Amazon's Affordable Solution To Sharpen Kitchen Knives: 'You'd Be Hard Pressed To Find Anything Better'

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Spending more money can definitely get you a good-quality kitchen knife. Sooner or later, however, it'll lose its cutting edge. A dull knife not only makes cutting things difficult, but it can also become a safety risk. Of course, you can take it to a professional sharpener. However, it can be pretty expensive — especially if you have a collection of these cutting utensils. That's exactly where products like the Aierlian Rolling Knife Sharpener come in handy.

At $39.99 on Amazon, you just hold the knife against the sharpener's magnetic support and roll it back and forth along the blade. This keeps the blade steady and takes some of the guesswork out of maintaining a consistent sharpening angle. The package also includes a leather strop. As for size, the sharpener measures 5 ½ inches long, 4 ½ inches wide, and 2 ¾ inches high, so you can easily store it in a kitchen cabinet or drawer.

Buyers seem to like the Aierlian Rolling Knife sharpener. Many Amazon reviewers have noted that it's easy to use, works well, and feels fancy. In fact, one reviewer even wrote that the sharpener is "basically perfect" and "you'd be hard pressed to find anything better." However, there are a few negative reviews, though, as well. For instance, some buyers noted that the sharpener stops working after some time, whereas a few others noted that it's expensive.

To perfectly sharpen dull kitchen knives with the Aierlian Rolling Knife Sharpener, first figure out which side of the magnetic guide to use. The sharpener gives you two options: 15- and 20-degree angles. Use the 15-degree side for fine cutting, whereas keep the 20-degree side reserved for general kitchen use. However, don't automatically choose the 15-degree side simply because it creates a finer edge. Instead, check the existing bevel and match it. If you sharpen a kitchen knife with a 20-degree bevel using the 15-degree sharpener side, you'll end up removing more metal than necessary, and it will take a lot of time. That said, you can still change the bevel angle if you do not like how it cuts.

Once you have the angle sorted out, start sharpening with the #400 diamond disc. It is the more aggressive side of the Aierlian roller, and it will help you sharpen quickly. Once you're done, switch to the #3000 ceramic disc. Its job is to refine and smooth the edge created by the diamond abrasive. Also, don't use too much pressure. It could remove more material than necessary. Use light pressure and stop every few passes to inspect the edge rather than mindlessly rolling back and forth.

Then, once you are done sharpening the knife with the Aierlian Rolling Knife Sharpener, use the leather strop included in the kit. It will remove burr from the knife's surface and polish and refine its edge. Lastly, the product can't be used to sharpen a serrated knife. And remember, not every dull kitchen knife is worth sharpening, so make sure you also know when it is time to replace your kitchen knives.