What is the best way to sharpen knives at home?

Author: Kyleigh Leffler  |  Last update: Friday, May 8, 2026

"Whetstone sharpeners give you more control over how your knife is sharpened," says Welsh. A multi-grit whetstone combined with either a honing rod or a good piece of leather to help burr and polish the edge is one of the best ways to manage your knives, adds Griggs.

What is the best thing to sharpen a knife with?

As previously stated, a whetstone is your best bet. You can get a 1000 grit king, suehiro cerax, or shapton pro whetstone without having to spend too much money on it.

What is the fastest way to sharpen a dull knife?

Electric knife sharpeners

You can use an electric sharpener, too. The process is much the same, with the added benefit of speed. These products have both honing and sharpening slots. Dragging a knife through the slots accomplishes the same task.

Is it better to push or pull when sharpening a knife?

You should push the sharpened edge toward/across the stone,not pull it backwards. Often the reason knives seem dull is because the microscopic edge of the blade has curled over on itself (a kitchen steel corrects this and is often overlooked in favor of unnecessary sharpening).

What is a common mistake when sharpening knives?

Using the Wrong Pressure or Angle

It's important to maintain a constant angle when sharpening and to also make sure you're applying the right amount of pressure. Too much, and you could end up with damage to your knife. Not enough, and it's not going to get sharp like you want it to.

The Best Way To Sharpen & Clean Knives (And The Worst) | Epicurious 101

What should you not do when sharpening a knife?

Don't run your knife through a knife system or device. Running your blade through a device will unevenly chew up the edge, can scratch the face of the blade, and will not get your knife as sharp as using a whetstone to sharpen. Do not belt sharpen knives.

Can you ruin a knife with a whetstone?

This takes practice, and you have to be careful, as using a whetstone incorrectly could weaken or damage a blade's edge. It can be fixed, but still – practice and caution are key. Another thing to keep in mind about whetstones is grit, indicated by the numbers on the side of the stone.

How many swipes does it take to sharpen a knife?

How to use a Manual Knife Sharpener: Place the knife against the coarse side of the sharpener and swipe it across the surface around ten times. This initial step sets the foundation for a sharp edge. Afterwards, switch to the fine side of the sharpener and repeat the swiping motion ten times.

Do pull through sharpeners damage knives?

The answer is yes. We won't shame you for it, but we do have to take off a lot more steel than a normal sharpening, so please stop using pull-through sharpeners. According to you, our customers, they are repeatedly the cause of the most damaged blades we see.

What is the best knife sharpener?

Let's Cut to the Chase: The Best Knife Sharpeners
  • Shun Cutlery Combination Whetstone. ...
  • Smith's CCKS 2-Step Knife Sharpener. ...
  • AccuSharp 001C Knife Sharpener. ...
  • Work Sharp Professional Electric Culinary E5 Kitchen Knife Sharpener. ...
  • Homly Professional Electric Knife Sharpener.

How to sharpen a knife cheaply?

A honing steel and a whetstone are not only the best tools for the job, but they're cheap.

What is the sharpest angle to sharpen a knife?

A 17 to 20 degree angle covers most kitchen knives, pocket knives, and outdoor knives. Some knives (typically Japanese manufacturers) will sharpen their knives to roughly 17 degrees. Most western knives are roughly 20 degrees. In fact, a 20 degrees angle is often considered the best sharing point for most knives.

What do pros use to sharpen knives?

Frequently Asked Questions. What kind of knife sharpeners do professionals use? Professionals use whetstones with a grit of 400-6000 to sharpen their knives.

What must you not do when sharpening a knife?

It is important to respect the 20° angle so as not to damage the cutting edge if the angle is too large, or the blade if the angle is too small. You should also be careful not to press too hard.

What is the easiest knife sharpening method?

To sharpen your knives at home, you can use an electric sharpener or a whetstone (also called a sharpening stone). Electric sharpeners require little effort on your end, but stones are generally the preferred choice since they're gentler on blades, relatively inexpensive, and easy to use.

Should you sharpen a knife forward or backwards?

Start at the tip of the blade, and draw the blade backward moving the blade spine forward, rather than moving the blade edge forward.

Should you push or pull a blade when sharpening?

Most pros would agree that pulling the blade edge across the whetstone produces the best results. Not only will it bring the knife to its sharpest but it's also a much more effective way to remove chips and imperfections from the blade.

How do I know if my knife is 15 or 20 degrees?

The best way to tell is by asking the manufacturer of the knife. As a general guide, European/American knives manufactured before 2010 have 20 degree edges while Asian style knives have 15 degree edges. However, there are exceptions to this rule of thumb.

Which oil is the best to use as a whetstone lubricant and why?

Camellia oil. This oil has no smell, so it is comfortable to work with. Camellia oil is good for both sharpening with an abrasive whetstone, and for protecting the blade from corrosion. A thin film remains on the surface after treatment, preventing the steel from coming into contact with oxygen.

What is the difference between honing and sharpening knives?

Honing is a knife maintenance method that realigns the sharp edge of a knife. Sharpening is the process of removing material on a knife to create a brand new edge.

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