You may find it surprising that we're reviewing an electric knife sharpener. And in all honesty, we wouldn't use one for many of our high-end blades (we explain why below). But if you have mid-range knives, don't want to invest your time in learning how use a whetstone correctly (and who could blame you?), or are looking for the fastest, easiest way to put an edge on your knives, then a high quality electric sharpener is a good solution--and there are none better than the Trizor XV.
The Chef'sChoice Trizor XV is a favorite of several review sites, including America's Test Kitchen and The New York Times. But just how good is it? And is it the right choice for you?
We take a detailed look at the Chef'sChoice Trizor XV: how it works, who it's best for, and more. Plus, we look at some other electric knife sharpeners, including other Chef'sChoice models, to see how they compare (and show why we like the Trizor XV so much).
Chef'sChoice Trizor XV at a Glance
All the models listed here will provide the same sharpening. So if you want to save some money, go with the black finish rather than the gray.
Chef'sChoice Trizor XV Specifications | |
|---|---|
Housing/Finish: | Black finish (see it on Amazon, about $140) Gray finish (see it on Amazon, about $180) Metallic finish (see it on Amazon, about $155) |
Number of stages: | 3; sharpen, hone, polish |
Sharpening Angle: | 15 degrees |
Type of Abrasive: | 100% diamond (synthetic) |
Type of Grinder: | Small internal wheels (not a belt) |
Guides: | Spring-loaded guides to keep blade positioned |
Types of Knives: | Smooth, serrated, double bevel, single bevel (does not do scissors) |
Approximate Time to Sharpen: | About 1 minute for standard dullness; up to 5 minutes for damaged blades |
Size/Weight: | 10"x4.25"x4.25"; 4.4 lbs 12"x6.25"x6"; 5 lbs (metallic model) |
Power/Energy Usage: | 120V standard US outlet; 125 watts |
Operating Decibels: | 65-75 dB |
Country of Origin: | Made in USA with globally sourced materials |
Warranty: | 3 year manufacturer limited. |
About Chef'sChoice
Chef'sChoice is a subdivision of the EdgeCraft corporation. It is headquartered in Avondale, Pennsylvania. Chef'sChoice makes the largest selection of knife sharpeners--both manual and electric--in the world. They sell products in more than 80 countries. Products are manufactured in Pennsylvania from globally sourced materials.
In addition to knife sharpeners, Chef'sChoice makes small kitchen appliances like the SmartKettle, waffle makers, egg cookers, and food slicers for both the home and industrial market.
EdgeCraft also owns Excalibur, known for their food dehydrators; Omega, known for their heavy duty juicers; WestBend, maker of several small home appliances; and a few other subdivisions.
What is the "Trizor" Edge?
From the Chef'sChoice Trizor XV manual:
The Trizor® edge, an innovation from Chef’sChoice® has long been acknowledged for its superior sharpness and durability. Its uniqueness is the result of the triple bevel design of each of the two edge facets that meet to form the edge.The Trizor® design uses multiple diamond abrasives of successively finer grits to shape the facets into a modified gothic arch to create an edge that has added strength, durability, and sharpness.
Thus, the Trizor is Chef'sChoice patented grinding technology that creates a rounded edge that's more durable than standard V-shaped edges.
Not all Chef'sChoice sharpeners have the Trizor technology, so be sure to look for it when buying a knife sharpener.
Types of Knife Sharpeners
You have a surprising number of technologies to choose from when you're searching for a knife sharpener. All of them work, but they have a wide variety of learning curves and will result in different levels of sharpness.
These are the different types of knife sharpeners:
In general, whetstones and guided rod systems produce sharper knives than any other method, but it can take up to 15 minutes to do one blade (in addition to set-up time for the guided rod system). These are systems for connoisseurs who have high-end knives and want the best edge possible.
Pull-through and electric sharpeners, then, are for people who are willing to trade extreme sharpness for "sharp enough," don't want to invest the time or money in using a whetstone or guided rod system, and don't mind having the same angle on all their knives (we talk more about angles below).
For more information on other knife sharpening technology, see our article A Beginner's Guide to Kitchen Knife Sharpeners.
Who Needs an Electric Knife Sharpener?
As we said, electric sharpeners are best for people who want an easy, quick, and convenient way to sharpen their knives and are content with acceptably sharp blades over razor sharp blades (and for most cooks, acceptably sharp blades are good enough because the measure is that they can cut through a tomato with ease).
Electric sharpeners can also be an extra technology in addition to a whetstone or guided rod system. For example, you may use a whetstone once or twice a year or for your high-end blades, but for those times a blade needs a quick touch-up--more than a honing rod, less than a full-on grind on a whetstone--or when you don't have time to get your stone or guided rod system out, an electric sharpener is an excellent tool.