Well, technically the best homemade knife sharpener is probably a set of Shapton stones, plus a knife sharpening class and some diligence. But the best knife is the one that is sharp, and that is achieved if you have a knife sharpener that you can use. For me right now, that’s the Tormek T-1, which is the best removable knife sharpener I’ve ever tried. It has a cleverly designed jig to keep the knife at the correct angle against the diamond sharpening wheel and a self-wetting compound sharpening wheel (i.e. no lubrication needed).

This may seem daunting. And it will seem daunting for about five minutes, then it will feel pretty easy, especially on better knives that already have a good edge. The Tormek is not a substitute for an expert knife sharpener, who you could still hire (or convert) to for your most valuable blades. But lord, for your everyday and better than everyday knives, this is one sexy beast and according to BESS testing, this Tormek was able to achieve a better edge than new knives straight out of the box. Now, the T-1 isn’t perfect, especially in creating a smooth edge all the way to the tip and back of the knife, but it’s the best of its kind I’ve found, and it’s simple enough that you’ll probably use it.

That said! The sharpener should not be used as a first resort. If your cook doesn’t have a good sharpening rod, this is the best thing to use more consistently. Try this stylish ceramic honing rod from Zwilling ($75).