of the unit helps to keep it secure
- Atomically shuts down if used improperly to avoid damaging your knives
- 2 stage sharpening procedure to reshape, sharpen and hone your knives for an incredibly sharp edge
- Comes with the LINKYO two year 100 percent quality guarantee
- Retails at a more affordable price when compared to other electric knife sharpeners in the same class
Cons of the LINKYO Electric Knife Sharpener
- It is only used for straight blades and cannot be used for serrated blades or scissors
Presto 08810 Electric Sharpening System
The Presto 08810 Professional Sharpener offers the most user friendly experience of sharpening your blades at home. Made in China, this electric sharpener is loaded with technical advancement and years of research to save on time and efforts. The unit boasts sturdy sapphirite wheels that help to create an incredibly sharp blade. Sapphirite wheels are best known for their hardness. They are commonly to sharpen heavy blades in North America.
The Presto 08810 sharpener has three stages are coarse, fine and very fine. It is fast and efficient, you only need to pass the knife three to five times per stage, expect for very dull knives that may need more time on the “coarse” or stage 1 setting. The sharpener measures 12 inches by 5 inches by 4 inches and weighs 5.1 lbs, making it to store after use. Its metallic silver and black appearance makes it match with any modern kitchen décor, especially stainless steel door. It does not look out of place in traditional kitchen setting too. The interchangeable blade guide allows you to set a variable of angles while sharpening your blades.
The Presto 08810 Sharpener will easily and quickly sharpen normal kitchen knives. When compared to older electric sharpeners, this unit is relatively quiet and does not require skill or knowledge to use. The unit comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
Pros of the Presto 08810 Electric Knife Sharpening System
- Easy and simple to operate, making a suitable option for both beginner and professionals
- Sapphirite wheels that help to create an incredibly sharp blade
- Interchangeable blade guides allow you to sharpen blades at different angles
- Its metallic silver and black appearance makes it match with any modern kitchen décor
- Has three stages to sharpen even the most dull knives
- Comes with a one year warranty
Cons of the Presto 08810 Knife Sharpening System
- The unit is quite bulky, but this is not a big deal considering it will likely be stored on a kitchen countertop
Work Sharp Culinary E5 Electric Sharpener
Work Sharp Culinary E5 Electric Sharpener is one of the top rated electric sharpeners on them market. It comes with a few unique features, such as the belt drive system. These belts are replaceable and made to resemble brand new knives that come from the manufacturers, which use similar abrasive belts to create an incredibly sharp cutting edge. The unit also comes with an upgrade kit for sharpening western and eastern blades.
Whether you want to refine, sharpen or shape your blade, the Work Sharp Culinary E5 Electric Sharpener will automatically adjust the time and belt speeds to create a perfect edge. All you need to do is press the button on the front to choose the stage you want to use. Next, you just have to slide your knife along the sharpening guide until the light turns off, and belts rest. The sharpener can work on a wide range of knives including serrated blades, pairing knives and large chef knives.
Pros of the Work Sharp Culinary E5 Electric Sharpener
- Belt drive system to create a razor sharp edge
- Clean, quiet and safe for any type of knife
- One –touch programming allows you to choose a sharpening cycle to refine, sharpen or shape your blade
- Comes with a ceramic honing rod to hone sharpened blades
- Precision sharpening guides help you avoid guesswork and inconsistent results
Cons of the Work Sharp Culinary E5 Electric Sharpener
- It comes with a considerably higher price, but this is due to its unique amazing features
Work Sharp Culinary E3 Electric Knife Sharpener
The Culinary E3 Electric Sharpener by Work Sharp is a two-speed knife sharpening system for refining and sharpening edges, and a ceramic honing rod (fine and course) to add a scalpel sharpness to your cutlery. The unit uses traditional abrasive belts to create a sharp as new edge same way manufacturer sharpen knives at the factory. The high performance sharpening belts, precision sharpening guide give this electric sharpener simple to use, gentle on blades and clean enough for the countertop.
The ceramic honing incorporates a fine side for honing sharpened blades to an incredibly sharp finish. The guides are designed to create the 17 degrees work sharp edge- a balance of the precise cutting of Japanese knives and durability and strength of European knives.
Pros of the Work Sharp Culinary E3 Electric Sharpener
- Measures 7 inches by 4.5 inches by 5 inches and weighs 3 lbs
- Built in sharpening guides help to avoid guess work
- Ceramic honing rod incorporates a fine side for horning sharpened knives to an incredibly sharp finish
- Sharpening belt designed to sharpen all kinds of knives and steel
- Made in USA
Cons of the Work Sharp Culinary E3 Electric Sharpener
- It retails at a higher price than other sharpeners, but this is due to its multiple sharpening features and capabilities
What Is An Electric Knife Sharpener?
An electric knife sharpener is regularly used by chefs to sharpen the blades of their knives. Unlike traditional manual sharpeners, electric sharpeners usually work in 3 stages: Polishing, smoothing and grinding. These units are usually shaped like a box and have motorized grinding wheels that sharpen your blades. As compared to its manual counterparts, it is more convenient and faster. This is because you do not require any special skill to operate this equipment. All you have to do is insert the knife into the slot, and hold it while the machine does the sharpening for you.
Benefits of Choosing an Electric Knife Sharpener
Easy To Afford
Electric knife sharpeners are easily affordable. They also save you money as you do not have to hire a sharpening service whenever your knives become blunt. If you have an electric sharpener at home, you can sharpen your blades at any time. In addition, it may be difficult to locate the best qualified or professional knife sharpener in the market at times. You can avoid such worries by having your electric knife sharpener.
Easy To Clean and Maintain
Electric knife sharpeners are very easy to clean. They come with high-grade receptacles that collect the peels together and prevent them from sticking in the sharpener. In addition, electric knife sharpeners are easy to maintain. This is because they are made of a high-grade plastic body and the best motors that require little to no maintenance.
You Can Sharpen Many Knives at a Time
Electric sharpeners are not limited to use. You can sharpen both serrated edged and straight-edged knives. These sharpeners come with various slots which allow you to sharpen more than one knife at a time. Manually sharpened knives may lose their sharpness and life much sooner than expected. But, this is not the case with the electric knife sharpeners. These sharpeners peel minimum metal and hone your blade for long-lasting razor sharpness.
No More Blunt Knives
If you own an electric knife sharpener, you do not worry about a dull knife anymore. It is always at your disposal to sharpen your blunt knives and make sure they remain to be new. All you require to do is to put your knife in the sharpening slot and switch it on, and therefore you have the sharpest edges.
It Has Guides
The current electric knife sharpeners have spring guides that allow the sharpening to be easier. Therefore, you do not have to guess the sharpening angle since guides will help set the right angles. Unlike manual sharpening tools, these sharpeners do not require to exert a lot of pressure.
Get Fast Results
Electric sharpeners are motorized, and thus, the results generated are instant. This not only saves time but also delivers you perfectly sharp edge blades. Electric knife sharpeners are one of the tools every chef or home cook should have in their kitchen.
Simpler to Operate
Electric knife sharpeners are easy to use, and only needs you to draw the blade into the slot and leave the sharpening for it.
They are Efficient
The efficiency that is provided by an electric sharpener cannot be compared with that of manual sharpeners. With an electric sharpener, your knife blades will not be damaged and will become incredibly sharp.
Choosing the Right Electric knife Sharpener for your Knives
It is recommendable that you choose an electric sharpener as per the type of knives you will be using. There are two main types of knives that are used in the kitchen: Japanese and western knives. Japanese knives are single bevel knives and only sharpened on one side, while western knives are double bevel knives that only sharpened on both sides.
Western or European Knives
Electric knife sharpeners come in a wide range of styles. There are some sharpens that are designed to sharpen both western and eastern knives. Other sharpeners are only designed to sharpen only for European or western-style knives.
German knives are well known for their efficiency and durability. European knives, on the other hand, have a double symmetrical bevel, meaning they can be sharpened on both sides. When using an electric sharpener you need to ensure that the blade is placed at the right degrees. To know the total angle of a blade, you should combine angles from both sides of the blade. Most European knives have angles ranging from 18 degrees on the lower end to 28 degrees on the high end.
Apart from bevel angles, the thickness of the blade also differs between the western and eastern style knives. Western knives are constructed from softer steels and incredibly sharp. A quality western knife can slice a tomato smoothly. Since they are made of softer steels, they can be damaged easily when sharpening. Western knives require regular honing. These kinds of knives have curved blades, which mean you need pull the blades along the same angle to ensure the sharpening occurs along the entire length.
If you are sharpening a serrated blade, you need to go for a sharpener that is designed for such knives. There are some electric sharpeners that are made for all types of knives. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN our list of top electric sharpeners to find out more.
It is important to know the different types of knives before buying your electric knife sharpener. An extremely sharp dagger with a smaller angle is not going to be as strong as the one that is made using softer and is a bit sharp. Harder steel is prone to chipping because it is more brittleness. Knives with higher bevels and softer steels will not be as sharp, but can be more durable because it can withstand day to day abuses without chipping or cracking.
Japanese Knives
Japanese knives come into main styles: double-bevel and single-bevel. Double-bevel blades can be sharpened on both sides and are much similar to western style knives. However, they are japanese double bevel blades are usually sharpened to 16 degrees. If you are using Japanese knives, it is imperative to consider the type of bevel before buying your electric knife sharpener. You may require a sharpening unit that can sharpen both sides of the blade.
Single bevel Japanese knives are sharpened only a single side. If you have single bevel japanese knife, look for an electric sharpener that can sharpen your blade on one side to avoid damaging the blade. Japanese knives are sharpened to five or six degrees, while most Western style ones have angles of 15 degrees and above.
Japanese knives have harder steel than Western knives because the bevel angle is lesser. Harder steel is important for incredibly long lasting razor sharpness; however, they can break if they drop. Another difference between a Japanese and Western knife style is the blade shape.Japanese knives are usually flat on one side of blade length, making more blade area to come in contact with the food .This changes the way the blade is sharpened.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an Electric Knife Sharpener
Once you know the suitable knife for your kitchen, you will be able to choose the right electric knife sharpener. Getting a quality sharpener as per your requirements is a matter of deciding on the required features and the budget you wish to spend. Below are the factors to consider
Tip 1: Consider the Abrasives Used
The economy or basic electric sharpener owns composite stones. Most of them contain diamond-based stones. It is also common to purchase a sharpener having a very fine stage of tungsten carbide that realigns and straightens the blade. However, an assortment of sharpening materials is available in the market, such as natural stones and composite materials, which are specifically chosen for blade sharpening. Most reliable and popular electric knife sharpeners come with artificial diamond abrasives attached to wheels to ensure the most effectual outcome. Other abrasive materials available are ceramics and steel. Most professionals prefer artificial or natural stones.
Tip 2: Know the Sharpening Stages or Slots
Despite the type of electric sharpener you buy, the sharpening basics are the same. The first stage involves the crushing any damage or flaws in the blade on an abrasive, hard surface and giving a tidy and consistent edge. However, not all models will come with a repair stage, .In the second stage; a less coarse stone uplifts a burr that finally turns into the cutting edge. For easy keep up, you can straightly begin this stage. In the final stage, you polish the burr to form a sharp edge.
The good thing is that most electric sharpeners come with multiple stages. Each stage enables sharpening sufficiently. Therefore, if you require a swift touch up for slicing a tomato, you can straightly use the third stage, which hones the edge finely
Some electric models have two stages, known as coarse and fine stages. But, the best is the one is the one that has at least three stages. Those with three to four stages are capable of sharpening very blunt blades finely or rapidly honing the blades.
In case you are selecting a model with just one stage, keep in mind that it is a fairly coarse one. This means that, it discards more metal than what is important, and it ends up reducing the life span of a knife. But, this does not mean that such a model is unreliable or bad, but it is important to know the restrictions. Apart from this, a single stage model is ideal for sharpening a utility or pocket knife.
An electric knife sharpener with only single or one slot sharpening stage is fully functional for a specific category of knives, and the one with many stages is best for various types of knives. The final one offers various angles at which you require to sharpen your knives. Be aware that a few knives require a specific angle for sharpening.
Tip 3: Know the Proposed Use
Keep in mind that, not all sharpeners are designed for all types of knives. For knives to be used in a restaurant or home kitchen, you will need get specific sharpeners. Therefore, the kind of electric sharpener to be chosen largely depends on how you wish to use it. A commercial model might offer many features as well as might be of higher value. But, at the same time, it can be costlier. Also, a model for household use is usually more economical and has fewer features, comparatively.
Tip 4: Consider the Type of Handle
The handle is also a vital factor to consider while purchasing a knife although it is not as important when you are purchasing a electric knife sharpener. If you explore the cons of these sharpeners, you will get a few users complaining about vibrations. Bad handles can actually end up hurting your hand or giving a numbing sensation. Therefore, it is best to go for an ergonomic handle that fits your hand’s contour properly.
Tip 5: Know the Right Angle for Every Knife
Electric sharpeners come in a wide range of sharpening angles. Some can sharpen knives in angles ranging from 15 to 20 degrees, while others can sharpen blades with angles above 20 degrees. Most people use a bench with a stone knife sharpener if they want to sharpen an intended angle. Today, electric sharpeners come with an angle guides that allows you to adjust the sharpening to match your desires.
As a customer, you might be of the opinion that the sharpest possible angle is perfect. Fine, but the fact is that there is a trade-off. The sharper the blade, the flimsier it is regarding maintenance and sharpening. This means that such blades would require many frequent sharpening as well as maintenance. If not true, every blade, ranging right from an axe to a straight razor would order sharpening to 12 degrees.
However, the blades of pairing knives and razors should be sharpened between 12 to 18 degrees. Similarly, most of kitchen blades like chefs, slicers and utility knives should be sharpened at angles between 15 to25 degrees for incredibly sharp edge. However, there are exceptions like Japanese models, which should be sharpened at angles ranging from 14 to 16 degree. It is important to note that the correct angle depends on the instructions given by the knife manufacturer.
For the knives in the sporting and tactical category, such as the pocket and survival knives which undergo lots of forceful actions, the sharpening angle is higher. These knives should be sharpened at angles ranging from 25 to 30 degrees. If you have an axe or a machete, the sharpening angle is greater as it ranges between 30 to 40 degrees. This allows for prolonged and long-lasting sharpness. The material the blade is made from determines the length of the sharpness will remain. The harder the steel, the sharper is the edge. But this doesn’t comprise with durability of the blade or the sharpener itself.
It is important to note that the aforementioned angles are related and practically applicable. High quality chef’s model can convince you to push the sharpening angle to 12 degrees. Note that this will mean that you need to sharpen the blade many times. A number of makers such as Shun, Heckle and Global, is known for their good kitchen knives that are made up of proprietary steel mix. You will get this blend printed on blade, for example, X50CrMoV15.This means X – for stainless steel, 50 for 0.5 percent carbon for sharpness, Cr – chromium and Mo – molybdenum both are responsible for resistance to stain, V-Vanadium for edge hardness and retention, and 15 for 15 percent chromium in.
Basically, other metals are combined with steel to give you some other properties but do come with tradeoffs. Therefore, in the favor of steel, it is meaningful knowing that the metal is optimized for generic durability and kitchen use.
On the flip side, such steel if softer is incapable to hold the edge as sharp as hard steel. However, this is why it is simple to sharpen a kitchen knife although it is easy to get blunt faster. These upscale kitchen knives have a Rockwell scale hardness ranging from 52 to 58 degrees. But Japanese along with custom knives rank up between 61 to 63 degrees regarding Rockwell scale hardness
Tip 6: Know the Right Sharpener for Serrated Knives
Some electric sharpeners are designed to sharpen serrated blades. These are usually the high-end sharpeners and not the economy ones. But this doesn’t mean that you will not get an affordable model for such knives. All you need to do is to try out with the producer or go for a manual option. In most cases, you go through fantastic success by giving a touch up to your serrated edge through the best stage of your model. But for sharpening every serration, a round tapered sharpening rod or a manual sharpening kit will do a good job.
Tip 7: Know the Color of Your Choice
Color an essential aspect, but it is good to consider it if you want your sharpener to match with your kitchen’s decor. Electric sharpeners come in neutral colors, such as black, white and silver. The reason behind is that they seem to lay more focus on formality rather than on looks. However, it is simple to get a visually satisfying model for your kitchen if you desire.
Tip 8: Choose the Right Size
This tip is vital to consider, more so if the place where you will sharpen your knife is small. It also depends on your specific sharpening necessities. A bigger unit might come with extra features, while a compact one saves usage and storage space and hence offering few features. However, the fact remains that most of the electric sharpeners consume space that a toaster takes.
Tip 9: Exterior Structure
Electric sharpeners are available in various shapes and sizes. It is important to choose an electric sharpener that has an excellent exterior structure. For example, a non-slip base ensuring security is sometimes important to have. Likewise, a handle on a side is preferable for ergonomics and ease at the time of sharpening.
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