Presto 08810 Professional Electric Knife Sharpener Review

The Presto 08810 is a two-stage electric knife sharpener that gets your kitchen knives sharp enough for everyday cooking in about 60 seconds. It's genuinely good at what it does, handles most Western-style knives well, and costs less than $40. If you want a no-fuss electric sharpener that doesn't require any technique or skill to use, this is a reasonable choice.

That said, it has real limitations. The 08810 removes metal aggressively, which shortens knife lifespan over years of use. It also can't handle Japanese knives with asymmetric grinds and works poorly on knives with bolsters. I'll walk through everything below so you can decide if it fits your situation.

What the 08810 Actually Does

The Presto 08810 has two sharpening stages:

• Stage 1 (Sharpening): A sapphirite sharpening wheel that resets a dull edge. This is the aggressive stage and removes the most metal.
• Stage 2 (Honing/Stropping): A ceramic wheel that refines and polishes the edge after the first stage.

Most electric sharpeners at this price point use abrasive wheels in both slots. The ceramic second stage on the 08810 gives it a slight advantage over pure abrasive models for final edge quality.

Using It Correctly

Pull the knife through Stage 1 two to three times using light pressure, letting the wheels do the work. Then move to Stage 2 and pull through two to three more times. Total time is about 60 seconds.

The most common mistake is pressing down too hard. The 08810's wheels are positioned at a fixed 20-degree angle, so the geometry handles itself. Hard pressing just removes more metal without improving the edge.

The spring-loaded guides keep the blade at the correct angle automatically. You don't need to think about angle at all, which is the whole point of an electric pull-through sharpener versus a whetstone.

What Knives Work Well With It

The 08810 sharpens Western-style kitchen knives effectively. This includes most German knives (Wusthof, Henckels), American knives (Victorinox, Dexter-Russell), and the majority of inexpensive Chinese-made chef's knives.

The 20-degree angle works for knives that were ground at 20-22 degrees from the factory, which covers the vast majority of Western knives on the market.

What Not to Sharpen With It

Avoid using the 08810 on:

• Japanese knives ground at 15 degrees or less (Shun, Global, MAC)
• Single-bevel knives (deba, yanagiba)
• Knives with thick bolsters that prevent full blade contact
• Serrated knives
• Ceramic blades

Using the wrong angle on a Japanese knife doesn't just produce a poor result. Over time, it changes the blade geometry entirely. Japanese knives are best sharpened on whetstones that match their original grind angle.

If you own a mix of Japanese and Western knives and want one sharpener for all of them, consider the Chef'sChoice Trizor XV instead. It's more expensive but handles both styles and converts Japanese knives to a 15-degree edge.

Edge Quality and Longevity

The edges the 08810 produces are serviceable for home cooking. You'll be able to slice tomatoes without sawing, dice onions cleanly, and break down chicken without the knife sliding off the bone. The edge isn't as refined as what a whetstone produces, but it's functional.

What concerns me more is long-term metal removal. Every time you use Stage 1, material comes off the blade. With moderate use (once every few weeks), a typical chef's knife can sustain this for many years before showing significant wear. If you're running knives through weekly, you're shortening their usable lifespan meaningfully.

A better practice is using Stage 2 alone for touch-ups between full sharpenings, and only engaging Stage 1 when the knife is genuinely dull. A honing steel accomplishes the same touch-up purpose and removes no metal at all, so combining a honing steel with occasional use of the 08810 gives you the best of both worlds.

For our full take on which knives pair best with sharpeners like this, see Best Kitchen Knives.

Build Quality and Design

The 08810 is a compact unit, roughly 9 inches long and about 4 inches wide. It takes up less counter space than most electric sharpeners. The rubberized feet prevent sliding during use, which matters when you're pulling a knife through with any force.

Build quality is basic but functional. The housing is plastic. The cord is adequate length at around 4 feet. Nothing about the build screams premium, but for under $40, it's appropriate.

One practical note: the sharpening wheels are replaceable, though Presto's replacement parts can be hard to find. If you're buying this as a long-term kitchen tool, verify that replacement wheels are still available from Presto before committing.

Presto 08810 vs. Competing Sharpeners

The 08810 wins on price. It loses on edge refinement, versatility, and long-term care compared to higher-end units. For a home cook with basic Western knives who doesn't want to spend much, it does the job.

FAQ

Does the Presto 08810 work on serrated knives? No. The pull-through design doesn't reach the individual serrations. Serrated knives need a tapered rod sharpener or the specific Presto serrated attachment model.

How often should I use the Presto 08810? Use Stage 2 (ceramic) for light maintenance every few weeks. Only use Stage 1 (sapphirite) when the knife is genuinely dull and Stage 2 alone won't restore the edge. Overusing Stage 1 removes more metal than necessary.

Will the 08810 work on Wusthof knives? Yes. Wusthof's Classic, Grand Prix, and Gourmet lines are all ground at approximately 14-20 degrees, which is compatible with the 08810's 20-degree guides. Note that Wusthof also makes their own sharpeners that are optimized specifically for their blades.

Is the Presto 08810 better than a pull-through manual sharpener? For ease of use, electric wins. Manual pull-throughs require the same angle maintenance but depend more on consistent pressure from the user. The 08810's motor ensures more consistent contact, which typically produces a better edge with less variation.

Final Thoughts

The Presto 08810 is exactly what it appears to be: an inexpensive, effective electric sharpener for Western kitchen knives. It sharpens quickly, requires no skill, and keeps everyday cooking knives in usable condition. The trade-off is higher metal removal than premium alternatives and inability to handle Japanese knives.

Buy it if you have a basic set of Western knives and want a fast, easy sharpening solution under $40. If you own Japanese knives or want to minimize long-term blade wear, step up to the Chef'sChoice Trizor XV or a good whetstone setup.