Best Knife Set with Built In Sharpener – Top 5!

Sharpening kitchen knives is a task many overlook due to forgetfulness or ignorance. Either way, you can avoid this dilemma by investing in the best knife set with built in sharpener. It keeps your blades sharp and ready with each use. And the best ones should be able to have your knife set as razor-sharp as the day you got them!

So, dice, slice and mince to your heart’s content without worrying about sharpening with the following knife sets with built-in sharpeners. See which one suits your cutting needs best!

KNIFE SET WITH BUILT-IN SHARPENER	BRAND	EXPERT RATING	CHECK PRICE
	Our Top Pick!  McCook MC29 15-Piece Knife Set with Built-in Sharpener		Check Price
	Farberware Self-Sharpening 13-Piece Knife Set with Built-in Sharpener		Check Price
	Calphalon 15-Piece Kitchen Knife Set with Built-in Sharpener		Check Price
	Sabatier 12-Piece Edgekeeper Pro Knife Set with Built-in Sharpener		Check Price
	HENCKELS 20-Piece Graphite Knife Set with Built-in Sharpener		Check Price

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What’s the Best Knife Set with Built In Sharpener?

OUR #1 CHOICE

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RUNNERS-UP

Farberware Self-Sharpening 13-Piece Knife Set with Built-in Sharpener

Are you searching for a high-quality knife set with a built-in sharpener but don’t want to overspend? Look no further than Faberware’s 13-Piece Knife Set. It has an elegant yet minimalistic design, and despite all these, it stays functional!

Aside from the standard knives, this 13-piece set also comes with kitchen shears, offering all you need in one package. But what stood out with this knife set is its quality built-in sharpener. Despite being on the cheaper scale, it has a dedicated ceramic sharpener on each knife slot. And using Edgekeeper technology, you get to sharpen your blades each use.

Aside from that, the blades themselves are incredibly durable. And it’s not surprising since each one is made from high carbon stainless steel, helping each knife keep its edge.

Finally, the blades won’t rust as fast as other models, thanks to their quality material. So, you can keep your knife set looking pleasant and functional.

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Calphalon 15-Piece Kitchen Knife Set with Built-in Sharpener

If you don’t mind spending more than usual, go with Calphalon’s premium 15-piece kitchen knife set. It has a wooden knife block with ceramic sharpeners on each knife slot. With this, you can sharpen your blades during and after each use.

Its built-in sharpeners guarantee honed knives whenever you use them. And best of all, nothing beats its premium wooden knife block! So, not only are you keeping your kitchen blades sharp, but you’re also doing it in style.

Sharpeners aside, this knife set’s blade quality is worth raving about! It uses carbon stainless steel for guaranteed durability and longevity. The knives’ full tang design adds more strength to their build while balancing them more.

Finally, each blade sports a triple-riveted handle for maximum comfort and grip.

Besides the regular kitchen knives like the chef’s knife, you also get steak knives and kitchen shears in this set. So, whatever you’re cutting, this set has the tool for you!

But I’m disappointed that this set didn’t come with a bread knife, considering it’s a 15-piece set.

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Sabatier 12-Piece Edgekeeper Pro Knife Set with Built-in Sharpener

Although not having the most knives to offer, Sabatier is still a strong contender. After all, it has many cutting-edge features!

One of these impressive features is its unique self-sharpening knife block. It helps you maintain the optimal sharpness for each blade every time you take the knives and put them back in. But beware, this doesn’t accommodate steak knives as their dedicated slots are often used for storage.

Besides the built-in sharpener, the knives themselves are pretty impressive. Each blade is made from high carbon stainless steel, ensuring longer-lasting use! Moreover, it makes the blade rust- and stain-resistant, adding to its durability. And not to mention, they retain their edge longer than most models.

Finally, each knife has a triple-riveted handle for improved comfort and grip. And its non-slip design prevents accidents during cutting.

Even if this knife set features fewer knives, it still comes with the essential blades. So, from the standard chef’s knife to a much-needed paring knife, Sabatier has you covered!

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HENCKELS 20-Piece Graphite Knife Set with Built-in Sharpener

My last pick for the best knife set with built in sharpener is HENCKELS. Its 20-Piece Graphite Knife Set gives you a bang for your buck.

The set comes with 20 knives, including kitchen shears, addressing all your cutting needs in one package. Each blade is made from top-quality stainless steel featuring a stamped construction, guaranteeing long-term use. And you get to use all these in comfort thanks to each knife’s triple-riveted handle.

Aside from that, it comes with a wooden knife block with built-in shears. These guarantee convenient sharpening after each use. Each knife slot also has a stainless-steel cap covering the blades. With this, you can keep your kitchen knives razor-sharp with little effort.

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What to Look for When Buying the Best Knife Set with Built In Sharpener?

Due to the sheer amount of self-sharpening knife sets available, it can be tricky to find the best knife set with built in sharpener. Therefore, you should know what to search for when shopping for one. That said, here are features to consider when searching for a knife set with a built-in sharpener:

🔪 Built-In Knife Sharpener

Unlike traditional knife sharpeners, built-in knife sharpeners do the sharpening on the go. Each time you grab a blade from your knife set and put it back, you’re doing the deed! That means you’re keeping their edge retention automatically. And you can find these built-in sharpeners in the storage block that most knife sets have. 

Genuine self-sharpening knife sets have storage blocks with ceramic knife sharpening edges. And you can find these inside each knife slot. So, whenever you place a blade back, it rubs against the in-built sharpeners within the block. Aside from that, the knife also gets honed whenever you retrieve them for usage. As a result, you’re sharpening your kitchen knives ever-so-slightly each use. 

But beware, these built-in sharpeners don’t remove steel to make sharper edges. Instead, these hone your blades, realigning the edge every time you grab or store them. So, even if these do great in edge retention, you still need to sharpen your knives for the best results. 

In that case, you might need to do your own honing besides the passive sharpening. Still, there’s no denying these built-in sharpeners reduce the need for manual sharpening! And this can be helpful if you don’t use your knives often — saving you from doing a time-consuming task.

🔪 Types of Knives

Besides the built-in sharpener, you must also check the set’s type of knives. After all, what good are blades if you can’t use them? That said, here are a few knife varieties often included in sets with built-in sharpeners:

• Chef’s knife. It has a massive and flat blade tapering to a point. Moreover, thanks to its design, the knife is flexible enough to use for any task in the kitchen. And whether mincing onions or peeling carrots, a chef’s knife has you covered.
• Santoku knife. It resembles a chef’s knife but with a broader, less tapered blade. Hence, it’s best for mincing and chopping tasks.
• Paring knife. It has a short and thin blade ideal for most peeling tasks and some chopping like for small veggies and fruits.
• Utility knife. A versatile blade with a short and narrower design. It can handle most kitchen tasks like a chef’s knife. 
• Bread knife. It has an extended and thick blade with a serrated edge. And as its name says, it’s best for sawing into bread and other pastries. But you may also use it to saw into larger fruits and vegetables. 

Aside from those, some sets with built-in sharpeners may also include steak knives. But not all have sharpening mechanisms for these extra blades.

🔪 Stamped vs. Forged Knives

Besides knowing the type of knives, it also pays to understand the difference between stamped and forged blades. Here’s a brief overview of both:

• A forged knife. You make its blade by exposing the steel to extremely high temperatures and molding it. Therefore, forged knives tend to be more durable and less susceptible to bending.
• A stamped knife. You press out an expansive sheet of steel like you’d do with a cookie cutter on the dough to shape the cookie. Knife sets with built-in sharpeners containing stamped blades have lower quality. Hence, they might not last as long as forged blades.

🔪 Number of Knives

After knowing what knives to watch out for in the set, see how many come with the package. Some knife sets with built-in sharpeners only have 4 to 6 pieces. And these often include staple kitchen blades such as the chef’s knife. It’s more versatile and can help you tackle different tasks. 

Meanwhile, a few have knives over 10 to 15 per set. These often include specialized kitchen blades that can do specific tasks. 

If it’s your first time purchasing a knife set with a built-in sharpener, go for as few as possible. It helps you grasp the different blades and their uses. Otherwise, get a set with as many knives as possible to get the most out of your money.

🔪 Knife Handle

When checking out the knives, don’t forget to inspect their handles. After all, these are responsible for ensuring a safe and seamless cutting experience. You can get a gist of its functionality and comfort by checking the handle’s material. For instance, wooden knife handles offer a secure grip and appealing designs. But even if they’re waterproof, these might cause slipping. 

Ideally, the knife handles should have an ergonomic design with a nonslip feature. This way, you’ll be able to grip your kitchen knives without issues — keeping you safe. 

🔪 Blade Steel Quality

Once you know what knives to look for and how many to get, check their blade quality. Although most manufacturers use some steel when making knives, they have varying grades and quality. Knowing these factors can help you see how long each knife will last and how well they perform. 

Generally, carbon steel guarantees the best value for your money, and manufacturers often make it a type of stainless steel. And not only does this guarantee durability, but it also makes the blades corrosion-resistant. With this, all your blades will look well-polished even with continual use.

🔪 Knife Weight

Finally, the knife’s weight is the last thing to check on a knife set with a built-in sharpener is their weight. Some blades are heavier than others and might be more complex to use. And this is especially the case for prolonged use! Meanwhile, other knives are light and are easier to maneuver. 

Still, there’s no wrong or the correct answer for this feature. 

🔪 Safety Lock on the Knives

If a knife set with a built-in sharpener has separate covers than resting in a block, it should have safety locks. With these, the blades can’t slip out from their sheaths. Aside from that, it guarantees safety for users too. 

🔪 Nonslip Feet on the Built-in Sharpener Block

If your knife set has a built-in sharpener in block form, ensure it has nonslip feet. This feature stops the item from sliding around your kitchen countertop whenever you remove or replace a knife.

🔪 Extra Features

Some knife sets with built-in sharpeners include extra features like a chopping board or kitchen shears. But as great as these extras can be, if you’re satisfied with the set, don’t let these sway you too much. Low-quality knife sets may sometimes have extras to tempt buyers.

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How to Sharpen a Knife?

As convenient as a knife set with a built-in sharpener is, it pays to know how to sharpen a blade yourself. After all, what happens when the sharpener breaks while you’re cutting? Don’t settle for dull blades, and keep your knives sharp and ready with the following techniques:

✔️ Whetstone Sharpener

A whetstone has two sides, one with a coarse and the other with fine grit. The former works as a pre-sharpener, grinding off a blade’s rough edges and burrs. Meanwhile, the latter completes the work by sharpening the dull knife.

1️⃣ Find and Choose an Angle to Sharpen Your Kitchen Knife

If you don’t know the best angle for the knife, check with its manufacturer. But if you were to make a rough estimate, I recommend picking an angle around 10° to 30° on each side. Going too shallow might give you a sharper edge, but it won’t last long. Meanwhile, a steeper angle around 15° to 20° offers more durability.

But if you’ve already sharpened a knife and used a specific angle, stick to that. 

2️⃣ Lubricate the Whetstone with Mineral Oil

Once you find the perfect knife angle, lubricate the whetstone with mineral oil. Doing this makes it more convenient for a knife’s blade to pass over the stone and prevent its steel shavings from clogging the whetstone’s pores.

Always double-check with the whetstone manufacturer guideline about lubrication. After all, you can’t use all whetstones wet. And some might get destroyed when oiled. 

3️⃣ Begin with the Rough Grit Side of the Whetstone 

Check your whetstone’s grit to see the rough and refined side. Generally, the coarser part is for grinding the steel blade down. Meanwhile, the smooth side is for sharpening or honing the knife. Of course, you should begin with the grinding process. Hence, you go for the rough side first. And remember, only apply light pressure!

4️⃣ Start Grinding the Knife till One Side Sharpens

Sharpen your knife by dragging its blade across the whetstone in the other direction you’d move it to cut a thin layer off. Doing this lets you form a burr and achieve a symmetrical edge, extending the whetstone’s life. I recommend continuing this motion until you’ve gotten halfway through the steel for the best results. Once you’re happy with the edge, turn your kitchen knife over and work on the other side. 

You can determine if you’ve scraped off enough metal to sharpen your knife until you’ve raised a burr. It’s often too tiny to see immediately, but you should be able to feel it scraping on your fingers if you stroke it. 

5️⃣ Flip Your Whetstone and Start Sharpening One One Side Your Blade with the Finer Grit Side

After pre-sharpening your knife with the rough side of the whetstone, it’s time to start with the finer grit. This part is where the actual sharpening starts. And to begin, flip your whetstone over and sharpen it on the side of your kitchen knife. The goal with the finer grit is to smooth over the imperfections, removing all burrs formed earlier. 

Once you finish with one side, flip your blade over and start sharpening on the other. Remember to hit both sides of your knife with the refined side of the whetstone.

I recommend doing alternate swipes on the whetstone’s fine grit for the best results. For instance, when you sharpen one side of your blade in one stroke, flip it, and do the same for the other side. And repeat these several times!

✔️ Honing Rod Sharpener

Using a honing rod between sharpening is an excellent way to stop your blade from degrading too fast. Contrary to what most people say, honing rods aren’t enough to sharpen dull blades. Instead, it’s best to use one in-between sharpening sessions. It delays the need to sharpen your knives with a whetstone, which is challenging work. Not to mention, it extends the blades’ lifespan. 

After all, sharpening with a whetstone too often shaves more metal from the blade’s edge. As a result, your knife’s lifespan shortens. So, the less you use this, the longer you can use your kitchen knives! 

So, remember, honing rods realign the metal in your blade, fixing minor nicks, indentations, and flat spots.

1️⃣ Grab and Grip the Rod With Your Non-Dominant Hand

Grab and grip your honing rod with your non-dominant hand. Be sure to hold it at a comfortable angle away from your torso. And ensure to elevate the rod tip above its handle at all times.

2️⃣ Grip your Kitchen Knife Using Your Dominant Hand

Get your kitchen knife and hold it with your dominant hand. Ensure four fingers grip the knife’s handle. Finally, have your thumb placed on the knife’s spine for maximum control.

3️⃣ Hold Your Knife at the Right Angle 

I recommend holding your knife at 20° for a honing rod for the best results. Unlike the whetstone, you don’t have to get the exact angle for a honing rod. Still, whatever angle you go for, be sure you can hold it throughout the honing process. If not, you won’t be able to smooth out the blade. 

4️⃣ Move the Knife Across the Honing Rod’s Upper Half Part

Maintaining approximately a 20° angle, move your knife across the honing rod’s upper half. Do this with the knife’s heel touching the honing rod. And be sure to end it with the blade’s tip connecting to the honing rod. I suggest moving your wrist for this step for the best results. 

5️⃣ Move Across the Honing Rod’s Lower Half Part

Maintaining the same angle earlier, move your knife across the honing rod’s lower half. Please do the same sweep of your wrist and move it across the bottom half of your rod. But for this, use the same pressure as the weight of your knife. 

I recommend repeating steps four and five 6 to 8 times before using your knives.

✔️ Electric Knife Sharpener

Although no electric knife sharpener is the same as the other, I’ve listed a general way of using them below. But be sure to always read your electric sharpener’s instruction manual before sharpening your knife. Doing this prevents you from damaging your blades and the sharpener itself.

1️⃣ Set the Electric Knife Sharpener on a Leveled or Flat Surface

Put your electric sharpener on a leveled and flat surface and plug it into an outlet.

2️⃣ Adjust the Electric Knife Sharpener’s Blade Selector 

Adjust the electric sharpener’s blade selector to your blade’s thickness. And these often come in thin, medium, or thick categories. 

3️⃣ Determine What Stage to Use to Sharpen the Knife

See what stage you must use for your kitchen knife. For instance, a dull blade must go through a coarse setting. Meanwhile, sharper knives only need some polishing. 

4️⃣ Start Sharpening the Knife 

Following your electric sharpener’s manual, put your kitchen knife in the right slot and pull the blade toward you. Repeat this on the blade’s alternate edge and until you feel burrs. After all, most electric sharpeners have two slots dedicated for the left and right sides of your knife. 

5️⃣ Hand Wash and Thoroughly Dry Your Knife

Turn your electric knife sharpener off and hand wash your knife with soapy water. And don’t forget to dry the blade thoroughly! If not, you’re risking making it rust. 

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Additional Tips for Keeping a Knife Set Sharp

Besides taking advantage of your built-in sharpeners, there are other ways to keep your knives sharp and ready. And here are a few tried-and-tested tips that can ensure edge retention long-term:

✨ Clean Your Knife Set By Hand

The worst sin you can do to your knife set with a built-in sharpener is chucking the blades into the dishwasher. As convenient as this might be, the excess heat, detergent, and surge of water can damage them! Be sure to hand wash your kitchen knives to maintain their sharp edge long-term. 

I recommend washing your knives by hand using a soap-lathered sponge or rag. Either way, always wipe the knife from its base to the blade’s tip. 

✨ Keep Your Knife Set Dry

Once you’ve washed your knives, dry them ASAP to prevent the onset of rust. Aside from rusting, you’ll also have to consider mold and bacterial growth. 

✨ Practice Proper Sharpening Technique Even with a Built In Sharpener

If you don’t follow the proper techniques when sharpening your knives, don’t count on edge retention even with your built-in sharpener. So, familiarize yourself with everything, from the right knife angles to the surfaces. 

✨ Always Cut on the Right Surfaces

The surface you pick for cutting impacts a knife’s condition. Generally, you’d want to avoid metal or hard surfaces like aluminum or stainless steel. Meanwhile, the best cutting boards are wood, plastic, and polyethylene. Aside from that, remember not to cut on glass or marble surfaces! After all, as easy as these are to clean up after, they dull your knives quicker.

✨ Avoid Cutting Certain Food Items

Never use a dedicated bread knife from your knife set unless you use the blade to cut bread. After all, the crunchy exterior can ruin the edge faster than usual. Aside from that, it’s best to avoid slicing through frozen foods as these can chip the blade. 

✨ Correctly Store Your Knives 

Never leave your knives alongside other kitchen utensils. Doing this can damage the blades and also put you in danger. So, always store your kitchen knives in an appropriate container.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does the best knife set with a built in sharpener do?

A: Knife sets with built-on sharpeners keep edge retention, having them sharp and ready. These usually have protective sheaths with built-in sharpeners, honing the blade each use. It sharpens every time you take the knife out and when you put it away. As a result, you get to maintain its edge with little effort. 

Q: How to use a built in knife set block sharpener?

A: Place a knife’s blade into the sharpener, beginning at the base. And using a little force, push it down, bring it toward you, and sharpen. Do this motion 2 to 6 times or until the blade’s edge improves. Meanwhile, if you’re dealing with a dull knife, you might need to do it over 6 to 8 times.

Q: How does a knife set with a built in sharpener work?

A: Knife sets with built-in sharpeners have ceramic honing wheels that automatically sharpen stored blades or when removed. So, you keep your knives sharp and ready whenever you grab and place them back. And the remaining slots are often dedicated to serrated blades, which need more care. Regardless, these built-in sharpeners make retaining your knives’ edge easy.

Q: Is getting a knife set with a built in sharpener worth it?

A: If you want to keep your knives sharp and functional for a long time, getting a self-sharpening knife set is worth it. These keep the blades’ edge retention, keeping them strong and ready to use. And all you must do is get and store the kitchen knife — it’s that easy!

Q: Does a built in pull-through knife sharpener work?

A: Most knife sets’ built-in sharpeners work via the pull-through mechanic because it’s simple, efficient, and fast. Thanks to this feature, you can keep your knives in optimal condition. The only issue is that you’ll have to get used to applying the same amount of force throughout the blade. If not, you might disfigure the edge. 

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Final Words

The best knife set with built in sharpener should be able to keep the blades’ edge retention easily. And even with continuous use, your kitchen knives should be as razor-sharp as the day you purchased them! Regardless, all the self-sharpening knife sets listed guarantee seamless sharpening and maintenance. So, whether you’re a pro or a home chef, you should be able to find one that can keep up with your unique cutting needs.