Preparation
Sharp knives are essential for home cooks. “Knife sharpeners should be among the first items on any chef or home cook’s shopping list,” says chef Melissa Collins, manager at Perfect Brew. “A dull knife doesn’t cut through food smoothly—this not only wastes precious time, but also results in safety risks. When the edge of your blade is sharp, it’s less likely to slip as you press it down to cut.”
There are two types of knife sharpeners: manual and electric. Manual sharpeners tend to be cheaper, and many experienced chefs prefer them because they offer better control, yet they do take a bit of practice to use effectively. Electric sharpeners are simpler to use and usually just require a couple of strikes through the sharpener, but they can be more expensive and even damage some knives if not used properly. Expect to pay anywhere from $10 to more than $100 for a knife sharpener. Here are the five knife sharpeners we recommend.
Presto EverSharp* Electric Knife SharpenerKitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife SharpenerChef’s Choice 4643 Pronto Pro Manual Knife SharpenerChef’sChoice Trizor XV Knife SharpenerGlobal Combination Water 8000/1000-Grit Whetstone Sharpener
