Quick Answer
America's Test Kitchen (americastestkitchen.com/equipment_reviews/2246-electric-knife-sharpeners) named the Chef'sChoice Trizor 15XV, about $168.96, its electric winner — it puts a polished, razor-sharp edge on a knife in roughly 2 minutes. Its manual pick is the $28.95 Chef'sChoice Pronto Diamond Hone. The catch: the Presto Professional EverSharp ($54.90), despite the "professional" name on the box, produced "wildly varying sharpness scores" in ATK's testing and left some edges microserrated instead of smooth — proof a "professional" label doesn't guarantee professional-grade results.
This is the twenty-fifth stop in our countertop-appliance series, after the countertop convection oven, the countertop microwave, the deep fryer, the bread maker, the waffle maker, the electric griddle, the electric skillet, the espresso machine, the pressure cooker, the coffee maker, the rice cooker, the toaster, the stand mixer, the panini press, the sandwich maker, the food processor, the blender, the juicer, the hand mixer, the popcorn maker, the milk frother, the egg cooker, the yogurt maker, and the vacuum sealer. This time the marketing claim under the microscope is the word "professional" printed on a sharpener box — and the testing behind it didn't back it up.
Quick Comparison: Best Knife Sharpeners of 2026
| Model | Best For | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chef'sChoice Trizor 15XV | Best overall (ATK electric winner) | Electric, 15° | $168.96 |
| Chef'sChoice Pronto Diamond Hone 463 | Best manual | Manual, 15° | $28.95 |
| AccuSharp Gourmet Series | Best budget | Manual, 15° | $10.99 |
| Work Sharp Precision Adjust | Best upgrade / adjustable angle | Manual, 15–30° | $249.99 |
| Chef'sChoice Model 130 | Best for 20° / Western blades | Electric, 20° | $123.00 |
The 5 Best Knife Sharpeners
1. Chef'sChoice Trizor 15XV — Best Overall / ATK Electric Winner
America's Test Kitchen's top electric pick (americastestkitchen.com/equipment_reviews/2246-electric-knife-sharpeners) earned praise for "producing truly exceptional and consistent results quickly," restoring a polished, razor-sharp edge in about 2 minutes. Its only knock in testing was light cosmetic scratching on the blade sides, which doesn't affect performance. At $168.96, it's the pick if you sharpen often and want the most consistent edge with the least effort.
Type: Electric · Angle: 15° (3-stage)
Best For: Anyone who wants ATK's top-scoring, most consistent sharpener
Check Chef'sChoice Trizor 15XV Price on Amazon →
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2. Chef'sChoice Pronto Diamond Hone (463) — Best Manual
ATK's manual winner uses two V-shaped, diamond-coated slots — coarse for reshaping a dull edge, fine for polishing — and testers said it "quickly put a keen 15-degree edge on knives." It's compact enough to live in a kitchen drawer and needs no batteries or outlet. At $28.95, it's the pick if you want near-electric results without the counter space or the price.
Type: Manual, 2-stage diamond · Angle: 15°
Best For: Drawer storage and no-fuss sharpening on a budget
Check Chef'sChoice Pronto Diamond Hone Price →
3. AccuSharp Gourmet Series — Best Budget
ATK's budget pick among manual sharpeners is a handheld pull-through that sharpens extremely fast but leaves a "toothy" edge rather than a polished one — testers recommend following up with a honing rod to smooth it out. At $10.99, it's a reasonable emergency fix for a dull knife, not a full replacement for a proper sharpening routine.
Type: Manual, handheld pull-through · Angle: 15° (20° version also available)
Best For: A fast, cheap edge when you don't want to spend more
Check AccuSharp Gourmet Series Price →
4. Work Sharp Precision Adjust — Best Upgrade / Adjustable Angle
ATK's upgrade pick lets you dial in any angle from 15 to 30 degrees with swappable diamond stones, making it the only sharpener in this lineup that adapts to Western, Japanese, and specialty blade grinds. The trade-off is a real learning curve — ATK notes "you may want to watch instructional videos" before your first pass. At $249.99, it's built for knife enthusiasts, not a one-and-done fix.
Type: Manual, adjustable clamp system · Angle: 15–30° (swappable stones)
Best For: Multiple knife styles and anyone willing to learn the system
Check Work Sharp Precision Adjust Price →
5. Chef'sChoice Model 130 — Best for 20° / Western Blades
Most German-style knives (Wusthof, Zwilling, and similar) are ground at a wider 20-degree angle, and ATK's pick for that angle uses three spring-loaded guides to hold each blade steady through the sharpening stages. It can also handle single-beveled Japanese blades and serrated edges, a rarer combination for one machine. At $123.00, it's the pick if your knife block is mostly Western-style steel.
Type: Electric, 3-stage · Angle: 20° (plus serrated/single-bevel capability)
Best For: Kitchens built around 20-degree Western knives
Check Chef'sChoice Model 130 Price →
The One to Skip (Despite the "Professional" Name)
Not every sharpener earns its label. America's Test Kitchen's Presto Professional EverSharp (8810), about $54.90, produced "inconsistent" results with "wildly varying sharpness scores" across the knives it tested — and in some cases left the edge microserrated rather than smooth and sharp. ATK also warned against rolling-cylinder sharpeners (too short to cover a full blade length), the Sharpal 5-in-1 (shallow slots caused uneven results, carbide/ceramic abrasives underperformed diamond), and the Lansky Professional System (requires a separately sold mount, left edges "uneven along the blade").
Why a "Professional" Label Doesn't Guarantee a Professional Edge
Sharpener packaging leans hard on words like "professional" and "chef-grade" to signal quality. America's Test Kitchen's own sharpness testing — knives measured at the tip, center, and heel using paper-slicing tests and an industrial sharpness tester — showed that naming has little to do with outcome: the Presto EverSharp wore the "Professional" name and still delivered scores that swung wildly from knife to knife, while the unassuming $28.95 Chef'sChoice Pronto Diamond Hone consistently put a keen edge on every blade tested. What separated winners from also-rans wasn't the label on the box, it was whether the mechanism — spring-loaded guides, fixed diamond slots, or a properly angled stone — actually held a consistent angle through every pass.
Has Any Knife Sharpener Been Recalled?
No electric or manual kitchen knife sharpener has a CPSC recall on record as of August 2026. The closest related recall is the 2025 CPSC recall of GiantMouse GM12 and GMP12 folding knives for a laceration hazard — but that recall covers a defect in the knife blades themselves, not a sharpener malfunction, and folding pocket knives are a different product category entirely from a countertop or handheld sharpening tool.
How to Choose (4 Steps)
1. Match the angle to your knives. Most Western knife brands use a 20-degree edge, while thinner Japanese-style and many modern chef's knives use 15 degrees — check your knife's spec sheet before buying a single-angle sharpener like the Trizor 15XV or Model 130.
2. Don't trust the word "professional" on the box. ATK's testing found the Presto EverSharp's "professional" branding didn't translate into consistent sharpness scores. Look for third-party test results, not marketing copy.
3. Decide between speed and control. Electric models like the Trizor 15XV do the angle-holding for you in about 2 minutes; manual models like the Pronto Diamond Hone cost less and store easier but depend on a steady hand.
4. Consider the Work Sharp if you own multiple knife styles. Its adjustable 15–30-degree range is the only one in this lineup that adapts to Western, Japanese, and serrated blades from a single unit — at the cost of a real learning curve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best knife sharpener in 2026?
America's Test Kitchen's top electric pick is the Chef'sChoice Trizor 15XV (about $168.96), which puts a polished, razor-sharp 15-degree edge on a knife in roughly 2 minutes. For a manual option, ATK's winner is the Chef'sChoice Pronto Diamond Hone 463 (about $28.95), which testers said "quickly put a keen 15-degree edge on knives" using two diamond-coated V-slots.
Should I get a manual or an electric knife sharpener?
Electric sharpeners like the Chef'sChoice Trizor 15XV are faster and more consistent because spring-loaded guides hold the angle for you, which is why America's Test Kitchen recommends them for anyone sharpening knives regularly. Manual sharpeners like the Pronto Diamond Hone are cheaper, quieter, and easier to store in a drawer, but rely on your hand staying steady through each pull.
Does a sharpener labeled "professional" actually sharpen better?
Not necessarily. America's Test Kitchen tested the Presto Professional EverSharp (about $54.90) and found it produced "inconsistent" results with "wildly varying sharpness scores" from knife to knife, and in some cases left the edge microserrated rather than smooth. The "professional" name on the box didn't translate into professional-grade results in ATK's own sharpness testing.
How do I know whether to sharpen at 15 or 20 degrees?
Most Western kitchen knives (German-style brands like Wusthof or Zwilling) are ground at 20 degrees, while thinner Japanese-style and most modern American chef's knives use a 15-degree edge. Sharpeners like the Chef'sChoice Model 130 are built specifically for 20-degree Western blades, while the Trizor 15XV and Pronto Diamond Hone target the thinner 15-degree edge — check your knife manufacturer's spec before buying a single-angle sharpener.
Which knife sharpener should I avoid?
America's Test Kitchen flagged the Presto Professional EverSharp for wildly inconsistent sharpness scores despite its "professional" branding, and separately warned off rolling-cylinder sharpeners (too short to cover a full blade), the Sharpal 5-in-1 (shallow slots caused uneven results), and the Lansky Professional System (requires a separately sold mount and left the edge uneven along the blade).
Has any knife sharpener been recalled?
No electric or manual kitchen knife sharpener has a CPSC recall on record as of August 2026. That's distinct from a 2025 CPSC recall of GiantMouse GM12 and GMP12 folding knives for a laceration hazard — a knife-blade defect, not a sharpener malfunction, and an unrelated product category.
The Bottom Line
Buy the Chef'sChoice Trizor 15XV ($168.96) if you want ATK's most consistent electric performer and sharpen often. Buy the Chef'sChoice Pronto Diamond Hone ($28.95) if you want near-electric results without the price or the counter space. Buy the AccuSharp Gourmet Series ($10.99) if you just need a fast, cheap fix. Buy the Work Sharp Precision Adjust ($249.99) if your knife block mixes Western, Japanese, and serrated blades. Buy the Chef'sChoice Model 130 ($123.00) if your knives are mostly 20-degree Western steel. And skip the $54.90 Presto Professional EverSharp — ATK's testing found its "professional" name didn't buy you a consistent edge.
