Top 10 Serrated Knife Sharpeners

Serrated knives with plain blade knives have no purpose. But, just because the blades are dull, it doesn’t mean, you have to get a new one. Keep the best serrated knife sharpeners handy at home. Before we list the best ones, here is a short introduction.

What Are Serrated Knives?

Serrated knives are used for paring, peeling and slicing. Its appearance and multi- purpose are the two factors that set it apart from the other knives. The jagged edge on serrated knives is designed for cutting through textured or fibrous materials like ropes, fabrics, vegetables, bread, meat, and fruits. Technically, it works like a saw that cuts through the material in back and forth motion. The pointed sharp teeth provide a better advantage for cutting.

Like most knives, even serrated knives can dull out with time, and its blunt edge creates unpleasant fraying at the cut area. Sharpening a serrated knife is not that easy. It doesn’t follow the general process of sharpening like other plain blade tools do, as it can create damage or cause misalignment of the serration. Aggressive sharpeners can remove the metal completely.

Most common examples of serrated knives are bread and butter knives, steak, rigging, some pocket, kitchen, and table knives. Sharpening a serrated knife requires specialized equipment that could cater its delicate need. It also needs special skill and extreme caution.

10 Best Serrated Knife Sharpeners

Many manufacturers have developed special serrated knife sharpener that not could polish and revitalize the sharpness of the knife’s fine edges but also where even a novice can perfect.

1. Chef’sChoice® Diamond Hone® EdgeSelect® Knife Sharpener Model 120 ($$$$+)

The EdgeSelect feature of this sharpener is designed in polishing edges of gourmet, sporting and butcher knife, as well as serrated 20 degrees knives. This professional sharpener has three stages of sharpening using 100% diamond abrasives.

To sharpen the serrated knife, simply turn the power button on and swipe the knife’s edge on the Stage 3 slot located in the farther right. Give 5 to 10 alternating pulls on the slot to develop the micro blades along the fine edge of the teeth. For the severely damaged knife, make one fast pull (approximately 2-3 seconds for an 8-inch knife) in the left and right slots of Stage 2 before proceeding to swipe on Stage 3. It should be noted however that excessive use of Stage 2 could damage the knife. It can only be used in extremely damaged serrated cutlery.

Stage 1 has fine diamond coated disk that would create the micro grooves for angle bevel. In its stage 2, the more fine diamond defines the second bevel to produce the cut for a sharp edge. The abrasive polish disk and strop in Stage 3 defines the boundary of this micro grooves for a better finish and is designed to combat the wear and tear of the metal no matter how frequent the sharpening could be. But to protect the metals in the serration, only the Stage 3 slot is used for sharpening serrated knives.

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2. DMT FSKF Diafold Serrated Knife Sharpener. ($$)

DMT has infused micronized monocrystalline diamond on the diamond surface, which helps in maintaining the serrated edges of knives. It is highly superior in producing razor sharp edge. The recessed holes on the surface of the sharpener collect the swarf or metal filings to prevent it from loading back into the polished space. Therefore, it can be used even without water for flushing swarf.

Upon the first touch of the edge, it will normally feel rough, as the diamonds are working to even out the bluntness by filing a few metals to even out the edge. Continue doing light strokes on both sides of the blade, about 5 to 6 strokes until the desired sharpness is achieved. This sharpener works faster and allows the owner to properly control the sharpness than most traditional stone sharpeners making it more efficient serrated knife sharpening tool.

The sharpener is conventional and can be used even for small edges, curved and straight and not just for serrated edges alone. Using this kind of sharpener can guarantee quality and subtle care for serrated knives.

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3. Lansky Controlled Angle Sharpening Kit ($$$)

The Lansky kit is one of the best serrated knife sharpeners in the market. Manual hand-sharpening can be tedious and requires appropriate skills to ensure proper maintenance of the jagged edge. Like most sharpeners, it also has stages of sharpening to ensure an excellent result. This combination of medium sharpeners and fine hones are used to set the edges and polish the blades properly.

While sharpening, install the kit first, apply the medium hone at an angle with the gullets, or the depressed portion of the serration about 13-17 degrees of an angle. Choose the diameter that is a bit smaller than the gullet to avoid misshaping it. Gently push in one direction away from the edge. Repeat the process using the fine hone. When working with very fine serrations rock the tool back and forth but do not rotate.

The guide rod helps maintain the exact angle of the bevel. The kit is complete with knife lamp, four stages of sharpening hone, guiding rod and oil. The medium and fine hones are the appropriate sharpening grits for a serrated knife.

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4. Priority Chef Knife Sharpener for Straight and Serrated Knives, 2 Stage Diamond Coated Sharpening Wheel System. ($$)

This high quality knife-sharpening tool is essential in restoring the sharpness and quality of the knives. It helps to preserve its lifespan and prevents you from purchasing new knives over and over again.

Designed with two-wheel sharpening system, it enables quality result for the damaged tool. In its Stage 1, the diamond coated sharpening wheel makes coarse sharpening and sets the edge, removing the damaged metals that are the culprit in creating the dull edges.

Place the knife in the slot and make sure that it comes in contact with the ceramic honing. Swipe only for about 3-5 pulls without applying much downward force only until the desired sharpness is acquired. Priority Chef Sharpener comes with an ergonomic handle and non-slip bottom for safety and optimal control.

The ceramic sharpening wheel on Stage 2 creates a finer sharpening. Again, serrated knives are very delicate, and any aggressive or coarse grinding can damage the material that is why it should only be swiped in the ceramic honing slot of Stage 2 as it is designed to be.

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5. Okami Knives Knife Sharpener for Straight, Serrated Blades and Tools, Patented All in One Global Sharpening System ($$)

A sharpener that can work on all types of metals and the combined qualities for producing industrial quality finish is every knife enthusiasts’ goal. Patented in Thailand and tested with various blacksmith’s, chef’s and hunter’s knives the Okami set has promising sharpening result in both straight and serrated blades.

While sharpening the edges of serrated knives, it is necessary to ensure that the rod applied is of smaller diameter than the depression of the gullet to avoid deforming the shape.

This multi purpose knife sharpener was innovatively designed with adjusting tungsten carbide that can adapt to the blade where it will be used. It works on a variety of knives like kitchen, outdoor, garden, hunting, beauty, plain knives, serrated and micro serrated.

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6. Smith’s PPI Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener ($)

Another innovative and multi-purpose sharpener for great value is the Smith’s. It has reversible and replaceable cross carbide blades, and ceramic stones and tapered diamond coated rod that gives excellent knife sharpening service. The carbide blades are used for straight edge knives and are responsible for setting the edge of dull and damaged blades.

To use the tapered rod for serrated knife sharpening, hold the rod at 23-degree angle to the blade then move it back and forth until the desired sharpness is achieved. This product is designed for ease, portability, and convenience. It can be attached to a keychain for sharpening tool on the go. To clean, just wipe with a dry or damp cloth, do not rinse with water.

It’s ceramic stones work by toning and polishing edge to create the quality finish. The tapered round diamond-coated rod is the best abrasive and is used in honing any plain and serrated edges for razor sharp blades.

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7. Chef’s Choice Model 430

This breakthrough and innovative manual sharpener of Chef’s choice is specially designed for sharpening serrated knives and can be used with ease by left-handed or right-handed persons. It has optimal diamond abrasives that create extremely sharp edges, and very fine diamond grits that help extend the life of the cutlery.

While sharpening serrated knives, even if specific sharpening tools are being used, it is necessary to avoid applying downward pressure and over sharpening as it could damage the fine serrations and eventually makes the knife more like a fine edge blade. This model can also be used in sharpening electric knives, those with two reciprocating blades.

Sharpening electric knife blades are similar. Just ensure that the knife is disconnected from the power source but is installed in the same manner in the drive unit. Simply insert the knife into the slot and move it back and forth into the desired sharpness.

Sharpen the knife by leaning the blade in the red conical guide and make sure that it encounters the rollers. Apply little to no downward force while moving the knife back and forth into the slot until the knife is sharp. The number of strokes depends upon the size of knife and type of serrations. Hence, better judgment is needed so that you don’t end up over sharpening it.

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8. Presto 08810

Presto has designed the 08810 model with adjustable angle to achieve the precise angle of the bevel. It has three sharpening stages of sharpening ranging from coarse, fine and very fine which works best for the kitchen, hunting, fillet and serrated knife on Stage 3.

The unit is fast and efficient. It does not produce noise like most electric sharpeners. Serrated knives are sharpened on the honing slot however it is not advisable for electric knives or those with double serrations. Make only around two to three pulls of the knife on Stage 3 using minimal force. For very dull knives, it can be swiped on Stage 2 before proceeding to Stage 3.

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9. Brod and Taylor Professional Knife Sharpener ($$$+)

This versatile tool can be counted as the best serrated knife sharpener that can also be used in single beveled Asian knives. It is equipped with extra hard tungsten carbide that is mounted on spring action bars to provide proper adjustment of the angle.To sharpen a serrated knife, place it horizontally through the central “V” and angle it at 45°, only the scallops in contact with the carbide.

Most serrations are located on the right side, in which case the handle of the knife should be twisted a little to the right so that the tip of the blade moves to the left. Pull the knife smoothly through the “V” to finish.

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10. AccuSharp 001 Knife Sharpener ($)

A diamond-honed tungsten carbide sharpener allows the user a straightforward and convenient sharpening experience for the same sharp result. It can be used for all types of razor blades, including serrated knives.

It is a pull-through type of sharpener that could be run along the edge of the knives for the instant result without the mess of oil or water in conventional sharpeners or the anxiousness in using electric ones that by far is the most aggressive and can deform the face of a serrated knife.

Pull-through sharpeners like this are convenient, easy and safe to use even for beginners. The diamond components can be aggressive in metal removal but could work fine on the finely scalloped edges.

To use, run the notch of the sharpener on top of the dull knife at least thrice. Serrated knives tend to stay sharp longer than most blades so it may not be necessary to frequently sharpen them as the filed metal could deform and damage the knife.

As a rule, serrated knives are sharpened when it becomes less effective in cutting and began to cause fraying, or crush some soft foods like bread. Maintenance and care do not necessarily mean swiping the blade on sharpeners time to time. Use sharpening tools that are designed to accommodate the serrations and not to file the edges to perfection.

In manual sharpening, only the bevel edge runs with the tool. Any sharp and plain edge is made to run normally on sharpening stones. Restoring serrated knives can be daunting, but it can also go a long way even without maintenance, just proper and diligent care in using.

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