Kitchen knives tend to lose their edge over time. And when they become dull, cutting through can become a tedious task. The same thing implies to Japanese knives too.
But, do you know that you can sharpen them again and make the cutting process as effortless as it was when you unpacked it? Well, yes, you can! But you are going to need an adequate sharpener for that.
Now, you might ask that with all the options that are out there, how will you find the best Japanese knife sharpener? Well, we are here to make that task easier for you. Hopefully, by the end, you will be able to pick one that will make the blade of your knife as sharp as it was when you bought it from the market.
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AccuSharp Knife Sharpener, Ergonomic Comfortable Handle, Compact & Easy to Use, Restore and Hone Straight & Serrated Knives, White Work Sharp WSKTS-KO-W Knife & Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition
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Best Value
Preview
Title
AccuSharp Knife Sharpener, Ergonomic Comfortable Handle, Compact & Easy to Use, Restore and Hone Straight & Serrated Knives, White
More Information
Runner up
Preview
Title
Work Sharp WSKTS-KO-W Knife & Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition
More Information
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Best Japanese Knife Sharpener Review
Getting one of the sharpeners from the market might seem like an easy task. But not all of them will be able to sharpen your Japnese knife adequately. And, to make things easier for you, we went through the most popular options and picked only the ones that are capable of doing that. They are as follows:
1. TANSUNG 3 Stage Kitchen Knife Sharpener
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Getting the angle right for sharpening is crucial for Japanese knives. And, the number of angle adjustments options that you will be getting with this one will be quite hard to get in any other sharpeners.
As we mentioned, the unit comes with an angle-adjustment mechanism. By dialing the button that it comes on the top, you will be able to switch between any angle that is between 14 and 24 degrees with two degrees increment. Getting the correct sharpening angle for the blade will not be a difficult task anymore.
It also labels all the sharpening levels on the button appropriately. You will be able to switch to the one that complies with your blade accordingly.
Furthermore, it comes with an ergonomic handle that will make it easier for you to hold it while you are sharpening. The slots three different slots that it comes along makes this one extremely versatile.
Other than that, the nonslip silicone base that it comes with will make sure that you can hold the unit securely on flat surfaces. You will not have to worry about damaging the blade while you are sharpening it.
Pros
- Comes with variable angle adjusting knob
- Can be set to any angle between 14 and 24
- Comes with an ergonomic handle
- Has nonslip silicone base
- Extremely versatile
Cons
- Removes a bit too much steel off in the lowest angle settings
- Last slot outputs a wavy edge instead of an even one
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2. AccuSharp 001C Knife Sharpener
To be able to resharpen your knife for years of use, you would also require something that can work optimally for years. And this one from AccuSharp is a perfect example of that.
First of all, the unit comes with sharpeners that are of diamond-honed tungsten. These carbides will be able to sharpen your cutting utensil for an extended amount of time. You will not have to cut with dull edges anymore.
Apart from that, it also factors in your overall safety as well. It comes with a finger guard that extends to the full length. Because of that, you will be able to sharpen the knife without having to worry about getting a cut on your fingers.
To enhance the overall lifespan of the unit, it comes with carbides that have proper protection against rust and corrosion. You will be able to clean it easily with water and soap. It is also dishwasher safe.
Alongside that, if you notice that the blade is not sharpening properly, you will be able to reverse the carbides. This feature will allow you to get the most out of the sharpener.
Pros
- Comes with durable diamond-honed tungsten blades
- Features full-length protection for fingers
- Has appropriate protection for rust and corrosions
- Easy to clean
- Carbides are reversible
Cons
- Does not have any angle adjustment mechanism
- Tends to leave jagged marks on the blade
3. Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition
Want to go for one of the very extreme sharpeners that are available in the market? Do not want to make any compromises in the case of versatility and functionality? Then you should definitely check this one out.
To start with, it comes with a highly adjustable guide for the sharpening process. You will be able to make a professional-looking edge that can be anywhere between 15 degrees to 30 degrees. Getting angled bevels will be an easy task with this one.
Alongside that, as the unit is entirely automatic, you will not have to use any muscle power just to sharpen your knives. You will be able to choose between two motor speeds. One is for horning, and the other one is for grinding.
The abrasive belts that it comes along are quite durable as well. They flex to a certain amount, which will make the unit deliver long-lasting edges to the blades that you are going to sharpen with it.
Lastly, the unit is quite easy to set up too. You will be able to calibrate the speed and the angle easily with the knobs that it features on the body.
Pros
- Comes with an adjustable guide
- Fully automatic
- Two different motor speed options
- Features durable abrasive belts
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Tends to scratch up the sides of the blade
- Bit tricky to sharpen the tip of the blades
4. Rada Cutlery Quick Edge Knife Sharpener
While you’re searching for the best knife sharpener for Japanese knives, you might want to get something that is both sturdy and compact. In that case, you should consider this one that is from Rada Cutlery.
Unlike some of the units, this one comes with hardened stainless steel wheels. These high carbon wheels will be able to sharpen both sides of the blade at one go. You will not have to go through each side separately.
And like stated above, the unit comes in a compact form factor. For such a body, storing it will not be an issue at all. But do not let the size fool you because it is exceptionally sturdy. Because of that, you can expect it to last for an extended amount of time.
It comes with a nylon base that is quite easy to hold too. You will be able to get a firm grasp of it on flat surfaces. This base will make sharpening tasks much easier. You will not have to worry about it slipping and making the edges of the blades jagged.
Pros
- Compact and easy to store
- Features a durable body
- Can sharpen both sides of the blade at one go
- Effortless to maneuver
- Easy to hold onto
Cons
- Might not work with knives that have a harder steel blade
- Does not have any angle adjustment mechanism
5. Chef’sChoice 15 Trizor XV EdgeSelect Professional
Electric sharpeners can make the sharpening task comparatively easier than the manual ones. And we are going to end our review section with one of those that Chef’sChoice is offering.
Unlike some of the units, this unit is exceptionally precise. It comes with three different stages that will offer you factory-like sharpening for your blade. The first two slots have diamond abrasives on the, and the third one has a flexible one. After running your knife through them, it will have extremely sharp edges.
It also got the degree right. The three stages will be able to convert any traditional knife to a high performing Trizon knife that has 15 degrees edges. You will be able to cut through most of the foods effortlessly.
Using the unit is quite straightforward too. It has spring guides that will automatically adjust. The controls are also quite easy to toggle. It will take about one minute for the first sharpening, and you can resharpen blades in just ten seconds.
The operational noise of the unit is low too. It works at a noise level that is between 65 decibels and 75 decibels.
Pros
- Can convert regular blades to Trizor blades
- Has a three-stage mechanism for sharp edges
- Low operational noise
- Easy to use
- Requires about ten seconds to resharpen
Cons
- Can leave scratches to the side of the blades
- Bit hard to sharpen long knives with it
How Do You Sharpen Japanese Knives?
The steps that you need to follow for resurrecting the sharpness of the blades are:
- First, you will have to clean both sides of the blade so that it does make the carbides of the sharpeners gunky,
- After cleaning both sides, use a soft cloth to dry the surface off.
- Then you will have to bring out the sharpener that you got, place it on a flat surface if possible.
- Adjust the sharpening angle if the mechanism is present on the sharpener that you got.
- Slowly drag the edges through the carbides of the sharpener. You will have to check the sharpening amount after each drags, or you might shave excess metal off the blades.
- After a couple of drags, you should have a blade that should be as sharp as it was when you first got it.
What to Look for Before Buying?
Before you get yourself one of the sharpeners from the market to resurrect the sharpness of the blades, you will have to keep some factors in mind. These will allow you to scrutinize the units properly and get the most out of the money that you are going to spend on it. They are:
Functionality
The first thing that you have to consider is whether the unit can fulfill its original purpose or not. That is whether it can sharpen blades properly. For that, what you have to factor in is the carbides that it uses for the sharpening process.
Keeping that in mind, we would recommend you to opt for the ones that come with a diamond-honed tungsten carbide tip.
And for the automatic commercial ones, you will have to factor in the quality of the belt. If the belt is of average quality, you will not be able to get proper sharpening on the blade. Those will only shave off some metal off the surface.
Ease of Use
The traditional way of sharpening blades is by using whetstones. But decent sharpeners that are similar to the ones that we included in our list makes the task effortless.
And you should consider the overall sharpening process if you want to resurrect the sharpness of the blades without any hassles. The units should come with some sort of instructions that will make the process easy for you.
Stability
For the electric and manual multi-slotted sharpers, you will have to consider the stability too. In that case, what you should factor in is the base of the unit.
We would suggest you go for the ones that come with rubber coating on the bottom. Those will stay secure on a flat surface and will not move when you are sharpening blades on it.
Durability
The last thing that you have to consider is the build quality of the body and the blades. Even though we are putting this in the last, it does not mean it is of less importance. For being able to sharpen your knives for an extended amount of time, you should go with the ones that have a durable body and carbide tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Should I push or pull through the slots of the knife sharpener?
Well, the instructions should be stated in the manual of the unit that you got. Some will work the best with pushing, while some will work with pulling. For getting the best results, you should follow the instruction properly.
- Should I sharpen the blade regularly?
No, you should only sharpen them once the edges become dull, and you face difficulties in case of cutting food using it. But you can hone it regularly.
- How often should I sharpen the blades?
The time period between each of the sharpening will vary from knife to knife. Usually, the stainless steel ones will require comparatively less sharpening and horning than carbon steel ones. However, we would recommend you to sharpen two to three times a year.
- What does honing mean?
If the edges of the knife are already sharp, you should hone it to maintain the sharpness. It is basically polishing the rough surfaces, which will allow the blade to retain its edge for an extended amount of time.
- Is it worth getting a sharpener?
Yes, they are definitely worth the money, at least according to us. With them, you will be able to use the same knife for an extended amount of time.
Final Words
The best Japanese knife sharpener will not only allow you to extend the overall lifespan of the valuable knife but also will make your cutting tasks an absolute breeze.
And we hope we were able to make choosing one easier for you. With that, we would like to wrap it up here by wishing you good luck and hoping that your Japanese knife lasts for an extended time.