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The Best Sharpening Steels for Kitchen Knives of 2024

best-sharpening-steel

What Is The UK’s Best Sharpening Steel?

In this guide we’ll look at the best sharpening steels.
We’ve compared sharpening capabilities, durability, design and cost
to give you our top recommendations.

Editors Choice
Wusthof Hanging Sharpening Steel
best-sharpening-steels ZWILLING Sharpening Steel
Score:
4.9
Check Price
Also Good
ZWILLING Sharpening Steel
best-sharpening-steels ZWILLING Sharpening Steel
Score:
4.8
Check Price

Sharpening Steel Reviews

B000SI8CTK
4009839217548,0759284371930

The Wusthof Hanging Sharpening Steel is the best sharpening steel for the UK market. This steel is all you need to maintain your knives and keep the edges razor sharp, reducing the time and energy you’ll spend chopping and prepping.

This sharpening steel is designed for frequent use so it has great durability. It’s compatible with most knife brands and it’s very easy to use. The 10” length makes it suitable for sharpening kitchen knives with blades 26cm or shorter.

The Wusthof Hanging Sharpening Steel is our top recommendation for the best sharpening steel for knives. If you’re looking for a durable and reliable sharpening steel, this should be top of your list!

The Wusthof Hanging Sharpening Steel is the best sharpening steel for the UK market. This steel is all you need to maintain your knives and keep the edges razor sharp, reducing the time and energy you’ll spend chopping and prepping.

This sharpening steel is designed for frequent use so it has great durability. It’s compatible with most knife brands and it’s very easy to use. The 10” length makes it suitable for sharpening kitchen knives with blades 26cm or shorter.

The Wusthof Hanging Sharpening Steel is our top recommendation for the best sharpening steel for knives. If you’re looking for a durable and reliable sharpening steel, this should be top of your list!

Our Score:
4.9
Check Price
B000NY2VZU
7753694797383,0765301904227

The Mercer Culinary Genesis Sharpening Steel is the best value sharpening steel for domestic kitchens. This steel has a comfortable and ergonomic Santoprene handle with a non slip grip. It resists rust, corrosion and discolouration, maintaining its quality long after purchase.

This sharpening steel has great strength and durability, with the taper ground edge allowing for stability and easy honing. Despite the cheaper price tag, this steel is fantastic quality and exceptionally long lasting, with the 10” length ample space for most kitchen knives.

If you’re looking for the best value sharpening steel on the market, the Mercer Culinary Genesis Sharpening Steel is the one for you!

The Mercer Culinary Genesis Sharpening Steel is the best value sharpening steel for domestic kitchens. This steel has a comfortable and ergonomic Santoprene handle with a non slip grip. It resists rust, corrosion and discolouration, maintaining its quality long after purchase.

This sharpening steel has great strength and durability, with the taper ground edge allowing for stability and easy honing. Despite the cheaper price tag, this steel is fantastic quality and exceptionally long lasting, with the 10” length ample space for most kitchen knives.

If you’re looking for the best value sharpening steel on the market, the Mercer Culinary Genesis Sharpening Steel is the one for you!

Our Score:
4.85
Check Price
B000SI8CTK
4009839217548,0759284371930

The ZWILLING Sharpening Steel is the best long sharpening steel for larger knives. This sharpening steel has a 23cm length, with a hardness of 62HRC for durability.

With a ridged, highly carbonised and chrome plated steel construction, this sharpening steel guarantees a good sharpening result for your kitchen knives. The plastic handle provides a secure grip for added safety, while the hook at the end of the tool makes for easy storage.

If you’re looking for the best sharpening steel for large knives, the ZWILLING Sharpening Steel is our top recommendation!

The ZWILLING Sharpening Steel is the best long sharpening steel for larger knives. This sharpening steel has a 23cm length, with a hardness of 62HRC for durability.

With a ridged, highly carbonised and chrome plated steel construction, this sharpening steel guarantees a good sharpening result for your kitchen knives. The plastic handle provides a secure grip for added safety, while the hook at the end of the tool makes for easy storage.

If you’re looking for the best sharpening steel for large knives, the ZWILLING Sharpening Steel is our top recommendation!

Our Score:
4.8
Check Price
B06X6J3279
0753610382065

The ARCCI Diamond Sharpening Steel is the easiest to use sharpening steel on the market. This sharpener has an ergonomic handle, a comfortable grip and an elliptical grinding knife design for easy and efficient sharpening.

Made from diamond particles, this sharpening steel will remove imperfections and extend the lifespan of your knives. It’s both waterproof and rust proof, with the nickel plating preventing wear and tear, and aiding durability. The protective ring will keep your hands safe.

If you’re looking for a lightweight, convenient and easy to use sharpening steel that’ll both sharpen your knives and maintain their quality, the ARCCI Diamond Sharpening Steel is the one for you!

The ARCCI Diamond Sharpening Steel is the easiest to use sharpening steel on the market. This sharpener has an ergonomic handle, a comfortable grip and an elliptical grinding knife design for easy and efficient sharpening.

Made from diamond particles, this sharpening steel will remove imperfections and extend the lifespan of your knives. It’s both waterproof and rust proof, with the nickel plating preventing wear and tear, and aiding durability. The protective ring will keep your hands safe.

If you’re looking for a lightweight, convenient and easy to use sharpening steel that’ll both sharpen your knives and maintain their quality, the ARCCI Diamond Sharpening Steel is the one for you!

Our Score:
4.75
Check Price

Sharpening Steel Buyer’s Guide

Anyone who prides themselves on their quality kitchen knives needs a good sharpening steel. Blunt knives will add time and stress to your food prep process, and sharpening steels are extremely affordable, helping keep your knives in great condition.

Not sure what to look for when it comes to the best sharpening steel? Check out this buyer’s guide.

Sharpening Capabilities

Most sharpening steels do a good job when it comes to sharpening, but if you’re passionate about keeping your knives in tip top condition, look for a diamond sharpener. These remove a fair amount of metal from the knife, keeping it much sharper for longer.

Ceramic sharpeners are great for fine and precise sharpening. This is perfect for blunt knives as, although less abrasive than diamond, it’ll get your knives up to scratch quickly and easily. Steel rods come in fine grit, standard grit or ultra fine grit.

Durability

For durability, look for a sharpening steel designed for regular or daily use. Provided you take care of your sharpening steel according to the manufacturer’s instructions, they should last a very long time. Keep your sharpener away from moisture, and ensure your knife is clean and dry before you start sharpening.

Design

The shape and design of the sharpener is also something to look out for. Round rods offer simple and easy sharpening, while oval rods are even easier to use thanks to their larger surface area.

Flat rods are heavier than others but have the largest contact surface, making them perfect for beginner sharpeners! Most sharpening steels for domestic kitchens will be round or oval.

Sharpening Steels FAQ

How to sharpen a knife with a sharpening steel?

With your non-dominant hand, hold the sharpening steel down against a shopping board, then hold the knife crossways with the back of the blade touching the steel. Tilt the knife so that the cutting edge is touching the steel at a very slight angle.

Maintaining the angle, pull the blade towards you whilst also gliding it downwards. The steel should cover the entire length of the blade. Give the knife 10 strokes against the steel, then swap to the other side of the blade. Do another 10 strokes, then admire your beautifully sharp and maintained knife!

Editors Choice
Wusthof Hanging Sharpening Steel
best-sharpening-steels ZWILLING Sharpening Steel
Score:
4.9
Check Price
Also Good
ZWILLING Sharpening Steel
best-sharpening-steels ZWILLING Sharpening Steel
Score:
4.8
Check Price
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