No Great Chef Achieves Greatness Without A Good Set of Knives and Knife Sharpeners

It could be said that no great chef achieves greatness without a good set of knives. Even home cooks, though, need the right equipment in the kitchen. A dull knife isn’t just dangerous, but it can turn a relaxing and wholesome experience into a real drag.

Sharp knives aren’t just important in the kitchen, of course. You probably keep a pocketknife in your car or handbag. Maybe you have one in your tackle box or tool box. It’s imperative you keep your blades sharp and ready to use, safely. Here is a list of the top natural and synthetic knife sharpeners for every purpose and budget.

Type of Knife Sharpener | Whetstone Knife Sharpener
Benefits | Double Sided Whetstone, Sustainable, Bamboo Base, Silicone Grip
Item Weight | 2 lbs
Price | See on

First on our list is our Sharp Pebble (See on ) review. This double-sided whetstone sharpening knife features 1,000 grit on one side and 6,000 on the other so you can sharpen and hone your kitchen knives easily.

We love the safety features of this sharpening block, too. A wide bamboo base and a silicone strip will keep this block from slipping out of your control. It’s heavyweight, too, weighing over two pounds.

The stone uses water to sharpen your knives, so there’s no mess. In fact, the block itself can be easily cleaned with just water.

SHOP SHARP PEBBLE (See on )

Type of Knife Sharpener | Natural Whetstone
Benefits | 3,000 Grit, Natural, Sustainable, Wear-Resistant, Durable
Item Weight | 2.4 lbs
Price | See on

The next sharpening stone on our list is our Huanlemai (See on ) review. This natural whetstone is more durable than its synthetic counterparts, and more sustainable as well. To use this sharpening stone, just soak the stone in water, then sharpen your blades.

You can use this whetstone on your kitchen knives, of course, but customers also love how well it works on axes, pocketknives and more. It’s heavy enough that it won’t slip, weighing almost two and a half pounds. However, we do recommend setting your stone on a towel or a Silpat for further stability.

SHOP HUANLEMAI (See on )

Type of Knife Sharpener | Three Grit Knife Sharpener
Benefits | Three Grits, Honing Capability, Nonskid Base, Angle Guide
Item Weight | 1.6 lbs
Price | See on

Our Smith’s review is next on the list of the best sharpening tools and kitchen gadgets. This Smith’s (See on ) stone is made from both natural and synthetic material and includes three sharpening grits. Start with a coarse grit, then refine your blade with the medium grit. Finally, use the angle guide to carefully hone your blade with the fine grit for a perfect cut every time.  

The feature that customers most talk about is the sharpening angle tool. This tool allows you to strike your knife at the same angle every time, leading to an optimal sharpness and consistency. Your Smith’s sharpening stone is easy to use and store, as each stone is attached to a rotating center piece – there are no free parts to lose.

SHOP SMITH’S (See on )

Type of Knife Sharpener | Heavy Duty Knife Sharpener
Benefits | Limited Stock, Nagura Stone, Long Lasting, Genuine Leather
Item Weight | 3.74 lbs
Price | See on

The Masuta (See on ) knife sharpener is available in three sizes, ranging in price and weight. What we love best about the sharpeners we’ve chosen for our Masuta review, no matter which you pick, is that they’re so giftable.

You’re going to love how this sharpener works, but also the attention to detail put into the creation of each. The whetstones are crafted from natural Japanese stone quarried from an underwater mine in Japan. Additional details include a genuine leather case that protects your stone while you store it.

The Masuta whetstone has a 12,000 grit, making it one of the finest you can find. Your product also includes a quality silicone mat to keep your whetstone from slipping in use.

SHOP MASUTA (See on ) 

Type of Knife Sharpener | Whetstone Knife Sharpener
Benefits | Two Grits, Natural Materials, Sustainable, Giftable
Item Weight | 4 ounces
Price | See on

Another giftable product on our list is our Kucoolou (See on ) review. This portable sharpener is perfect as a stocking stuffer or a last minute gift to the cook or knife lover in your life. Weighing only four ounces, it’s great to keep in your tackle box, with your hiking gear or just to stash in your kitchen drawer.

Your Kucoolou sharpener is made from white and green agate. The green agate is naturally 1,000 grit to sharpen your blade. Then use the white agate’s 8,000 grit to hone the edge of your blade.  

This blade works best for smaller blades like your paring knife or pocket knife, but you can also use it on longer and wider blades. Customers recommend you wear rubber or latex gloves while you’re using your Kucoolou as the agate can be slippery.

SHOP KUCOOLOU (See on )

Type of Knife Sharpener | Whetstone Blade Sharpener
Benefits | Two Grits, Angle Guide, Natural Materials, Sustainable, Sharpens and Polishes
Item Weight | 2 lbs
Price | See on

The MIKARTO (See on ) blade is our third giftable option, and it’s available at a price point that will allow you to get one for every home chef on your list. Weighing two pounds, it’s sturdy and hefty enough to be a permanent addition to your countertop. However, it’s packaged in a lovely custom box that’s designed to allow your sharpener to dry properly.  

Also included with your whetstone are an angle guide and a cleaning and lapping stone. The stone itself is double-sided; one side is 1,000 grit and the other 6,000. The cleaning stone ensures that your whetstone stays working its best for many years.

SHOP MIKARTO (See on ) 

Type of Knife Sharpener | Agate Blade Sharpener
Benefits | Natural, Durable, Sustainable, Decorative
Item Weight | 2.2 lbs
Price | See on

We simply love the look of this Jidan (See on ) natural agate blade sharpener. It’s a simple look, but you won’t mind having it sit on your countertop, ready for use whenever you need it. Marbled green and white agate will blend in seamlessly with your kitchen, whether your style is contemporary or rustic.

The eco-friendly knife sharpener in our Jidan review is double-sided, with both sides offering a 6,000 grit surface. Sustainable sourced agate is naturally durable and this sharpener will last you a lifetime with proper care. We recommend that, as you sharpen your tools, you make full use of the entire surface of this stone. That will ensure that your block will remain in good condition.

SHOP JIDAN (See on )

Type of Knife Sharpener | Natural Whetstone
Benefits | Natural, Sustainable, Satisfaction Guarantee, Quick Touchups
Item Weight | 6 ounces
Price | See on

Next on our list of the top knife sharpeners is our Hyuduo (See on ) review, a great option for quick touchups. It’s a whetstone, so you’ll have to soak your sharpener for around ten minutes or so before use. However, there’s no special set up or packaging required, so it’s easy to just grab it from your drawer right before you begin meal prep.

Customers say this blade sharpener is one of the best they’ve seen for sharpening scissors. It’s easy to handle, lightweight and can be manipulated easily to fit your scissor blades. Kitchen knives, pocket knives and other blades can absolutely be sharpened too with the 5,000 grit whetstone.

SHOP HYUDUO (See on )

Type of Knife Sharpener | Synthetic Whetstone
Benefits | Two Grit Sharpener, Satisfaction Guarantee, Angle Guide
Item Weight | 1.72 lb
Price | See on

KING (See on ) has created a knife sharpener from synthetic materials that’s every bit as effective as a stone sharpener. Best of all, it’s easy to get a precise edge with the included angle guide. Clip the guide to your knife to easily sharpen your blade at the optimal angle.

One side of the whetstone sharpener in our KING review is 1,000 grit while the other is 6,000. You can sharpen with the course grit, then polish to perfection using the fine. Customers love that if you have any trouble with the instructions, other consumers have posted great tutorials online on popular video sites.

SHOP KING (See on )

Type of Knife Sharpener | Eco-Friendly Knife Sharpener
Benefits | Natural, Sustainable, Bamboo Holder, Non-Slip Base, Various Grits, Lifetime Warranty
Item Weight | 2 lb
Price | See on

The last knife sharpener on our list is our Kota Japan (See on ) review. We do love that this is such a gorgeous and quality made product, but it has an additional, unique feature. That’s that there are quite a few different grit combinations available. You can choose the 400/1,000, the 600/3,000 and so on all the way up to the finest grit combination at 3,000/8,000. Choose just one or several – whatever suits your needs.  

The Kota Japan sharpener comes with all the accessories you’d expect from a quality product. You’ll get a bamboo holder and an angle guide, and the rubber base prevents your sharpener from slipping while you use it.

Kota Japan whetstones come with a 100% lifetime warranty. If you ever experience any trouble with your sharpener, contact Kota Japan for a repair or replacement.

SHOP KOTA JAPAN (See on )

Keep Your Kitchen Knives Sharp and Safe With The Best Natural Sharpeners

Your knives aren’t just important in the kitchen, but in the garage, the outdoors and even in case of emergency. Keep them sharp and safe to use with one – or more – of the knife sharpeners or natural whetstone on our list of the best.

Karen A Mulvey is a personal social blogger and mom with 14 years of experience in the every day world of motherhood and sustainable product research. Karen is on a mission to help everyday families select sustainable, non-toxic organic products, stop stressing about uncertainties on sustainable home goods and apparel, and start living the life they’ve always wanted.

Follow Karen at @karenAmulveycs | Karen A Mulvey

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