Suppose you find an old, dull knife in your kitchen. Initially, you decide to dispose of it, but you suddenly hear about electric knife sharpeners: people say they have fast and sharp cutting abilities. Technology has tapped the cutlery industry—the production of electric knife sharpeners means quickly sharpened knives, much faster than manually sharpening them by hand.
But as someone used to the precision of traditional manual sharpeners, you might still feel a little skeptical about an electric sharpener’s capabilities. To resolve this presumption, you should check them out and see the quality for yourself.
During your search, you'll most likely find a Presto kitchen knife sharpener as one of the top recommended brands. But is a Presto knife sharpener deserving of its prominent spot on the list?
This article breaks down essential information about the Presto EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener. Before we get into that part, here's a list of things you should consider when searching for "kitchen knife sharpening near me" or looking for the best kitchen knife sharpener.
Before looking at a specific brand, you should first gain adequate knowledge on what makes a good electric knife sharpener. It will help you narrow down your criteria and simplify the overwhelming selection process. Below are some of the crucial aspects of choosing an electric knife sharpener.
An electric knife sharpener has two to three sharpening stages. These phases have different purposes: one is for coarse sharpening, one is for fine sharpening, and the other is for polishing and refining the blade.
Sharpeners that cost more usually have three stages, while the cheaper ones have only two. Naturally, the sharpeners with three phases offer much more. Still, both types can make a good knife-edge as long as it matches your needs.
Each type of knife has a different bevel angle. You need to be aware of that because the knife sharpener should be capable of matching the knife's required angle. For example, with Japanese vs. European style knives; European styles require a 20-degree angle while Japanese styles require a 15-degree angle.
These days, people look for electric sharpeners with adjustable angles to sharpen more than one style of knife.
The abrasive material of your electric sharpener determines its capacity to make clean and fine knife edges. There are three common abrasive materials used for sharpeners: diamond, steel, and ceramic.
Diamond is the hardest material, handy on the reshaping stage of the knife, but can also leave a rough finish. Steel is great for the polishing process but is not much of a help in removing metals quickly. Ceramic is best for polishing and offers a more refined edge, but it works slower than diamond. Note these significant comparisons when choosing an electric sharpener.
Portability might be an optional factor if you're only using the sharpener in the kitchen. Still, having a portable machine gives you more freedom and control over your work. Electric knife sharpeners are either handheld or designed for the countertop. Naturally, the handheld styles are more movable, so your choice will depend on where you will use them.
Price comparison is a significant factor in your buying decisions, but finding the perfect balance is more important than choosing between something too expensive or too cheap. If you decide to buy an expensive sharpener, make sure that all its features are useful for your knives.
If you choose to purchase a cheaper one, make sure that it can handle high-quality knives. It's all about matching the knife quality and the knife sharpener's capability.
Now that you have an idea of what makes a good electric knife sharpener, it's time to look at one of the most recommended brands: Presto Knives. Get to know a bit more about the company followed by a review of its best-selling electric sharpening machine.
National Presto Industries, Inc. is a recognized leading manufacturer of small electric appliances and houseware. It is currently headquartered in Eau Claire, WI, and has been manufacturing quality products for over 100 years. The company started in 1905, manufacturing pressure canners for commercial canneries.
Throughout the years, their product range has expanded to cater to various industries. It now sells products in thirty categories, ranging from dehydrators to kitchen knife sharpeners.
Now that you have an idea about Presto's long-standing reputation, take a closer look at one of their best-selling products, the Eversharp Electric Knife Sharpener. There are two variations of this product: one is a two-stage system, and the other is a three-stage system.
With over 11,000 Amazon ratings (with an average rating of 4.5/5), the Presto 08800 Knife Sharpener makes it on the list of top Amazon knife sharpeners at #13, and in the Kitchen and Dining category at #2007. For such a huge marketplace, these are pretty impressive achievements for a simple kitchen tool.
Razor-Sharp Results
Customers are ecstatic about the sharpening ability of the Presto Eversharp. Knives that have gone dull for a long time only take several minutes to sharpen using this machine. The secret to the razor-sharp ability is the machine's Sapphirite grinding wheels.
Sapphirite is an ultra-hard material often used in professional sharpening services due to its sharpening ability requiring little effort.
EverSharp Technology
One of the best things about the Presto Eversharp is its Eversharp Technology feature: the automatic slowing or stopping down of the engine when you apply too much force in sharpening.
Additionally, it has four blade guides that automatically hold the knife at an ideal sharpening angle. You no longer have to worry about guessing the right angle and sharpening force because this machine automatically responds to counter any potential damage.
Fast, Compact, and Convenient to Use
Product reviews state that the Presto sharpening system sharpens and polishes the knife's blade in just a few seconds, which is an advantage of using electric knife sharpeners. So whether it's a two or ten-year-old dull knife, it only needs a few seconds of work to get its super sharp edges back again.
They also talk about how the machine works with a quiet motor, so it's convenient for users. Additionally, with a size dimension of 9.9 x 7.2 x 4.8 inches, the Presto is neither too small nor too big to fit in most kitchen counters and other areas.
With over 5,000 Amazon ratings (and an average of 4.5/5), the 3-phase knife sharpening system is one of Amazon's choices for highly-rated and fairly-priced products. In addition, the sharpener makes it in the list of the top knife sharpeners at #22, and in the Kitchen and Dining category at #4083. Again, these are impressive achievements for a kitchen tool sold in a massive marketplace.
3-Stage Advantage
Compared to the previous model, the Presto 08810 has a 3-stage sharpening system, with the third stage offering an extra-fine grit to achieve a sharper edge. Built for standard kitchen knives, this sharpener has fast and easy sharpening abilities capable of producing impressive results. Like the 08800, it's a quiet machine and is user-friendly, so you needn't worry about not having adequate skills and knowledge.
Visuals With a Purpose
The black and metallic gray combination of the machine's color perfectly fits modern and traditional kitchen settings. The contrast of the two colors also increases visibility to prevent any accidents while using the machine.
Adjustable Blade Thickness
One fantastic feature from this unit that the Presto 08800 doesn't have is the adjustable blade selector! You can choose between thin, medium, and thick blade thicknesses. Presto’s advice is to set it thin for fillet and paring knives, medium for chef's and standard kitchen knives, and thick for hunting knives.
Sharpening Angle Guides
Like the Presto 08800, this machine has four interchangeable blade guides that automatically adjust to various sharpening angles. Therefore, it makes an excellent tool for users who don't have enough skills or knowledge about electric knife sharpeners, as the machine does it for them.
Affordable Pricing
Another reason why Presto knife sharpeners are popular is that they're relatively cheaper compared to their competitors. The sharpener typically costs around $40–$50, which is super affordable compared to other brands that are twice as expensive, despite having similar features.
Keep these limitations of the machine in mind when making a buying decision. A Presto Eversharp knife sharpener might not fit well with you for the following reasons:
We consider the Presto Eversharp electric home knife sharpener worth the purchase for kitchen knife sharpening. It has sufficient strength, reliability, and design features that are needed to complete daily kitchen tasks. However, it might not be the best all-around tool as it doesn't suit high-end cutlery sharpening. Still, the best way to leverage its capabilities is to use it for what it is designed for: the home kitchen.
