Maintain the Blade With Our Favorite Knife Sharpeners

Whether you need to sharpen dull knives in your cutlery collection or you've just purchased a new knife set, it's important to maintain the blade edges of your knives. Having the right knife sharpeners can make all the difference to your food prep process.

Sharpeners ensure your knives stay sharp to make clean, precise cuts every time. Sharpeners also help extend the longevity of your knife. Our collection features electric-powered sharpeners as well as manual ones. Discover the benefits of a honing steel and consider a three-piece set that features everything you need to maintain and restore your blades.

Types of Knife Sharpeners and How They Work

With all the chopping, mincing, slicing and dicing you do on cutting boards, after a while, knives start to wear down. You start to notice the blades beginning to dull. Cutting through meat or slicing vegetables becomes more difficult. That's where knife sharpeners come in. Browse the types of sharpeners we have available and find the right ones for you.

Electric knife sharpeners make quick work of sharpening blades. Some electric models feature three stages to expertly sharpen blades. Others include three different speeds that help maintain knives for lasting, quality use. Discover the three-speed feature on Wüsthof's Easy Edge Electric Sharpener: "Refine" for weekly maintenance, "Sharpen" for monthly upkeep and "Shape" for your dullest knives.

Some electric and manual sharpeners work with both Western and Eastern blades. Some electric models feature interchangeable adaptors that coordinate with these different blade types. Select manual models feature slots that work with your European or Asian knives. Remember, Western blades require a 20-degree angle while Eastern blades require a 15-degree angle for proper sharpening.

Manual knife sharpeners are generally designed to sharpen and hone all kinds of knives. Many manual sharpeners feature a coarse slot and a fine slot. First, use the coarse slot for dull blades. Then use the fine slot to bring your knife's blade back to razor-sharpness. Ergonomic handles ensure a steady hold while you sharpen blades.

Other manual knife sharpeners may feature spring-action bars that adjust to different blade angles. These types of sharpeners, like our Brod and Taylor selections, can work on both smooth and serrated blades and Japanese single-bevel blades. In addition to sharpening and honing, this powerful tool can polish blades, too.

While you'll often find that honing steels are included in larger knife sets, they are sold individually at Williams Sonoma. Honing knives keep your knife blades sharp by maintaining and straightening the knife's edge. Honing steels are primarily used in between your monthly knife sharpening. Ours are made from high-carbon steel that won't stain or corrode.

Other Cutlery Tools for the Kitchen

In addition to classic manual or efficient electric sharpeners, consider something like a three-piece set that includes a honing steel, a double-sided whetstone and an angled bamboo stand. With this set, you'll be ready to keep your favourite knives, from chef's knives to paring knives in top form. The bamboo stand keeps your blade at the correct angle to ensure proper sharpening. The two-sided whetstone features different coarseness on either side. The higher grit works on dull blades and helps restore the blade's edge. The lower grit refreshes and finishes to produce a razor-sharp edge on the blade.

After you've chosen your knife sharpening tools, think about how you want to secure your knives with your favourite knife storage solutions. Keep razor-sharp blades accessible in the kitchen with a magnetic strip that mounts to the wall. Or, store several knives in one spot with a multi-slot knife block or an in-drawer knife holder. Protect your knives during transport to a special event with a knife roll. Whatever your culinary needs, you'll find them at Williams Sonoma.