Are new electric knife sharpeners as good as professionally sharpened?

Filed under electric knife sharpeners Q&A August 17, 2010

Question by jojoandhiggins: Are new electric knife sharpeners as good as professionally sharpened?
I mean sharpeners like Chef’s Choice or something. I have very expensive knives that i really like and i don’t want to mess them up. IS there an electric sharpener that won’t do anything bad and sharpen them the way good knives are supposed to be sharpened? if so, please list the type. (I have german and asian style knifes so different angles would be very nice. including an option for single bevel)

Best answer:

Answer by Ashkip
i actually just went to a seminar on knife sharpening.
the only way to get a well sharpened knife is with a whetstone. the electric sharpeners will, over time, develop a rounded edge to the knife. this is not visible to the eye, but it will mean that after a while your knife wont be as sharp and you’ll need to grind down more and more of the metal to get a good edge, so you shorten the lifespan of your knife.

for an inexpensive kitchen knife though, or for somebody who just doesn’t want to use a whetstone, an electric one will be effective if not ideal

What do you think? Answer below!

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