Electric Knife Sharpeners Pictures

Electric Knife Sharpeners

Welcome!  So you are interested in electric knife sharpeners…great!

Why electric knife sharpeners…why a knife sharpener at all?

What then is the difference in steel, cordless, serrated, and ceramic electric knife sharpeners. Well, our website is dedicated to providing you information on the importance of electric knife sharpeners and reviews of some quality choices on the market, such as Chefs Choice and Presto Pro. In the following article, we will cover the topics of knife safety, proper sharpening techniques and why electric knife sharpeners.

Safety is key in the kitchen and the first place to start is your cutlery. Here is where electric knife sharpeners will show to be very important to your safety in and around the kitchen.  Simply put, dull knives are more dangerous than a well-sharpened one, and will take more effort because to do your slicing, etc. because it is not honed and sharpened.  More than likely, you already know that, but how often do you wonder why your knives do not stay sharp?

As you start to cut into that tomato, you probably have thought…"my knives are worthless". Granted, the sharpness of a knife blade does start with the quality of the knife, but did you know that it is more of an issue of how you sharpen your knives? This is why it is extremely important that you keep your knives properly conditioned, and the best way possible is with the use of electric knife sharpeners, like Chefs Choice models.

Luckily, there has been advancements in cutlery sharpeners. Traditionally-used sharpeners included sharpening stones and manual hand-held versions.  In extreme cases, many found their grinder sitting in the garage to the job…yikes!

Experts in the culinary arts, gourmet and top chefs all agree that cutlery should be properly conditioned often, at least monthly.  Not only will conditioning knives keep them sharp, they will be easier to maintain and will take less effort to sharpen each time. This recommendation is not just for fellow chefs, it is for all those Hell's Kitchen followers.

Now the question arises…just what exactly is electric knife sharpeners knife conditioning?

Conditioning a knife is a just a fancy term for properly sharpening the cutting angle of both sides of a knife. Though there are differences in electric knife sharpeners, most will have what is called a 'conditioning wheel', which will abrade, or wear-down, the knife edge to achieve proper cutting angles.  Make certain to focus on electric knife sharpeners that have a conditioning wheel versus others; they will cost more, but will be well worth the investment.

The conditioning process is only the beginning.  Next will come 'honing'; most people mistakenly assume that the steel rod that comes with your cutlery set is there to sharpen your knives. Honing is actually the process of straightening the blade, making it more efficient. This leaves a 'burr'. The final part of properly sharpening a knife is called 'strop'; this is basically removing the burr and creating a final cutting surface.

As you can see, there is more to sharpening a knife than one may think initially.  This is where an electric knife sharpener comes in extremely useful. This will allow you to always have a sharp knife, without the cumbersome process as traditional knife sharpening.

What to consider when searching for electric knife sharpeners

  • Quality - remember that you get what you pay for
  • Warranty - most, if not all, top-of-the-line models come with at least a manufacturers one-year warranty
  • Multi-stage sharpening - as we discussed in this article…sharpen, steel, hone, strop, polishing
  • Sharpening surface - here, you will have a choice when it comes to electric knife sharpeners, including diamond, ceramic, etc.
  • What is your task - do you need something that will cut serrated blades, how about cleavers, butcher knives, curved, etc?
  • Size / Weight / Speed - all to be considered in making your final decision, plus maybe one more…color.

I hope you have enjoyed this article on electric knife sharpeners!