The Presto Pro EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpeners is a good product for its low price point. While we found the Chef’s Choice series of electric knife sharpeners do a consistently better job than the Presto (much better, in the case of the high-end models), the better Chef’s Choice models are often $100 more expensive than the Presto sharpener. For that reason, we call the Presto EverSharp the best “discount” electric knife sharpener on the market.
Would I use the Presto EverSharp on my Masamoto Chef’s Knife? No. But is it great for routine use on moderately priced blades? Absolutely. Many would be well served by using the Presto EverSharp on their table knives and the like while saving their very best few blades for the professionals.
Like many electric knife sharpeners, the Presto Pro EverSharp utilizes a two-stage sharpening system. Stage 1 uses sapphirite grinding wheels to shape the cutting edge while stage 2 hones the edge to reduce cutting drag. Although I could not measure the angle of attach of the sharpening surface, they seemed blunter than the Chef’s Choice models and certainly more than the fifteen degrees of Asian knives. Note that single-sided serrated blades can be sharpened, but not double edge serrations.
Another important factor to consider is that the Presto seems to remove more metal from the blade than some of the other manual and electric knife sharpeners we have reviewed. There was no way to verify this, it is just an educated opinion. Also keep in mind that this is not necessarily a bad thing, unless you sharpen your blades very, very frequently.
Using the Presto Pro EverSharp is a breeze. Simply insert the blade in the left hand slot of stage 1 and pull it toward you at a steady rate. One or maybe two pulls should be enough. Then insert the blade into the right slot and pull at the same rate to achieve a proper bevel. Then repeat this process with the finishing stage 2. Afterward your knife will be razor-sharp.
The Presto Pro EverSharp electric knife sharpener retails at $40, but you can probably find it for less online. This represents one of the least expensive electric knife sharpeners on the market today. In fact, you’ll find many manual knife sharpeners sell for more than the Presto EverSharp. For what it does, it is a steal at this price. Just be sure you are fully aware of its limitations in comparison with the more expensive models.
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