You will agree that it is quite difficult to find the best fillet knife sharpener on the market to get the job done. There are so many brands of knife sharpeners, but how do you know if the one you bought is durable enough?

A few days ago, I gave my knife sharpener to my niece and decided to get a new one. I searched online for a knife sharpener that is just as good as the one I gave away, and surprisingly it took me two days to find the one I liked because all the ones I saw were substandard.

8 best fillet knife sharpeners – Reviewed 2024

AccuSharp Fillet Knife & Tool Sharpener

When I saw the Accu Sharp, I fell in love with it immediately. 

It is low-cost and one of the most effective manual fillet knife sharpeners available. It is compatible with both serrated and non-serrated blades, which can be used on every knife in your kitchen.

It has a plastic safety belt for your protection, so the odds of hurting yourself are low.

The Accu Sharp is very user-friendly, and its ergonomic design makes it easy to operate.

Pros

  • Very portable and compact
  • Sharpens blades quickly
  • Compatible with different types of knives
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Rust resistant

Cons

  • The knives won’t be as razor-sharp as you would want

Takeaway

The Accu Sharp Manual fillet knife sharpener is a very portable device that you can use anywhere. It is incredibly affordable.

PriorityChef Knife Sharpener

If you are looking for a cheap and effective manual knife sharpener for both serrated knives and straight knives, the PriorityChef Knife Sharpener is a fantastic choice.

This knife sharpener is perfect for thicker blades, and it is very reliable. This sharpener also sharpens a broad range of knives.

The PriorityChef is not the fastest sharpener in the market due to its manual build. However, its durable construction and reliability help to make up for its lack of speed.

The PriorityChef is a two-staged knife sharpener that enables you to recycle your old fillet knives and bring them back to life.

Its design is well thought out, making it very hard for you to accidentally injure yourself when using it. You can also use the device anywhere since it’s a manual fillet knife sharpener.

Pros

  • Elegant design
  • It is durable and tough
  • Less vibration
  • 2-stage sharpening mode
  • Adequate stability

Cons

  • It takes a longer time to sharpen knives

Takeaway

If you don’t make regular use of knives, the PriorityChef manual Knife Sharpener is for you. If you are a top chef that uses knives regularly, an electrical knife sharpener that sharpens knives quickly would be a better choice.

Overall, It’s very affordable and will be an elegant addition to your kitchen utensils.

Messermeister Ceramic Rod Knife Sharpener 

If you are looking for a manual, rod-style knife sharpener to sharpen your dull knives, the Messermeister should be your first point of contact.

This is one of the best ceramic fishing knife sharpeners available on the market. You can use it anywhere.

The Messermeister is an old-fashioned method of sharpening knives that many people still prefer, including professional chefs.

Pros

  • Very easy to use
  • A ceramic knife sharpener that also hones
  • Has a comfortable handle with a hanging ring beneath it
  • Comfortable grip

Cons

  • Looks like a screwdriver
  • The sharpening process is slow

Takeaway

The Messermeister Ceramic Rod Knife Sharpener is an old-fashioned knife sharpener that can last the test of time. It is easy to use, and its maintenance is very minimal.

There is still more…

Presto 08800 EverSharp Electric

If you search for a high-quality electric steak knife sharpener, you can go for the Presto 08800 EverSharp Knife sharpener.

Presto 08800 is very easy to use. It comes fitted with a two-stage sharpening mode that will make your knives razor-sharp.

The Presto 08800 makes use of Sapphire grinding wheels that professionals use.

It doesn’t matter if your knife is made from carbon, alloy, or stainless steel. The Presto 08800 knife sharpener will make your knife razor-sharp.

The best part?

It takes only two minutes to sharpen your knife and bring it back to its glory days, and it does not require much maintenance.

To clean it, all you need to do is wipe off the metal filings produced when you sharpen your knife and crown it all, and it is very affordable.

Pros

  • Has suction cup to balance knives
  • Affordable price
  • Perfect for Non-serrated blades
  • Sharpens knives within seconds
  • Two-stage sharpening mode

Cons

  • Only works well with a few knives
  • It struggles with knives with thicker blades

Takeaway

The Presto 08800 EverSharp Knife sharpener is a fantastic electric knife sharpener that will transform your dull knife to razor-sharp in seconds. It has three suction cups to balance the sharpening process and make sure your knife stays in position. It is very convenient to use in the kitchen, and all you need is a dry cloth to wipe it clean after use.

Sharp Pebble Knife Sharpening Stone

The Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone is popular because it can sharpen any type of blade’s edges.

You can sharpen your cutleries and woodworking tools with it, but don’t sharpen them daily, or you’ll ruin your knife.

Pros

  • Has high quality abrasive
  • Comes with a bamboo base to offer stability
  • Tough and durable
  • Can be used anywhere

Cons

  • Not for first-timers

Takeaway

The Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone is an excellent addition to your kitchen and its versatility make it a valuable asset for so many people. It’s a great value for money

We are not done yet…

Presto Professional Electric Knife Sharpener

The Presto 08810 Professional Electric Knife Sharpener has a 3-mode system.

The device is affordable and suitable for a lot of kitchen and sporting knives. The Presto 08810 is fast and smooth, and it takes just a few seconds to get the job done.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Beautiful design
  • Efficient and fast
  • 3-mode sharpening system

Cons

  • Struggles with thicker blades

Takeaway

The Presto 08810 is a fantastic knife sharpener for the money. It is reliable and can be used regularly in the kitchen. It may not be suitable for hunting or fillet knives, but it’s an amazing kitchen gadget to have in your kitchen.

Chef’sChoice 320 Electric Sharpener

This is another top-rated electronic device that is worth the money. When it comes to knife sharpeners, Chef’s choice is a household name.

During my research, I found out that the Chef’s Choice 320 Diamond Hone knife sharpener can handle all kinds of knives.

It doesn’t matter if you’re using a serrated knife, gourmet knife, butcher knife, or sporting knife. This amazing sharpening tool will bring your dull knife back from the dead.

The Chef’s Choice 320 Diamond Hone is similar to the Presto 08800 EverSharp Knife sharpener in the sense that they both have two stages of knife sharpening modes.

In the first stage, you sharpen the knife to your satisfaction and then proceed to the second stage to hone your knife.

Honing is the ability to maintain an edge that’s already sharp so it can retain its sharpness. Some people have a habit of honing their knives after use; it’s a personal choice.

With the Chef’s Choice 320 Diamond Hone knife sharpener, it is difficult to find a knife you can’t sharpen.

That’s not all.

One amazing feature of the Chef’s Choice 320 Diamond Hone knife sharpener is that it can even sharpen serrated blades.

Why is this important?

Of all the knife sharpening brands and models I saw in my quest to replace my knife sharpener, only a few can sharpen both serrated and smooth knives. 

Pros

  • Can handle different type of knives
  • Suitable for regular usage
  • Built with a 2-stage sharpening system
  • Durable and tough
  • Elastomeric feet (the black rubber stand beneath the device) for balance

Cons

  • Can be very noisy
  • Becomes overheated with continuous use

Takeaway

If you are looking for a sharpener for your fishing or steak knives, the Chef’s Choice 320 Diamond Hone kitchen is an amazing choice.

Work Sharp Culinary Knife Sharpener

The Work Sharp has transformed the way knives work. When I set my eyes on the Work Sharp, I couldn’t look away.

The work sharp is an electric knife sharpener that was made especially for busy cooks who use knives regularly. It also has a ceramic honing rod.

Here is the best part

The Work Sharp Culinary can transform a blunt knife into an edgy knife in mere moments.

The Work Sharp has a three-mode sharpening device. It enables you to sharpen, shape, and refine your knives. All you just need to do is hit the button, and the magic begins.

It takes the Work sharp just 90 seconds to bring a dull knife back to life.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Produces fewer filings when sharpening a knife
  • Compatible with hunting knives, can sharpen scissors and other blade types
  • Has pre-programmed settings

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Becomes overheated with continuous use

Takeaway

If you decide to purchase the Work Sharp Culinary E5 knife sharpener, you have made a fantastic choice. It can be expensive compared to other brands in the market. However, it is a one-time investment, and it will serve you for many, many years.

Buying guide – How to choose a durable filleting knife sharpener

If you’re looking to buy the best fillet knife sharpener, there are some factors that you need to put into consideration. There are so many amazing knife sharpeners on the market right now that can serve different purposes. So what should you watch out for?

Let’s begin.

The sharpening modes

There are various knife sharpeners, and each one has its mode of operation. Some are fitted with a single-stage sharpening system, while others have two or three stages.

The three stages include the following;

  • Stage one – Sharpening
  • Stage two – Straightening
  • Stage three – Polishing

Your preferred knife sharpener should have more than one sharpening stage. This will produce the sharpest knife possible that will last a long time between sharpenings.

Ease of Cleaning

Get a knife sharpener that is easy to clean because the process of sharpening knives often produces metal shavings that can contaminate food. For manual knife sharpeners, you just need a damp cloth to wipe off the debris.

Please don’t use wet cloths to clean it while it’s plugged in to avoid electrocution for the electrical knife sharpeners.

If you have to use a wet cloth to do your cleaning, unplug the device and get to work. After you’re done, make sure the device is dry before you resume operations.

Regular cleaning is essential, so you don’t get metal shavings in your food.

Ease of Use

Before you purchase any knife sharpener, you need to make sure the device is easy to use so that you don’t have to go through a stressful learning curve to know how to use the device.

Most knife sharpeners come with a precision angle guide. It is one feature that will tell how easy you can use a specific fillet knife sharpener.

The precision angle guide assists you in positioning the knife to ensure accurate sharpening. Once the knife is well positioned, and you begin the sharpening process, the knife will be razor sharp in no time.

Abrasiveness

Suppose you want your blade to get sharpened without suffering damages. In that case, you need to be on the lookout for a knife sharpener with high-quality abrasive because a low-quality abrasive sharpener can easily damage your knife.

The most commonly used abrasives are ceramic, diamond, and carbide. Price can vary significantly depending on the type of abrasive used.

The durability of the product

The type of material used in producing the product will go a long way in determining how durable it will be. Go for knife sharpeners that are made of polyethylene plastic and stainless steel so you can enjoy them for many years to come.

Size of the product

When it comes to knife sharpeners, the size of the product will affect your purchasing decision in two ways, and they are as follows;

Storage

The size of a knife sharpener won’t affect how it works, but it can affect the way it is stored. 

For those who have a small kitchen with less space, this is a problem. Can your kitchen accommodate a large electric knife sharpener? 

Alternatively, if your kitchen is tight on space, you can move towards the manual knife sharpeners. The majority of them are small and can easily fit inside a drawer.

So before you part ways with your money, ensure you know the dimensions of the knife sharpener.

Size of your knife

The size of your knife should also determine the type of knife sharpener you should go for. There are so many types of knives out there; some are big, small, long, short, etc.

Before you go for a particular model, consider the size of your knives.

Weight of the product

You’ll want a knife sharpener that is lightweight if you intend to use it outdoors so you can move it about.

Heavy knife sharpeners are often stationed in a static position, and their weight gives them the balance and security that they require. As such, these are typically best for use in the kitchen.

Safety Features

When it comes to sharpening knives and other blades, take your safety very seriously.

Dealing with sharp objects can be very harmful if you are not careful.

To ensure your safety, you should only go for knife sharpeners that possess safety features that stops the blade from coming close to your skin.

To avoid accidents like slippage, some knife sharpeners have rubber grip handles for added safety.

Slots

You should go for a knife sharpener with multiple knife slots so you can sharpen many different types of knives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need to sharpen my knives?

Absolutely! If you use knives, then you should maintain them. A sharp knife is always a pleasure to use compared to dull knives. When it comes to chopping vegetables and meat, the knife should be doing the work, making it as sharp as possible.

All knives deserve to be maintained unless you have given up on them.                            

How frequently should I sharpen my knife?

It all depends on the usage and the type of knife. If you use your knife once a week, you should sharpen it whenever it becomes dull.

But on the other hand, if you don’t use knives often, then once every six months should be fine.

How can I tell when my knife needs to be sharpened?

  • Blade is dull
  • Difficult to slice tomatoes – the knife smashes them
  • It can’t even cut an onion, and it keeps slipping off

How can I take care of kitchen knives?

If you don’t take good care of your knives, they’ll become damaged. Knives can get rusty or corrode with time, but proper care and maintenance can slow down the process. Sharpening is another necessary step to taking good care of your knives.

If you take care of your knife, it will serve you for a very long time and provide flawless cuts whenever it’s in use.

Here are some of the ways you can extend the life cycle of your knife through maintenance:

Don’t expose your knife to non-food items

Kitchen knives are meant for cutting or slicing food, and they should never be used to cut bone, ice, frozen food, among many other things.

Make use of wooden or plastic cutting boards

Refrain from using cutting boards that are made from glass or ceramic, and avoid using hard countertops as a cutting board. These hard surfaces will dull your knives sooner rather than later.

Keep your knives dry

Many knives are made from metal, so ideally, you don’t leave your knife in a sink full of water for an extended amount of time. This can cause your knives to rust and shorten the lifespan of the knife.

Knives and water are not friends. After washing your knife, you should dry it before storing it.

Sharpen and hone your knife

You need to sharpen your knife at least once every six months, either with a stone sharpener or a modern sharpening device.

Also, don’t forget to hone your knife regularly because it is one of the best ways to keep your knife sharp.

Between the manual and electric knife sharpener, which is better?

It’s a matter of choice. Besides, both the electric and manual fillet knife sharpeners can sharpen a knife correctly.

Here are what you should concentrate on;

  • Time – Do you need a quick sharpener
  • Money – How much money are you willing to invest in a knife sharpener 

While a more efficient model may cost more, a less expensive knife sharpener often requires a little more manual effort.

Manual knife sharpeners are cheaper than their electric counterparts, but they don’t remove much debris like electric sharpeners.

It takes the manual sharpener a longer time and more expertise to get the job done. But, once you understand how it works, there’s nothing to worry about.

Aside from being expensive and fast, the electric models are easy to use. They usually come with a guide, so you don’t need to have prior experience to use them as the manual models require.

The electric models are usually bigger than the manual models, so some prefer manual knife sharpeners for convenience.

Conclusion

Searching for the best fillet knife sharpener on the market can be a daunting task.

I don’t want you to go through the same stress that I did, which is why I have compiled the best 8 fillet knife sharpeners money can buy so you can make the best decision.