Best electric knife sharpeners

Top pick: Chef'sChoice 15XV EdgeSelect — the one to buy if you want a genuinely sharp, long-lasting edge without learning to sharpen by hand. Diamond abrasives, three stages and a 15° angle that suits most Western and Japanese-style kitchen knives; it's the model reviewers rate highest of the serious machines here.

Who the others suit:

• Presto EverSharp (2-stage) — the simple, cheap way to keep everyday knives usable; nothing to think about.
• Presto Professional 3-stage — a step up from the basic Presto, still very easy.
• Work Sharp Culinary E2 — compact and tidy for small kitchens.
• Chef'sChoice 1520 Angle Select — if you own both 15° and 20° knives and want one machine for all of them.
• Chef'sChoice D202 — a budget two-stage for occasional use.

Skip the no-name budget units if your knives are decent: coarse wheels can chew up a good blade.