Welcome to our big electric knife sharpener test 2023. Here we present all the electric knife sharpeners we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the internet.
In this way, we would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best electric knife sharpener for you.
You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should definitely pay attention to if you want to buy an electric knife sharpener.
Summary
- Electric knife sharpeners are practical aids for sharpening your knives at home.
- Models with grinding wheels are suitable for everyone and deliver very good results over a long period of time.
- Knife sharpeners with abrasive belts are suitable for all types of blades and make your blades as sharp as those of professionals.
The Best Electric Knife Sharpener: Our Picks
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying an Electric Knife Sharpener
Why do I need an electric knife sharpener?
There are models with grinding wheels that are easy and uncomplicated to use. Here you simply pull the knife through the guide rails and after a few seconds you have a knife that is ready for use again.
This is often done in several phases so that the basic sharpness of the knife is maintained.
For advanced home cooks, there are models with an abrasive belt. You hold the knife – similar to a whetstone – against the running belt.
These are a little cheaper, but they are also suitable for a wide range of knives. As a rule, sharpening with these models takes a little longer. In return, you have knives that are as sharp as those made by professionals.
What are the advantages over conventional knife sharpeners?
With conventional knife sharpeners, the blade is pulled quickly through the guide rails. It is easy for pressure to build up in the process. However, this causes an unnecessary amount of material to be removed from the blade.
With electric knife sharpeners, the blade is inserted loosely into the guide rails and pulled through slowly without building up pressure.
The mechanical support removes just enough material to make the blade sharp again.
In addition, the guide rails of these electric knife sharpeners are usually longer than those of conventional knife sharpeners. Slipping, so that the blade lands on the table, is rather unlikely with these models.
The advantage of electric knife sharpeners is the good quality of the sharpening for a wide range of blades. Depending on the model, you can get your blades as sharp as only a professional can.
What does an electric knife sharpener cost?
The average price for electric knife sharpeners, however, is around 40€.
There are hardly any upper limits to the prices for electric knife sharpeners. Especially professional electric knife sharpeners can cost 500€ and more.
Electric knife sharpeners with grinding belts are often more expensive than models with integrated grinding wheels.
Here we have created a small overview to give you an idea of the different prices of the models:
| model | price |
|---|---|
| electric knife sharpener with grinding wheels | 8-205€ |
| electric knife sharpener with grinding belt | 90-180€ |
| special models for professionals | 350-750€ |
What are the alternatives to an electric knife sharpener?
Another alternative to the electric knife sharpener is the sharpening stick. Here you pull the sharp edge of the knife along the rod a few times and you will have sharpened your knife in no time at all. However, the sharpening rod does not work with serrated knives.
An alternative, which is mainly used in professional kitchens, is sharpening with whetstones.
The reason it is used by advanced cooks is that you need the right technique to get your knife properly sharp with the stones.
You also need different grits for sharpening and honing. Different grits are also needed for different knife materials (ceramic, type of steel).
Finally, there is the sharpening stone variant. Here, your knife is sharpened (often with the addition of water) on a circular, rotating whetstone.
However, as this technique requires a lot of practice and the stone takes up a lot of space, it can be found in very few households. With luck, however, knife and/or scissors sharpeners can be found who still master this technique.
Finally, there are knife sharpening machines that reliably sharpen your knives.
What Types of Electric Knife Sharpeners are there and which one is right for you?
There are the following types of electronic knife sharpeners:
- electric knife sharpeners with grinding wheels
- electric knife sharpener with abrasive belt
Below we have summarised the advantages and disadvantages of each type to make your purchase decision as easy as possible.
What distinguishes an electric knife sharpener with grinding wheels and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Electric knife sharpeners with grinding wheels usually have two or more guide rails. Each rail serves a different purpose. The first rail is for sharpening.
This is where the basic sharpness for your knife is created. The second rail sharpens the previously sharpened knife. A third rail contains even finer grinding wheels that polish your knife – so the sharpening is even more precise.
Some electric knife sharpeners with grinding wheels also have bevelled guide rails. These ensure that you maintain an angle of 15 degrees.
This angle is the one that is suitable for most household knives. For other, coarser knives (e.g. in the outdoor area), this angle is up to 45 degrees.
Due to the rigid guide rails of electric knife sharpeners with grinding wheels, you can hardly make any mistakes when sharpening. The sharpening is always the same, so you don’t have to get used to it.
With these models, however, you should pay attention to which knives the knife sharpener is suitable for. Especially with knives made of Japanese steel or ceramic knives, you should pay attention to the corresponding instructions.
What distinguishes an electric knife sharpener with an abrasive belt and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
With an electric knife sharpener with an abrasive belt, you can sharpen knives to an extremely high level of sharpness if it is used correctly. The knife is placed in a flexibly adjustable guide rail and pulled along the grinding belt.
For sharpening and honing, the abrasive belt is simply replaced. These two features make these models suitable for a wide range of knives.
In addition to knives from the household and kitchen, outdoor knives or hunting knives can be optimally sharpened. The speed of the grinding belt can also be adjusted.
Especially with larger knives, you can easily remove coarse scratches at higher speed. Due to the power of the machine, however, the devices are unfortunately a little more expensive on average.
In the beginning, you will probably need a bit of practice before you can sharpen knives properly with this tool. But once you get the hang of it, these knives are as sharp as razor blades.
It is important to note that these models are a little more bulky due to the exposed abrasive belt and you will not necessarily store them in the kitchen, but rather in a workshop.
Buying Criteria: Use these Factors to compare and rate Electric Knife Sharpeners
We have determined the following buying criteria for you:
We will now explain in more detail what is important in the individual criteria.
Usability for different knives
Depending on the material of your knife, you should pay attention to whether the respective blade is suitable for this model when buying the electric knife sharpener.
If you mainly have knives made of simple stainless steel, all models are suitable for you.
Knife sharpeners with grinding wheels are sometimes made of ceramic. Working on ceramic knives with this model would make your ceramic knife unusable.
For knives made of Japanese steel (also called Damascus steel), electric knife sharpeners with grinding wheels can generally be used. However, a sharpening or whetstone set is recommended for these knives.
It is easier if you choose a knife sharpener with abrasive belts. Here you can change the grinding belts as needed.
Diamond is considered to be a particularly high-quality and durable material for sharpening knives. Diamond is particularly hard and is therefore especially suitable for sharpening other hard materials such as steel or ceramics.
You can check the product description to see if the grinding wheels are made of diamond. There are also special abrasive belts that are made with diamond dust.
Heat protection
With electric knife sharpeners, models with grinding wheels can generate heat. This does not affect conventional knives.
However, if you want to sharpen more expensive knives or even knives made of Japanese steel with these models, you should make sure that the device has heat protection.
The problem with heat is that metal can bend or warp under heat.
Even if you cannot see these changes with the naked eye, in the long run they will cause your knife to need sharpening more quickly or, in the worst case, to break more quickly.
Size and design
The differences in size between the various electric knife sharpeners are smaller than you might think at first. In general, however, the knife sharpeners with grinding wheels appear smaller and more elegant than the models with grinding belts.
Knife sharpeners with grinding wheels usually have a flat underside with fixed feet. Some of these are fitted with suction cups. This ensures that the device stands securely.
In addition, most models of this type are narrow and elongated, so you can easily store them in your kitchen cupboards.
There are also small, compact versions of knife sharpeners with a minimalist design that can also be used decoratively in the kitchen.
Models with an abrasive belt look more like tools. The cables are sturdy and firmly anchored to the tool. A safety lever for operating the machine is often highlighted in colour.
Due to the possible risk of injury from the exposed sanding belt, it is better to store these devices separately.
| Model | Length | Width |
|---|---|---|
| Knife sharpener with grinding wheels | 13 to 24 cm | 8 to 15 cm |
| Knife sharpener with grinding belt | 23 to 25 cm | 15 to 17 cm |
Warranty and discounts
Once you have decided on a model, it is worth taking a look at the warranty. In the meantime, however, the manufacturers themselves rarely offer a guarantee.
However, online shops and even department stores offer their own guarantees that you can add on. Depending on the price of your chosen model, this can be very useful. The guarantees run for up to 3 years, depending on the provider.
Since reviews show that it is quite possible for the grinding wheels to break and all models consist of a relatively large number of individual parts, it definitely makes sense to opt for a guarantee.
A tip for cheaper models is to look for a retailer who will match the price of the warranty to the actual price.
If you are not interested in a warranty, look directly at the online shops of the manufacturers. There are often discounts or vouchers for new customers.
Facts worth knowing about the Electric Knife Sharpener
How do I sharpen my knife with an electric knife sharpener?
Electric knife sharpeners with grinding wheels are quite easy to use. Just make sure that your knife is suitable for the respective grinding wheel before using it.
Special attention should be paid to ceramic knives: they should not be sharpened with ceramic wheels.
To sharpen, proceed as follows:
- Insert the knife into the desired guide rail
- Pull the knife slowly and without pressure (!) through the guide rail
- Repeat if necessary (3 to 4 passes are usually enough)
- Wipe off any residual dust with a damp cloth
Sharpening with the knife sharpeners with abrasive belt requires a little practice, according to previous reports.
Where can I find instructions for my electric knife sharpener?
Generally, you will receive detailed instructions for your particular model. If you have lost your instructions, you can simply check the manufacturer’s website to see if the instructions are available.
If you bought your sharpener from a local dealer, you can also ask them if they can provide you with a replacement manual.
Tip: If you are looking for a manual, the easiest method is to search for the manual on Google. Enter your model type (often found on the unit) and also enter “PDF” in the search bar.
This will quickly lead you to the right instructions for your knife sharpener.
How can I tell if my knife needs sharpening?
For conventional knives, there are two simple tests to see if you need to resharpen your knife. First, take a piece of fruit or vegetable and try to cut a slice.
If the fruit or vegetable is pressed hard or the skin is frayed when cutting, it is time to resharpen.
The second test works with a sheet of newspaper. Fold the paper lengthwise and stand it up. Then try to cut through the sheet from top to bottom.
If the knife does not cut through the newspaper easily, you should sharpen the knife. If the knife is sharp enough, it will just slide through the paper.
There is also a professional trick from Japan. However, you should be very careful and cautious. To test it, place the knife with the supposedly sharp edge at an angle of 40 to 50 degrees on your thumbnail.
The blunt side should face your body. Now press the blade very carefully(!) into your nail. Do not move the knife to the left or right! If the knife sticks, the blade is sharp. If the knife slips off the nail, you can resharpen the blade.
Image source: unsplash.com / Blake Wisz
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