Best Knife Sharpener For Travel: KitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener

Let’s talk about the best knife sharpeners.

There are two basic options on the market: manual (carbonite) sharpeners and electric sharpeners. (Yes, there are also knife sharpening stones and rods, but those aren’t as popular, so we didn’t include them in this article).

There is a big price difference between manual and electric sharpeners, as you might guess. And after interviewing our parent readers and the owner of a knife sharpening business, we realize that carbonite (manual) knife sharpeners are somewhat controversial—the concern is they can damage a knife after long-term use.

That said, there is a good use for manual knife sharpeners—travel. If you stay in an extended-stay hotel or AirBnB, you may find kitchen knives that haven’t been sharpened since the Bush Administration. A manual knife sharpener is a good solution, as these models are compact and easy to pack

For the best knife sharpener for travel, we’d suggest the Kitchen IQ 50009—it is both affordable and effective. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Compact and lightweight.

• Affordable.

• Quick.

• Great for travel at extended-stay hotels or VRBO.

What Needs Work

• Can break a knife if you aren’t careful.

• Damage to knife after much use. If you are looking for a solution for your own kitchen knives, we’d suggest an affordable electric knife sharpener like the next pick.

Best For Less Expensive Knives: Presto 08800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener

If you have basic, inexpensive kitchen knives, what is the best electric sharpener? After looking at 7 different brands and consulting experts, we think Presto’s 08800 is the best bet for folks.

That said, let’s be clear—if you have those fancy Japanese, French or other thick-bladed knife, you’re going to need something beefier than Presto 08800. But for average folks with affordable knives, the Presto will do just fine, in our opinion.

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• 2-stage system for non-serrated knives.

• Easy to use.

• Makes a good edge.

• Can get a sharp edge in 5 minutes.

• Affordable.

• Blade guides position the knife at proper angle.

What Needs Work

• Not for scissors.

• Low power = not great for thicker (more expensive) knives. In that case, we’d recommend this next pick.

Best Sharpener For Pricey Knives: Chef’sChoice Trizor XV EdgeSelect Professional Electric Knife

If you can afford it, we’d recommend the Chef’s Choice Trizor XV knife sharpener—it’s what our parent readers (and experts) said is the best bet for thicker (read: more expensive) kitchen knives.

Why? Well, it’s much more powerful than other knife sharpeners like the Presto (recommended above). And unlike the Presto, it can be used on serrated knives. The result: VERY sharp knives. 

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Fast! This sharpeners powerful motor sharpens knives in a minute or so.

• Very sharp result.

• 100% diamond abrasives.

• Works on serrated and non-serrated knives.

• Excellent for more pricey knives.

• More uniform sharpening than using a stone.

What Needs Work

• Only a 15 degree edge. If you want both 15 and 20 degree edges, this isn’t the sharpener for you.

• Pricey.

• Takes some practice. If you follow the manual, this sharpener is easy to use. However, there is a bit of learning curve. And you can scratch your knife if don’t follow the directions.

Best Manual Knife Sharpener: 2-in-1 Kitchen Knife Accessories: 3-Stage Knife Sharpener

We liked this sharpener’s three-step system: a diamond sharpening rod that repairs blades, a second slot with a tungsten steel blade to sharpen and a third slot for polish. For inexpensive knives, this is a good solution.

What We Liked

• Easy to use.

• Includes cut-resistant glove.

• Quick.

• Affordable.

• Ergonomic handle and no-slip rubber base. 

What Needs Work

• Doesn’t work well on thicker or more expensive knives.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!