The best electric knife sharpener depends on your blades, budget, and experience. For everyday kitchen use, spring-guided diamond wheel models are top-rated for speed and foolproof results. For heavy-duty restoration of pocket and outdoor knives, adjustable belt-driven sharpeners are the preferred choice.
The Best Knife Sharpener for Keeping Your Blades in Prime Cutting Shape
America's Test Kitchen (ATK) categorizes knife sharpeners by type, as electric and manual models excel at different jobs.
A professional-grade knife sharpener provides strict angle control, minimal material removal, and highly repeatable results. Top systems range from guided benchtop jigs (e.g., Work Sharp and TSPROF) to commercial electrics (Chef's Choice and Master Grade).
Gordon Ramsay primarily uses a traditional honing steel (or sharpening rod) to maintain knife edges before use, emphasizing safety and consistent 45° angles. While he often uses professional whetstones for deep sharpening, modern demonstrations (and fan-used products) have shown the Tumbler Rolling Sharpener to be highly effective for achieving a razor-sharp edge on his knives.
Sharpening steels, stones and whetstones are great for home chefs who only occasionally sharpen their blades, and butchers who sharpen one or two knives regularly. But, if you're a commercial butcher who uses multiple knives on a regular basis, an electric knife sharpener is often best for the job.
Gordon Ramsay was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. He underwent successful surgery to have the cancerous cells removed from his jawline and used the opportunity to share photos of his stitches and a public service announcement encouraging fans to wear sunscreen.
Yes, you can use WD-40 as a lubricant on oil-based sharpening stones, but it is not the best option. Because WD-40 is very thin, it fails to effectively float away metal shavings (swarf), which can clog your stone.
Pull-through sharpeners are not universally "bad," but they are generally discouraged for high-quality or expensive knives. They offer quick, convenient edge maintenance but are highly aggressive, removing excess metal and often leaving a fragile, jagged edge.
Ceramic rods can sharpen and the higher grits are great for polishing a finished edge. Diamond sharpeners are very aggressive and are best for quickly setting an edge or resetting the edge to a different angle. Diamond removes steel much faster than other sharpening materials.
The best knife sharpeners: At a glance
Cutco knives are made using stamped steel which means they're cheaper to produce. Although there's nothing wrong with stamped knives, they don't always hold their edge as long as forged knives. That means that you'll have to sharpen stamped knives sooner than forged knives.
Chef's Choice (by EdgeCraft) produces industry-standard manual and electric knife sharpeners. Their models—ranging from the highly-rated 15XV and Trizor series to the 4633 manual—use precise, diamond-abrasive stages to sharpen, hone, and polish blades without guesswork.
To get a razor-sharp edge without spending hours on a whetstone, the best sharpeners are those that maintain a consistent angle. These top-rated, proven sharpeners are categorized by how much effort you want to put in:
Electric knife sharpeners are absolutely worth it if you prioritize speed and convenience. They are a great fit for everyday home cooks who just want a sharp blade fast without learning to hand-sharpen on whetstones. However, they remove more metal than manual methods and can slowly wear down expensive or specialty blades.
6000 grit is much finer than 1000 grit.
Gordon Ramsay primarily uses a traditional honing steel (or sharpening rod) to maintain knife edges before use, emphasizing safety and consistent 45° angles. While he often uses professional whetstones for deep sharpening, modern demonstrations (and fan-used products) have shown the Tumbler Rolling Sharpener to be highly effective for achieving a razor-sharp edge on his knives.
For the most part, folks have simply reverted to traditional methods of carving meat — perhaps due to the improved quality of knives as well as the many types of knives available — but for a time, they were the toast of the town. That said, they are still out there, and the technology has improved.
Common knife sharpening mistakes include applying too much pressure, failing to maintain a consistent sharpening angle, and using dry or uneven stones. These errors can damage the blade, cause chipping, or ruin the edge geometry.
Navy SEALs do not have a single standard-issue knife, but rather carry a mix of specific duty blades, hard-use survival tools, and custom-chosen personal knives.
There is no functional or safety reason to keep WD-40 in a refrigerator. In fact, it is better stored at room temperature. However, you might hear about this because WD-40 is an excellent product for your fridge.
Gordon Ramsay has been married exactly once. He tied the knot with Cayetana "Tana" Ramsay in December 1996, and the couple has been together ever since.
Gordon Ramsay was held at gunpoint in 2011 while filming a documentary for the UK’s Channel 4 about the illegal and unregulated shark finning industry.
Gordon Ramsay speaks out about tragic death of his son Rocky | Her.