What tool do chefs use to sharpen knives?

Author: Lorena Koepp  |  Last update: Sunday, October 5, 2025

The whetstone is pretty popular and classically what many chefs use. It's compressed sandstone. You soak it in water and start with the lower grit to shave off the blade and then you smooth it out with the higher grit side.

What do professional chefs use to sharpen their knives?

Professional chefs use various methods, such as whetstones, honing rods, and electric sharpeners, to maintain their blades. Understanding the different types of chef knives and their uses further enhances your culinary skills.

What is the best tool to sharpen kitchen knives?

Straight to the Point

The SHAPTON Ha No Kuromaku Ceramic Whetstone Set was the clear whetstone winner. It's an easy-to-use, two-stone set that quickly sharpens carbon and stainless steel knives. If you must use an electric knife sharpener, I recommend the Work Sharp Ken Onion Knife Edition Sharpener.

What angle are most chef knives sharpened at?

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 kitchen tool is used to sharpen knife?

A sharpening stone, sometimes called a whetstone, uses its abrasive surface to sharpen knives. It's important to note that many people use cutting fluid with their sharpening stone for the best results. Sharpening stones can be made from natural or artificial materials and feature different grit sizes.

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

What is the world's best knife sharpener?

Which are the best knife sharpeners? At a glance
  • Best overall knife sharpener: Global Ceramic Water Sharpener.
  • Best value knife sharpener: Salter Diamond Electric.
  • Best electric sharpener: Tormek T1.
  • Best whetstone: King 1000/6000 Grit Combination.
  • Best budget knife sharpener: AnySharp Pro.

Are pull-through knife sharpeners bad?

Pull-through sharpeners are the most popular way to sharpen knives, and with good reason: They are quicker than whetstones and more precise than sharpening steels. However, they shed the most amount of metal, which weakens the durability of knives.

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How does Ina Garten sharpen knives?

So, I always keep my knives sharp at home with my trusty Chef'sChoice 1520 Professional Electric Knife Sharpener in between professional sharpening services. It keeps my knives healthy and working their best no matter what I am sharpening.

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What knife sharpener do pros use?

Professionals use whetstones with a grit of 400-6000 to sharpen their knives. How do chefs sharpen their knives? Most chefs use whetstones to sharpen their knives.

What is the difference between honing and sharpening kitchen knives?

In short, sharpening is used to restore a dull or damaged edge by removing metal, while honing is used to maintain and straighten the edge (which can bend over time).

How often do professional chefs sharpen their knives?

A kitchen knife should be sharpened every 1-2 months. Hone every week if you prefer a razor-sharp edge. For your professional chef's knife, you should have your knives professionally sharpened every 1-2 years.

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

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.

What should you not do when sharpening a knife?

Common mistakes include twisting, pressing down or pausing the stroke of knives as you pull them through the sharpener slot. This can cause oversharpening (the loss of too much metal) or result in an uneven edge.

Is a whetstone better than a sharpener?

Using a whetstone gives you control over the angle of the blade and the pressure that's placed on the blade—something that isn't true with manual pull-through and electric knife sharpeners. You also won't find a sharpener that works on as many types of knives.

What knife sharpener does Rachael Ray use?

Füri Sharpening Technologies

The Füri Rachael Ray TECH EDGE Pro Knife Sharpening System was developed by the engineers and chefs at Füritechnics Australia after years of new research into cutting edges and has revolutionized knife sharpening.

What is the best chef choice knife sharpener?

We love the Chef'sChoice 1520 Electric Knife Sharpener for its all-around stellar performance in our tests and its versatility with various kinds of knives. For a more budget-friendly choice, the Presto EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener simplifies the process of getting the correct angle, at an impressively low price.

Do pull through knife sharpeners wear out?

Your pull through knife sharpener becomes rounded out

That's good. However, in the same motion smaller bits of of the sharpener scrape off too. Over time your sharpener becomes a "rounder" tool. The groove at the very tip of the sharpener wears and rounds out.

How do professional kitchens sharpen knives?

“A sharpening stone or whetstone is used primarily by professional chefs to sharpen knives, razors, scrapers and more. They can be designed to require either water or oil for lubrication, which also helps to clear or wash away the metal that comes off the edge of the implements during sharpening,” he explains.

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.

What is an alternative to a whetstone?

While whetstones offer a traditional, effective method for sharpening blades, there are plenty of alternatives available, such as electric sharpeners, honing rods, sandpaper, files, and ceramic knife sharpeners.

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