When to Sharpen Knives with an Electric Sharpener: Full Guide

A sharp knife makes cooking easier and safer. But how do you know when it’s time to sharpen your kitchen knives? And is an electric sharpener the right tool for the job? This guide will help you decide when to reach for that electric knife sharpener and how to get the best results.

Signs Your Knives Need Sharpening

Your knives will tell you when they need attention. Here are clear signs to watch for:

• Slipping instead of cutting: When your knife slides off tomato skin instead of slicing through it
• Crushing rather than cutting: If you need to press hard to cut through vegetables
• Tearing food: When your bread knife rips bread instead of creating clean slices
• Failed paper test: A sharp knife should slice through paper smoothly

Dull kitchen knives make cooking harder and more dangerous. When you force a dull knife, you risk it slipping and causing injuries.

Benefits of Electric Knife Sharpeners

Electric sharpeners offer several advantages over manual methods:

• Speed: Sharpen a knife in minutes rather than the longer time needed with a sharpening stone
• Consistency: Get the same angle every time
• Ease of use: Little skill required compared to manual sharpening

A quality electric tool sharpener takes the guesswork out of the process. This makes it perfect for home cooks who want sharp knives without learning complex sharpening skills.

When to Use Electric Sharpeners vs. Other Methods

Electric sharpeners work well for most knives, but they’re not ideal for every situation.

Best for electric sharpeners:

• Standard kitchen knife sets
• Chef’s knives used daily
• Utility knives
• Most straight-edge blades

Better with other methods:

• Very expensive knives
• Japanese-style knives with specific angles
• Most serrated knives
• Some bread knives with special grinds

The Work Sharp knife system is popular because it handles a wider range of blades than typical electric sharpeners. But even these have limits.

How Often Should You Sharpen Different Knife Types?

The frequency depends on how often you use your knives and what you cut.

• Chef’s knife: Every 2-3 months with regular use
• Kitchen knives for daily tasks: Every 3-4 months
• Bread knives and other serrated blade tools: Every 6-12 months
• Rarely used specialty knives: Once yearly or as needed

Remember that frequent honing with a steel rod helps maintain your edge between sharpening. Sharpening removes metal, so don’t do it more often than needed.

Best Practices for Electric Knife Sharpening

Follow these steps for the best results:

1. Clean your knife first
2. Read your sharpener manual (different models vary)
3. Start with the coarsest setting only if the knife is very dull
4. Pull the knife through at a steady pace
5. Use light pressure – let the machine do the work
6. Move to finer settings for finishing
7. Test the edge after each stage
8. Rinse and dry the knife after sharpening

Brands like Chefs Choice provide clear instructions for their electric sharpeners. Follow these guidelines for the best knife results.

How to Safely Sharpen Serrated Knives

Many people wonder if they can sharpen serrated knife edges with electric sharpeners. The answer: it depends.

Most standard electric sharpeners aren’t designed for serrated knives. However, some special models have slots specifically for bread knives and other serrated edges.

If your electric sharpener doesn’t have this feature, consider these options:

• Manual serrated knife sharpeners
• Tapered sharpening rods
• Professional sharpening services

The special scalloped edge of serrated blade knives requires different techniques than straight edges.

Knife Materials and Sharpening Considerations

Different knife materials need different care:

• Stainless steel: Most forgiving, works well with electric sharpeners
• Carbon steel: Sharpens easily but may need more frequent attention
• Ceramic knives: Rarely compatible with home electric sharpeners
• Damascus steel: Too valuable for most electric sharpeners

Consult your knife manufacturer’s guidance. Some Sharp Culinary knife brands explicitly state whether electric sharpening will void warranties.

How to Tell When Your Knife is Properly Sharpened

A properly sharpened knife should:

• Cut through paper smoothly without tearing
• Slice through a tomato with minimal pressure
• Feel smooth along the edge when carefully tested with your thumb
• Cut with less effort than before sharpening

Don’t over-sharpen. Once your knife passes these tests, it’s ready to use.

Maintaining Your Knives Between Sharpening

To keep your kitchen knives sharp longer:

• Use a honing rod weekly
• Cut on proper surfaces (wood or plastic, never glass or stone)
• Store knives properly in blocks or magnetic strips
• Hand wash and dry promptly after use
• Use the right knife for each task

These habits will extend time between sharpening and preserve your knives’ edges.

Final Thoughts

Electric knife sharpeners offer convenience and good results for most home cooks. For everyday kitchen knives, they provide a practical way to maintain sharp edges without special skills.

Use your electric sharpener when knives show signs of dullness, but don’t overdo it. With proper care and occasional sharpening, your knives will perform better and last longer.

Remember that the best knife is one that’s properly maintained. A quality knife kept sharp will outperform an expensive dull knife every time. With these guidelines, you’ll know exactly when to plug in that electric sharpener and when to seek alternative methods.