Presto 08800 Eversharp Electric Knife Sharpener: Honest Review

The Presto 08800 Eversharp is one of the most purchased electric knife sharpeners on Amazon, typically under $30, with an accessible design that positions it as a consumer-friendly home sharpening solution. This review covers what it actually does, where its limitations are, and who it's right for.

What the Presto 08800 Is

The Presto Eversharp is a two-stage electric sharpener:

Stage 1 (Sharpening): Rotating sapphirite sharpening wheels at a fixed 20-degree angle. The wheels spin when the knife is inserted, removing metal to establish a new edge.

Stage 2 (Polishing/Honing): A stropping stage with fine ceramic-impregnated wheels that smooth the edge after sharpening.

The motor engages automatically when a knife is inserted. The design is deliberately simple, no settings to adjust, no techniques to develop. Pull the knife through stage 1, pull through stage 2, done.

Price: $25-35 depending on current promotions, among the lowest prices for a two-stage electric sharpener.

Performance Assessment

What it does well:

The Presto 08800 restores a functional sharp edge to German-style kitchen knives quickly. If your Wusthof, ZWILLING, or Henckels chef's knife has become noticeably dull, five passes through Stage 1 followed by three passes through Stage 2 will restore adequate sharpness for everyday cooking tasks.

For the price, this represents real value. A knife that's becoming unsafe to use (requiring excess force) can be restored in two minutes.

What it does less well:

The 20-degree fixed angle is set for European/German knives. Using it on Japanese knives (designed for 15-degree edges) resharpens them at the wrong angle, gradually converting them from Japanese geometry to European geometry and degrading their performance.

The sapphirite wheels produce a functional but not refined edge. Professional whetstones or three-stage diamond systems (like Chef'sChoice) produce noticeably sharper, more refined edges.

Edge consistency varies more than with spring-guided systems. The angle depends on how you hold the knife during the pull; there's no spring mechanism ensuring consistent angle.

Presto 08800 vs. Chef'sChoice Electric Sharpeners

The primary comparison is against Chef'sChoice models ($80-200):

The diamond abrasives in Chef'sChoice models cut more precisely and produce more refined edges. Spring guidance eliminates user error in angle maintenance. The three-stage progression includes a final stropping stage that the Presto lacks.

These differences are real and meaningful. A Chef'sChoice-sharpened blade outperforms a Presto-sharpened blade.

The question is whether the improvement justifies 3-8x higher price.

For a broader look at sharpening options in the context of a complete kitchen setup, the Best Knife Set roundup covers sharpening recommendations alongside blade quality.

Who the Presto 08800 Is Right For

Budget-conscious home cooks: If $30 is your sharpening budget and you have German-style knives, the Presto gets the job done adequately.

Low-intensity knife use: Households that cook 3-5 times per week with basic knife work. The Presto maintains adequate performance for this use pattern.

Cooks who have never sharpened their knives: Better a $30 sharpener that gets used than a $200 sharpener that sits unused. If the Presto removes the friction from knife maintenance, it provides value even if the edge quality is less refined.

As a secondary backup sharpener: Even if you have a Chef'sChoice, the Presto's small size and low cost make it useful in a secondary kitchen or as an emergency solution.

When to Step Up

If any of these apply, the investment in a Chef'sChoice or quality whetstone is worth it:

• You have Japanese knives (the 15° angle requirement disqualifies the Presto)
• You've developed an appreciation for sharp knives and want the best possible edge
• You sharpen frequently and want consistent results without technique variables
• You cook daily or semi-professionally

Common Complaints and Reality Checks

"It removes too much metal": True, users often over-sharpen. The sharpener works fine with 3-5 passes per side; running the knife through 20+ times removes excess metal. Follow the instructions.

"My knife got worse after using it": Usually the result of incorrect technique (angling the knife instead of drawing straight) or using it on Japanese knives at the wrong angle. Use at correct 90-degree entry.

"The wheels wore out fast": Sapphirite sharpening wheels are consumable. Heavy use over many years will wear them. Replacement wheels are available from Presto.

"It doesn't work on serrated knives": Correct, no standard electric sharpener sharpens serrated blades. This requires specialized serration tools or a sharpening service.

The Best Rated Knife Sets guide covers sharpening options in detail.

FAQ

Is the Presto 08800 Eversharp good? For its price, yes. It provides adequate functional sharpening for German-style kitchen knives at budget pricing. It's not professional quality, but it's genuinely better than not sharpening at all.

Can you sharpen a Wusthof with the Presto Eversharp? Yes. German-style knives at 20-degree edge angles are what this sharpener is designed for. Wusthof, ZWILLING, Henckels, and similar German-profile knives are appropriate use cases.

Does the Presto 08800 work on Japanese knives? Not ideally. The 20-degree angle will work on Japanese blades but gradually converts them away from their 15-degree factory geometry. Use a sharpener designed for 15° angles (Chef'sChoice 4643 or XV) for Japanese knives.

How many passes through the Presto sharpener? 3-5 passes per side in Stage 1 for maintenance sharpening. 8-10 passes for a genuinely dull knife. Follow with 2-3 passes in Stage 2. Don't over-sharpen.

How long does the Presto Eversharp last? Many years with normal home use. The sapphirite wheels wear slowly; heavy commercial use would wear them faster.

The Bottom Line

The Presto 08800 Eversharp is a functional, budget-friendly electric knife sharpener that adequately maintains German-style kitchen knives at a price almost anyone can justify. It won't produce the refined edge quality of Chef'sChoice diamond systems, and it's wrong for Japanese knives, but it solves the "knives are getting dull and I'm not doing anything about it" problem at minimum cost. For the right use case, German knives, budget constraints, convenience priority, the Presto 08800 earns its popular rating.