When it comes to knives, Wusthof is a name that resonates with quality and precision. But even the best knives lose their edge over time. So, how do you keep your Wusthof knives in the best condition? With the right sharpener, of course!
Most Wusthof sharpeners come with different stages to give your knives that perfect edge so you can slice through everything from meat to tomatoes.
In this guide, you’ll discover the best Wusthof sharpeners for your current knives and your Wusthof knives, along with some tips and insights. Your tomatoes will thank you!
Best Overall
Wusthof Electric Knife Sharpener
Reasons To Buy:
- Results compared to professionally sharpened knives
- Can bring old, dull knives back to life
- Straightforward if you’re familiar with sharpening
- Can hone serrated blades (not sharpen)
Reasons To Avoid:
- Price
- Uses more complex parts that may need to be replaced (o-ring and transformer)
- There’s a bit of a learning curve to use safely and effectively
The Wusthof electric sharpener can save you some strokes once you get a handle on how to use it.
Originally, I was hyped up on the Wusthof 3-stage PEtec Electric Knife Sharpener, but it has disappeared from all marketplaces.
There is a bit of confusion as to why, but I think I got a piece of the puzzle. Chef’sChoice and Wusthof joined together to make a newer version of it, but now it’s also unavailable, and I don’t think it’s coming back.
If you like the simple hand-held style sharpener but in an electric version, I recommend checking out the Chef’sChoice EdgeSelect knife sharpener instead.
But if you’re looking for the best electric style sharpener, my pick has to be the only Wusthof Electric Knife Sharpener available.
While it may seem much more intimidating than the other hand-held models, this one will help get a professional edge back on your blade.
I think if you’re someone who uses knives frequently in the kitchen, having a reliable sharpener can be a game-changer. It ensures that your knives are always ready and extends their lifespan.
Again, remember that there are some potential durability issues and be prepared for a slight learning curve when first using this product.
Best Budget
Wusthof Precision Edge 2 Stage Hand-Held Sharpener
Reasons To Buy:
- Straightforward and simple to use
- It can sharpen knives well
- It’s small in size, which makes it easy to store in a drawer
Reasons To Avoid:
- Not ideal for certain types of knives or those with specific angles
- It can scratch your knives (especially if you’ve never used this style of sharpener)
- Your knives might not get as sharp as you expect or hold an edge as long
The Wüsthof 2 Stage Hand-Held Sharpener is easy for anyone to use because it doesn’t have a lot of moving parts or require electricity.
All that is required is that you keep even pressure on the knife as you draw it through the slots. You don’t need a lot of pressure, but it definitely needs to be even.
There are only two slots, or stages, one for coarse honing and one for fine sharpening. You can expect your best knives to get an edge back, but it’s not going to be factory sharp.
If the blade of your knife is in very poor condition, spending some time on the coarse slot might be worth it.
That will remove a lot of metal to help get rid of the dents, rust, and other imperfections on the blade. But again, you can’t expect miracles with this budget pick.
You should use the fine sharpening slot to keep your blade sharp for everyday use.
That will remove the burs on the blade edge, which are created as you cut food and press the knife against the cutting board. It should only take 5 or 6 strokes to bring your knife back to razor-sharp.
Best For Asian-Style Knives
Wusthof Precision Edge 4 Stage Knife Sharpener
Reasons To Buy:
- It seems to sharpen a bit better than the 2-stage sharpener
- It can handle different types of knives, including Asian and regular knives.
- Has a rubber base to help prevent slipping while sharpening
Reasons To Avoid:
- It can be difficult to create a consistent edge across the whole length of the blade
- Not as good as a factory or professional sharpening
Another option to consider is the Wusthof Precision Edge 4 Stage Knife Sharpener which is capable of sharpening Asian-style knives.
When you’re sharpening an Asian knife with this unit, you’ll want to give it a few extra strokes on the fine stage to get closer to the perfect edge.
I should also point out that these sharpeners need a bit of care to keep them working well. When finished sharpening, I like to hold it over the trash can and give it a few pats and shakes to get metal grindings out of the unit.
Once emptied, give it a quick wipe with a damp cloth and set it to dry before storing.
While there are many other brands that offer a similar style of sharpener, using the alternatives can ruin your knives quite easily if you choose a low-quality product or don’t understand the proper way to use them.
Best Aggressive Steel
Wusthof Knife Sharpening Steel
Reasons To Buy:
- Aggressive sharpening
- It’s ideal for knives that are in particularly bad shape
- Has an oval shape giving more surface area
Reasons To Avoid:
- Unsure about the durability of the diamond coating
- It might be too aggressive for delicate blades
- Best as a companion to a good steel rather than a replacement
Sharpening steels are often confused with knife sharpeners. When a sharp knife starts to feel dull, it’s because tiny burs on the blade’s edge have formed. That makes it harder to slice things.
The purpose of the sharpening steel is to remove these burs and help realign the blade’s edge. This will give you a “sharp” knife again.
A knife sharpener will remove large amounts of metal from the blade to produce a new edge. So, in essence, the steel sharpener fine-tunes the edge back to its dangerous self.
The Wusthof diamond-coated sharpening steel is much more aggressive than those made of ceramic or steel. So I think this product should be used in combination with other steels. Use the Wusthof to “fix” your rough blades and the others to hone them back to a sharp point.
Best For Skill-Based Sharpening
Wusthof Whetstone Sharpeners
Reasons To Buy:
- Able to get knives razor-sharp
- Offers more control over the sharpening process
- Manual sharpener offers good value for its price
- Has a compact design
Reasons To Avoid:
- Stones may wear down quickly
- Stones may detach from the wooden block
- Not the best option for those unfamiliar with using sharpening stones
- The design is a bit awkward for soaking
While the initial price of the Wusthof Whetstone is pretty high compared to the hand-held sharpeners, you will be able to get a razor-sharp edge on your knives with a bit of work.
But unfortunately, there is a bit of an art to sharpening a knife with a whetstone. In the beginning, I scratched many knives, but I used those same knives to get my technique down. It’s not easy.
These stones require a lubricant such as water, but the problem is that it’s attached to a wooden block. After some time, the glue can let go from the stones and the wood, leaving you with several pieces.
If you’re unable to find a creative way to soak the stone only, you might try leaving a soaking wet rag on them for some time to get them where they need to be.
So, it’s hard for me to recommend this set to most people, but if you enjoy manually sharpening your knives and value the skill development aspect, this product might be a good fit.
Wusthof Knife Sharpener FAQs
Do You Have To Clean Wusthof Hand-Held Sharpeners?
While the directions don’t mention anything about cleaning, after some time, metal dust can build up on the carbide and ceramic sharpeners. That could cause problems when drawing the blade through the slots. If you feel it needs to be cleaned, never submerge the unit in water. At most, you can use a damp cloth to wipe it clean or use a small brush to remove unwanted dust and debris.
What Is The Petec Edge?
PEtech (Precision Edge Technology) is a 14-degree angle where Wusthof sharpens all their knives. This sharpener can also be used with other knives, not just Wusthof Knives, but it may take extra initial coarse sharpening to get to the 14-degree blade angle.
Will Wusthof Sharpeners Scratch My Knives?
If the guides are dirty when you draw the knife through the sharpener, there is a chance for some scratches. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully to prevent excessive pressure, which may cause deep scratches.
Can Wusthof Sharpeners Sharpen Serrated Blades?
Serrated blades are very tricky to sharpen, so you may not experience the same sharpening quality as you would with a straight blade. However, you can use the electric sharpener mentioned in my review to hone the blade.
What Are The 3 Stages For Sharpening With Wusthof?
The three stages are coarse, hone, polish, and strop. Coarse sharpening is where you start for severely abused knives. Honing is for everyday use to keep the blade in good condition. And polishing and stropping help straighten the edge and polish the blade.
Why Choose Wusthof Knife Sharpeners?
If you couldn’t tell by the name, Wusthof is of German descent. And German craftsmanship is often regarded for its high quality.
The company was founded over 200 years ago and is highly valued and respected in professional kitchens.
The family-run business knows all about knives and how to care for them, which is why they created a line of knife-sharpening tools for professional and amateur kitchens.
While I think the Wusthof Electric Knife Sharpener is the best overall, all the sharpeners reviewed are good picks that help make your knives safer to use.
When used correctly, a sharp knife requires less pressure, making you less likely to slip and have an accident.
If you’re a home chef like me or just someone who loves cooking at home, understanding how to sharpen your knives is important, but using the right tool is essential.
So if you’re still using a dull edge, I think the Wusthof brand is worth checking out.
