The culinary world has a lot of different tools that you may want to invest in. One of the major pieces, and something that even the home cook will testify to needing and wanting is that of a good set of knives. Without these, cutting in a precise manner can become nearly impossible. It’s for that reason that you may want to look at how to pick the best knife sharpener for when they become dull. No matter how much money you spend on your utensils, you are going to run into an issue sooner or later, and will need to sharpen. If you want to narrow down the options, you will want to consider the following tips.
Steel or Composite?
The first thing that you want to look at is what exactly the blades on your knives are made out of. If you do not know, than you will need to investigate a little. This will help you not only get the edges sharp but will improve the overall cut. It will also keep things from becoming broken or rusted through. The highest quality of raw materials will require a good element to keep things sharpened. If the materials aren’t high quality on your metal edges, than you may not need a high end solution.
Size of Your Blade
Consider the size of your overall blade and not just width, but also length. A sharpener usually has several components that help you get the best movement and precision. There is usually a clamp or a mechanism that will hold the pieces together so that you can grind the edges and get the metal more refined.
Stone or Diamond Encrusted Strips
You’re going to find that there are two common options that you can get in regards to getting a much more precise cut. You can either go with a stone for friction based options or you will want to get a diamond encrusted solution that you will grind the blades and get things moving forward. The difference between these two is night and day. The cost will also dictate the difference, so make sure that you consider this when you’re looking at purchasing this for your kitchen.
Angles Matter Too
Another thing that you want to consider is the degree at which you can get a durable edge. The sharpness that you get on your knife matters greatly. If you can’t get the full 35 degrees on a cleaver. If you cannot get the right angle for your set, you will still have a dull and unfortunate knife in the kitchen which is going to frustrate you greatly.
In the end, people are going to often go with price. An expensive option does not mean the best. Look for reviews, and brands that have a good reputation for this type of item. If you go with something that is too inexpensive or too pricey, you will find issues when it comes down to upgrading your utensils. A middle of the road option could get the job done.
About Author
Steven is a knife enthusiast. You can find a top 10 list of the best electric knife sharpeners as well as other general reviews on his blog Best Reviews Advisor.
I use the Spyderco Sharpmaker kit for small to medium size knives. Larger blades and machetes are a bit more problematic though. Usually just use a belt sander for quick sharpening of large ones that I’m not too picky about.