10 Best Electric Knife Sharpeners in 2022 (Chef-Reviewed)

Before purchasing an electric knife sharpener, there are a few points you should take into consideration. To help you with this, we've put together this handy buying guide!

Since knives have different shapes, thicknesses, blade angles, and shapes, you need to make sure that your sharpener is made for the blades that you have. We'll outline the most common blade types and sharpeners that suit those blades. There will also be details on specialty blades and other tools below. 

Kitchen knives can differ in several important ways. The first thing you need to consider is the blade angle of your knives. The angle is sometimes called the bevel angle and it refers to the angle of the knife’s edge. Most kitchen knives have an angle between 15 and 20 degrees, but they can have other angles. 

There are two common types of knives: European knives and Japanese knives. European knives, also called German or Western knives, usually have a 20-degree angle. Japanese knives are also called Eastern knives, and they normally have a 15-degree angle. If you sharpen a knife at the wrong angle, you risk permanently damaging the blade.

So, before you buy any sharpener, make sure that it sharpens at the correct angle for your knives. You can also get models with adjustable angles that can sharpen both European and Japanese knives. The more helpful sharpeners will even have labeled stages for European and Japanese knives.

Knives can be single-beveled or double-beveled. A bevel on a knife refers to the shape of the blade edge. If both sides of the blade have been shaped to be sharp, then it is a double-beveled knife. 

If your knives are double-beveled, then it’s best to buy a double-sided knife sharpener. You can sharpen them in a one-sided sharpener, but it will take longer as you’ll have to do each side individually. Double-sided sharpeners have slots to sharpen both sides in each stage simultaneously. 

Some single-beveled knives can be sharpened in a double-sided sharpener, but not all can. Single-beveled knives with bowl-shaped bevels, for example, are too thin to be sharpened on both sides. One-sided sharpeners usually create a flat bevel, which is the sturdiest type of bevel. 

Most sharpeners have two slots per stage to sharpen each side separately. These types of sharpeners are capable of sharpening both single and double-bevel knives. Be sure to check the product description or with the manufacturer if you're unsure of whether the sharpener is for single or double-bevel knives.

Some electric sharpeners have settings or separate compartments that allow you to sharpen other angles and kitchen tools. They have adjustable angles to sharpen blades at a 25- or 30-degree angle and higher. These different angles can allow you to sharpen scissors, pocket knives, drill bits, and more. 

The thickness of the blade also factors in. Hunting knives are thicker and require a sharpener that can handle thicker knives. Paring and filleting knives are thinner and require a sharpener better suited to thinner knives. A few sharpeners have settings based on the knife's thickness. Check instructions to learn which setting sharpens which type of knife. 

If you’re looking to sharpen ceramic knives or knives with a serrated edge, make sure you get a sharpener that specifically states it can sharpen them. Many sharpeners that aren't specifically built to handle certain blades aren't able to sharpen anything outside of kitchen knives. 

If you want the best results, then you need a sharpener that has multi-stage sharpening. Single-stage sharpeners will sharpen your knives, but they won't hone or polish them. Honing and polishing your knives makes a smooth finish and removes imperfections and burrs, the small leftover metal that forms from sharpening.

Two-stage sharpeners will usually have a coarse or crude grit and a fine grit. A coarse grit is a rough edge to sharpen your knife in stage one. This stage also hones knives and will probably be sufficient for most home use. The second stage will have a medium or fine grit to finish honing and polishing knives. 

However, if you want a more precise cutting blade, look at a sharpener with three stages. This third stage buffs the knife to make the surface even finer. Some three-stage models also sharpen serrated blades in their third stage. Just be sure to follow instructions carefully, so you don’t overuse your sharpener and damage your knives. 

Knife sharpeners use different abrasive materials to sharpen knives. Diamond is the hardest material and can reshape knives the quickest. It’s often used in stages one and two on multi-stage sharpeners because of this. Diamond is best for coarse and medium grinding of knives, and will make even the dullest knife razor-sharp again.

Ceramic is commonly used to add final touches to a knife and is often seen at stage three. It’s made for polishing and honing knives, not quickly sharpening dull blades. Sapphire, or sapphirite, lies between diamond and ceramic. It can remove metal like diamond, though not as quickly or easily, and it can also hone and polish a blade.

Other sharpeners may use less common materials like corundum, a type of aluminum oxide gemstone. These materials are fine grits. Sharpeners may use different abrasive materials for each stage or variations of the same one for all stages.

Although electric knife sharpeners are easy to figure out, it can take some trial and error to get the best results. Make sure you read the instructions first, as they will give you tips on things such as the recommended number of passes through the grinding wheels or the best methods for different knives.

Most models have blade guides that place and hold your knives at the correct angle so you can slide your knives into the sharpener safely and easily. Some models even have auto angle features or adjustable blade guards to take the guesswork out of the equation. They may also have labels for different types of knives and tools on multi-stage sharpeners.

When you sharpen a knife, small metal filings are likely to be produced. This can cause a mess, so look for sharpeners with a compartment underneath the grinding wheels to catch filings or a magnet inside. Magnets can make cleanup much easier since they will attract the filings.

There is always a risk of injury when using an electric knife sharpener. Look for rubber feet attached to the bottom or a suction cup underneath so that the sharpener doesn't slip. Sharpeners that have a flat surface away from the grinding wheels are also good as this allows you to grip the sharpener and keep it in place.

When pulling the knife through the grinding wheels, make sure you have a firm grip and do it in a controlled, slow manner. You can't know for certain how sharp a knife will be after any single pull, so keep your fingers out of the way!

Also note that some models can overheat if they're used too long. Check for a built-in fan or cooling system to avoid this problem. Double-check the instructions for information on this issue, as well. The instructions for some models will state how long the product can be used before it overheats. 

Most electric sharpeners are plug-in models but there are a few battery-operated options on the market. These sharpeners are easier to store and are more portable, since they are cordless. However, check to see if batteries are included with your sharpener. Some models tend to use AA batteries and they may not be included when you purchase your sharpener. 

We searched Amazon to find the best electric knife sharpeners available. We picked a variety of well-reviewed products, so no matter what you're looking for, we have an electric knife sharpener for you!

*Please note that these products were chosen after extensive research by mybest writers. The choices are not necessarily affiliated with or recommended by Jim Quast.

Looking to build your collection of kitchen knives? We've put together some recommendations to help you choose your next knife!

For more options on all types of knife sharpeners, check out Amazon's Best Sellers list below!

Author: Kellie Lacey

Updated by: Catherine Ford, 3/18/2022

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