The myth goes like this: a cheap electric sharpener does the same job as an expensive one, it just takes a few more passes. The Presto EverSharp electric knife sharpener is the machine that myth gets pinned to most often. It sells for under $50 and looks like the big units.
The myth is wrong, and the reasons it is wrong tell you exactly who should buy this thing.
The Presto 08800 is a two stage grinder with Sapphirite wheels and fixed blade guides. It will put a working edge on a dull, cheap kitchen knife in under a minute. It will also scratch the blade face, take off more steel than a diamond unit, and leave a burr that the honing stage does not fully clean up.
So the honest verdict is narrow. Buy it for a drawer of budget knives you do not care about cosmetically. Skip it for anything you paid real money for, and skip it entirely if you want a polished edge.
What the Presto EverSharp electric knife sharpener actually is
Presto lists the 08800 as a two stage system. Stage one is described as precision grinding that creates the angled edge. Stage two is fine honing that polishes it.
The abrasive is a wheel material Presto calls Sapphirite, which it describes as the same ultra hard material used in professional sharpening shops. That is marketing language for a hard ceramic wheel, not diamond. The distinction matters because a ceramic wheel cuts fast and coarse, and it shows on the blade.
The guides are fixed. Presto does not publish the angle on the product page, but independent measurements land around 15 degrees per side.
The same measurements found the two sides uneven, roughly 13 degrees on one and 15 on the other. That is the first real knock against it.
Runs on 120V AC with a one year limited warranty. Presto says it handles most kitchen and sporting knives. It says nothing about serrated or ceramic blades, so treat both as off limits.
What matters in a budget electric
Four things separate a good cheap electric from a bad one. Abrasive type decides how much steel comes off per pass and how rough the scratch pattern is. Guide consistency decides whether the two sides of the edge match.
Motor torque decides whether the wheel stalls when you lean on it. A finishing stage decides whether you get a burr or a clean edge.
The Presto is coarse on abrasive, average on guides, weak on torque, and thin on finishing. That is a fair summary of why it costs what it costs. The full comparison of electric sharpeners for home kitchens ranks every unit on the same four points.
Presto vs the Chef’sChoice alternatives
| Model | Type | Best for | Price band | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presto 08800 EverSharp | Electric, 2 stage, Sapphirite wheels | Cheap knives, fast fix | Under $50 | |
| Chef’sChoice 320 | Electric, 2 stage, diamond abrasives | Step up, serrated capable | $$ | Price |
| Chef’sChoice Trizor XV | Electric, 3 stage, diamond, 15 degree | Good knives, polished edge | $$$ | Price |
Presto 08800 EverSharp
Best Budget
Two stage electric | Sapphirite wheels | fixed guides | under $50
This is the cheapest electric that reliably works. Owner reviews are mostly positive, and the praise is consistent: easy, fast, and it makes a dull knife cut again. For a set of stamped supermarket knives that is the whole job.
The complaints are just as consistent. Owners report grinding marks on the blade face, more steel loss than expected from stage one, and a motor that stops under light pressure. One recurring note is the cord exiting close to the blade path, which you learn to work around.
Who should skip it: owners of forged German or Japanese knives, serrated bread knives, or anyone wanting a mirror edge. The honing stage leaves burr behind. A few strokes on a ceramic rod fixes that, but plan on it.
Pros
- Under $50, often cheaper on sale
- Fast on very dull cheap knives
- Nothing to learn, guides do the angle
Cons
- Coarse wheels leave scratches and remove steel fast
- Motor stalls under light pressure
- Measured angle uneven side to side
- No serrated capability, no angle choice
Chef’sChoice 320
Step Up
Two stage electric | 100 percent diamond abrasives | 20 degree guides | made in USA
The 320 is the direct answer to the Presto’s weak points. Same two stage layout, but the abrasive is diamond. Diamond cuts cleaner and takes less steel to get there.
The manufacturer lists it for both straight and serrated knives at a 20 degree edge.
The recurring complaint is that it is still a 20 degree machine with no polish stage. Owners with thin Japanese knives report it fattens the edge. For a block of Western knives plus a bread knife, it is the sensible middle.
Pros
- Diamond abrasives, cleaner scratch pattern
- Handles serrated blades
- Well established model, parts and support easy to find
Cons
- Fixed 20 degree, wrong for thin Asian knives
- Roughly double the Presto price
Chef’sChoice Trizor XV EdgeSelect 15
Upgrade Pick
Three stage electric | diamond abrasives | 15 degree conversion | premium price
The Trizor XV is what people mean when they say an electric can produce a genuinely good edge. Three stages, diamond throughout, and a stropping disk that removes the burr the Presto leaves behind.
It also converts 20 degree factory edges to 15 degrees. Owners repeatedly report knives cutting better than new.
Skip it if you own three cheap knives. The price is hard to justify for that, and the Presto covers it.
Our piece on what a third stage actually adds explains why the strop is the difference you feel. The Chef’sChoice model breakdown sorts the whole range.
Pros
- Stropping stage leaves a clean, burr free edge
- 15 degree edges suit both Western and Japanese knives
- Consistent guides, strong owner satisfaction
Cons
- Three to four times the Presto price
- Overkill for cheap stamped knives
Mistakes that make the Presto look worse than it is
Pressing down. The motor is small, and owners who lean on the blade report it stalling. Let the blade rest in the guide and pull it through with almost no downward force.
Using stage one every time. Stage one is the coarse wheel, and it removes steel every pass. Once a knife has been through it once, most touch ups only need stage two.
Expecting the honing stage to finish the job. It does not fully remove the burr. Plan on a few passes on a ceramic rod or a strop afterward, and the edge will hold up much better.
Not sure a fixed angle electric is the right style at all? The overview of how electric units compare with manual styles settles that first. There is also a quick match tool for your knife block.
Bottom line on the Presto EverSharp electric knife sharpener
The bottom line: The Presto EverSharp electric knife sharpener is a coarse, fast, cheap fix for cheap knives, and nothing more. It scratches, removes steel, and leaves a burr, but it makes a dull knife cut for under $50. Step up to the Chef’sChoice 320 for diamond and serrated capability, or the Trizor XV if your knives deserve a real edge.
For where the Presto and both Chef’sChoice units land against manual options, see our overall home sharpener rankings.
Frequently asked questions
What angle does the Presto EverSharp electric knife sharpener sharpen to?
Presto does not publish the angle. Independent measurement found roughly 15 degrees per side, with the two sides slightly uneven. Treat it as a fixed angle around 15 degrees that you cannot adjust.
Does the Presto 08800 ruin knives?
Not in one session, but it is aggressive. Stage one removes more steel than a diamond unit and leaves grinding marks above the edge. Frequent use of stage one will shorten the life of a knife.
Can it sharpen serrated knives?
No. Presto lists it for most kitchen and sporting knives and does not mention serrated blades. The Chef’sChoice 320 is the cheapest electric on this page that the manufacturer rates for serrated.
Why does the motor stop while sharpening?
The motor is low torque and stalls under pressure. Owners report it stopping with only light force. Ease off and let the guide carry the blade.
Is the Presto EverSharp worth it over a manual pull through?
For very dull cheap knives, yes. It is faster and more consistent than most manual pull throughs at the same price. For decent knives, neither is the right tool.
Sources
- Presto: EverSharp electric knife sharpener 08800, manufacturer product page. https://www.gopresto.com/product/presto-eversharp-electric-knife-sharpener-08800
- Chef’sChoice by EdgeCraft: Model 320 Professional Electric Knife Sharpener, manufacturer product page. https://chefschoice.com/products/chefschoice-diamond-hone-flexhone-strop-professional-knife-sharpener-model-320
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