Whether you have a really expensive, high quality knife set or are dead set on keeping your grandparent’s set around for your lifetime, you need to a knife sharpener that works. There are a few different types on the market today, but you are in luck. Most have been around for a few hundred years. You just have to decide which one makes the cut (sorry, just had to say it).

A Knife Sharpener That Works #1 – Rod Sharpeners

You have probably seen professional chefs and butchers use rod sharpeners. They are simply a rod with a handle on the end and usually made of diamonds or ceramic. The reason for diamonds or ceramic is that they are much harder than metal and will hold up to running a steel blade across them repeatedly. Here’s how you use it: Hold the rod with your left hand and the knife with your right (if you are left-handed, do the opposite). Guide the blade with light pressure across the rod in an arching motion, side-to-side, at a 22o angle between your blade and the rod. Repeat this 6 - 8 times. Always alternate sides. The sharpness in your knives will return to their original glory. Beware apples and ribeyes.

A Knife Sharpener That Works #2 – Ceramic Knife Sharpeners

These are probably the easier way to sharpen knives. They take away the guess-work involved with trying to figure out what 22o is between the blade and the sharpening tool. A ceramic knife sharpener is made up of 2 ceramic wheels that overlap each other. At the point they overlap is a perfect 22o. So all you have to do is run your knife through the point where the two ceramic wheels meet and the “point” of your knife will return (I just can’t help myself). This is a very good option of a knife sharpener that works for beginners or occasional knife users.

A Knife Sharpener That Works #3 – Whetstones

Whetstones are probably the oldest and still more professional way to sharpen your knives. Today, they are still a stone, but usually mounted on something for a better hold (like a piece of wood). This is definitely a knife sharpener that works. They come in different “grits” like sandpaper. The course grit stones are used to take out any nicks or bumps. Finer grit stones help finish off the edge and return the “bite” back to the blade. First you submerge the stone in water for about 15 minutes. Then begin to pull the blade over the stone at about a 12o angle with gentle pressure. Keep applying water throughout this stage. Gradually move from a course to a fine grit stone. When finished, rinse the stone and wash your knife with hot water. A whetstone will get the job done better than any other tool mentioned here, but it takes the most practice to do it right.

Did you think you had so many options for knife sharpeners that work? Now just take into consideration how often you use your knives, how often you will need to sharpen them and the amount of work you want to put into sharpening them. The ceramic sharpening wheel is a good one to start with if you have never really sharpened knives before. The next step up in skill would be the sharpening rod. If you can get the angle down good on the rod, try the whetstone. It is the best option out there. A high qualtiy knife manufacturer is a good place to purchase any of these knife sharpeners that work. They will have as good a quality sharpener as they do knives.