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You\u2019ve probably heard it before: A dull knife is far<\/em> more dangerous than a sharp one. With a dull knife, you could end up hacking away at something until you slip and get a finger. Whereas a sharp knife will cut right through nearly anything \u2014 like it\u2019s butter. How do you make sure you have a sharp knife, though, short of constantly buying new ones? You just need a sharpener<\/a> or a honing steel<\/a> (we\u2019ll explain the differences below).<\/p>\n While it\u2019s entirely possible to ruin a good knife with some overzealous sharpening, lots of gadgets out there now make it totally easy for a novice to sharpen their own knife at home. We looked to see what knife sharpeners and honing steels our competitors are recommending and then we added our own two cents at the end. <\/p>\n Let\u2019s get to the point. (Sorry.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Now before we get into the top picks, let\u2019s talk about the difference between a sharpener and a honing steel: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Do you have a knife sharpener or honing steel that you like that didn\u2019t make this list? We want to hear all about it! Tell us about your favorite finds in the comments below.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The editors at Wirecutter<\/a> tested 11 manual and electric knife sharpeners before picking the Chef\u2019s Choice Trizor XV Edge Select<\/a>. They said it quickly and reliably put a razor edge on almost any kind of knife. (Yes, the product does work with serrated knives, but Wirecutter only tested straight-edge blades.) It had the most consistently impressive results, is super durable (it\u2019s what\u2019s been in their test kitchens for years), and is basically impossible to use incorrectly. See, the slots have spring-loaded guides that grip the blade at just the right angle and keep it from shifting around during the sharpening process. Do yourself a favor, though, and read (and hold onto!) the manual that comes with the sharpener. The folks at Wirecutter say it\u2019s one of the selling points of this gadget and that it\u2019s super detailed to really help you minimize mistakes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n When it comes to honing steels, you\u2019re not going to see much difference in performance from brand to brand. (The difference, for the most part, comes from the materials \u2014 whether it\u2019s stainless steel, ceramic, or diamond. The latter of the two actually remove some metal from the blade, which means they have a slight sharpening effect.) That said, Serious Eats<\/a> picked this stainless steel option from Winware<\/a> because it\u2019s comfortable to hold, feels decently solid, and is inexpensive. If you want a ceramic option, Serious Eats picked this one from DMT<\/a>, which, funny enough, is known for its diamond-honing steels. For diamond, Serious Eats went with this reasonably priced Messermeister<\/a>. Their post explains the differences in more depth, if you\u2019re curious.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n At just $10, it\u2019s hard to beat the price of the KitchenIQ knife sharpener<\/a>. And it\u2019s not just the price that shoppers like \u2014 this thing really works (Check out our review<\/a> of this knife sharpener for an in-depth breakdown.) Some reviewers come back years later to say that they\u2019re still shocked at how well it\u2019s working, while new shoppers leave reviews saying they\u2019re amazed it works so well. especially given the pricepoint. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n As for us, there are a couple of ways to go when it comes to a knife sharpener. If your knives are just so-so, you only have a few on the nicer end, or you don\u2019t cook all that often, go with the $10 one from KitchenIQ<\/a>. Again, it\u2019s just $10 bucks! And yet it has some impressive results. <\/p>\n If your knives are on the nicer side (like, $100 each) or you cook (and chop!) regularly, it\u2019s worth splurging on one of two options: the electric Chef\u2019sChoice option<\/a> or another pick we love, the manual Tumbler Diamond Rolling Knife Sharpener Set<\/a>. We know what you\u2019re thinking: Ugh, one more gadget that I have to store!<\/em> And we hear you. But they really will make a difference and keep your knives on point. <\/p>\n The Chef\u2019sChoice pick<\/a> has three sharpening slots, which, when used in order, gradually build up a smooth, incredibly sharp edge on any knife. And you really don\u2019t even need to know what you\u2019re doing \u2014 the guides hold your knife at the correct angle (read: you can not <\/em>mess this up). We stand by this choice for novices and even highly skilled home cooks (This pick also made our annual Kitchn Essentials list<\/a>!). It just takes the risk out and means your knives are one less thing you have to worry about.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If you\u2019re looking for a manual knife sharpener, however, you really can\u2019t beat the Tumbler.<\/a> While there\u2019s a slight<\/em> learning curve, using this sharpener is easy, and dare we say, fun<\/a>? You basically just attach the knife to the angled base magnetic sides, then roll the sharpening wheel along the side. This way, you don\u2019t have to worry about guesstimating the correct angle like you would using a whetstone, and you can use a softer touch than you would with a pull-through sharpener, resulting in less overall metal loss and preserving your knife for a longer time. It\u2019s also super stylish, too, with a wooden finish and stand that helps it all stay organized in a neat little station that looks great on your counter. Another reason to give this sharpener a try? The Kitchn readers can score a 10% discount\u00a0using\u00a0code KT10\u00a0at checkout! <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe Differences Between a Knife Sharpener and a Honing Steel <\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Best Knife Sharpener, According to Wirecutter<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Best Honing Steel, According to Serious Eats<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Best Knife Sharpener, According to Amazon<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Best Knife Sharpeners, According to The Kitchn<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n