REASONS TO BUY
Works for lots of different knives
Affordable
Easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Doesn't sharpen scissors
Bulky
Cannot adjust sharpening angle
Presto EverSharp Review
An affordable and simple way to sharpen up knives without much fuss, but results depend on how much effort you put in
Credit: Natalie Kafader
RELATED: Best Knife Sharpeners of 2024
Our Verdict
The Presto EverSharp is an electric knife sharpener that utilizes a two-stage pull-through method to sharpen dull blades. With a total of 12 swipes (3 swipes per side per stage), you can have a noticeably improved blade in about a minute. However, we found that if you put in a bit more time and a few more pulls, you can achieve better results. This is a great model for those who appreciate the speed and convenience of electric sharpeners and love a good deal. While it is a bit bulkier than other models and may not fit as easily in your kitchen drawer as some manual sharpeners, the tradeoff may be worth it for the efficiency. If you have the space but not the budget, it is one of our top recommendations.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product Presto EverSharp | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Budget Electric Sharpener |  Best For Honing Your Skills | A Great Value for the Kitchen Drawer | Great for Outdoor Sharpening Emergencies | |
| Price | $48 List $37.49 at Amazon | $30 List $19.66 at Amazon | $21 List $12.99 at Amazon | $14.00 List $13.99 at Amazon | $16.00 List $9.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Simple, affordable, and intuitive to use, but may require some effort to achieve the best results | The best option for professional quality knife sharpness if you are willing to master the proper technique | A great little knife sharpener that makes up for inconsistencies with exceptional affordability and user-friendliness | An inexpensive, manual sharpener with a three-tiered system that is as easy to use as it is to store | A two-tiered sharpener that comes with a serrated blade sharpening rod, a bonus flint, and fits in your pocket |
| Rating Categories | Presto EverSharp | Kerye Professional... | Longzon 4-in-1 | Kitchellence 3-Stag... | Sharpal 101N 6-in-1 |
| Sharpening Ability (40%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (30%) | |||||
| Versatility (20%) | |||||
| Storage (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Presto EverSharp | Kerye Professional... | Longzon 4-in-1 | Kitchellence 3-Stag... | Sharpal 101N 6-in-1 |
| Type of Sharpener | Electric - Pull | Manual - Whetstone | Manual - Pull | Manual - Pull | Manual - Portable |
| Sharpening Tiers Available | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Adjustable Sharpening Angle | No | Yes | No | Yes: manual adjustment | No |
| Sharpens Serrated Blade | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Sharpens Scissors | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Sharpens Single-Bevel Blades | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Measured Dimensions | 5.7" L x 8.2" W x 3.7" H | 8.3" L x 3.6" W x 4" H | 9.3" L x 1.8" W x 3" H | 7.8" L x 1.8" W x 2.6" H | 3.5" L x 1.5" W x 0.5" H |
| Measured Weight | 2.6 lb | 3.9 lb | 0.5 lb | 0.4 lb | 0.1 lb |
| Measured Sharpness | 394 g | 264 g | 372 g | 355 g | 534 g |
| Space Used | 173 cu in | 120 cu in | 50 cu in | 37 cu in | 3 cu in |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Presto EverSharp is a 2-stage pull-through electric sharpener that won us over for its combined ease of use and affordability. The sapphirite grinding wheels and an electric motor give it a leg up over other sharpeners in this price range and help facilitate speedy results.
Performance Comparison
The Presto EverSharp managed to significantly improve our predulled chef knife in just about a minute.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Sharpening Ability
The Presto EverSharp has two sharpening tiers: grinding and honing. Each tier is further broken down into a two-step process that works each side of the blade individually. In the overall lineup, the EverSharp falls in the middle of the pack for this metric.
We measure sharpening ability by first dulling a new knife and then running it through the sharpener. The Presto EverSharp took our knife from a 1048g sharpness to a 394g sharpness when used according to manufacturer recommendations of 3 swipes through per side. This number is not back to factory-level sharpness, but it is a significant improvement. However, we could feel and see some burrs left on the edge and feel that a few more swipes could have done some good.
We also examined the bevel angle after using the EverSharp and found that the grinding stage created about a 15° bevel. Presto does not specify the set grinding angle, but this is a bit shallower than the standard 20° of other sharpeners. One problem with the single-sided sharpening process is that you may end up with uneven bevel angles. We found this to be true in our testing, with one side coming out at a 13° angle and the other showing 15°.
We examine the knife edge under a microscope to check out the effectiveness of the honing step of the EverSharp.
Ease of Use
In terms of setup, the Presto EverShapr crushes it. Simply pull it out and plug it in and you are ready to go. A simple on/off switch is the only interface you will encounter on this machine. It doesn't take much practice or refined technique thanks to the preset angle guides, and with a recommended three pairs of strokes per side, the whole process can be done in just about a minute.
The performance of the EverSharp falls somewhat short in its comprehensiveness. It has only two sharpening tiers available, and we didn't always feel that was enough. Our testers noted that to get the best results, you'll want to spend more time on the course setting to get the profile right before moving on to the finer grit, and if you are majorly averse to burrs, you may want to do a final pass with a honing steel. Overall, this model still managed to score above average for this metric, and with such stiff competition, above average is nothing to sniff at.
You would be hard pressed to accidentally reprofile the edge of your knife with the fixed angle guides on the Presto EverSharp.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Versatility
The Presto EverSharp landed just above average in terms of versatility. Ergonomics are good, and we did not feel any strain during the pull-through process, in part because of the comfortable angle and in part because of the quick sharpening time.
When looking at the range of knives it can handle, the Presto is truly in the middle of the pack. Its best use is for your basic straight-edge blades; it can't sharpen scissors or single-sided blades. It can sharpen serrated knives with a few caveats: they must be non-electric and only serrated on a single side, and you can only use the second-stage sharpening slot so you don't wear down too much of the serration with the coarser grit sanding stone.
Stage one and stage two each have two slots. To sharpen serrated knives, you can only use one of the finer grit stage-two slots on the right.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Storage
As can be the case with budget products, chances are you will have to pay for the savings in some other way. In this case, the cost is storage space. It scored below average in this metric and may not be ideal for those with smaller kitchens or less storage space.
We measured the height, width, length, and weight of all the products included in this review. While definitely not the worst in the group, the EverSharp is a bit heavier and bulkier than other electric pull-through sharpeners and significantly larger than manual models. It will not be as easy to store. However, if you have the extra real estate, its 3.7" height enables it to fit into most sliding drawers, so you can still tuck it away after use. We wish it had better cord storage, but we appreciate that it doesn't require any breakdown and doesn't have any spare parts to lose.
The Presto EverSharp is one of the widest sharpeners we tested, and will take up a bit more space in your kitchen.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Presto EverSharp?
If you want a product that is fast, effective, easy to use, and affordable, then the Presto EverSharp is a great one to consider. You may not get the most fabulously sharp knives after using it, but it is enough to make a marked difference for any home cook. The main drawback is its larger size, so we don't think this will be a great option for cooks with teeny tiny kitchens. But if you have the cupboard space, then the size shouldn't impact your decision, and the EverSharp is a solid choice, especially if you don't want to spend a big chunk of change.
The Presto EverSharp is a great budget option for straight blades in a surprisingly short amount of time.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
What Other Knife Sharpeners Should You Consider?
Depending on your needs and preferences, there are a few other knife sharpeners that we'd recommend checking out. If you are a dedicated home cook working with a tiny kitchen and keen on keeping your knives in tip-top shape, we'd recommend investing in a product that offers a better performance-to-size ratio, like the Work Sharp E2. This is a comparable machine that offers more versatility, is a bit smaller, and gives knives a better edge over the competition. If you are short on cash and space, the Longzon 4-in-1 is a manual sharpener that can help you save on both while still offering decently good results.
—
Graham Faulknor and Aaron Rice
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