Your experience in the kitchen will be much more pleasant with the best honing steels. Why is that? Well, it’s because this tool is essential for keeping your kitchen knives in perfect shape.
The knife is the main tool of not only culinary experts but also every family. It’s annoying to work with a knife that is non-standard, dull, or has rough edges. Not only does it slow cooking down, but it can also damage cut foods.
Therefore, when you prepare to cook something, for example, debone meat with a good boning knife, your tool has to be sharp. But don’t worry, the best honing steel can help prevent any problems.
That is why I am writing today’s review to help you find the best honing steel for your cutlery. So get your hands on it and check which one is the best!
Why Should You Use A Honing Steel?
There are various parts of a knife with different uses but it is undoubted that the blade is the most important part. And honing steel can maintain the sharpness of your knife’s blade.
Plus, its small point determines the edge of any blade, but that point will eventually start to fall to the side and lose its sharp shape. While you can’t really see this when it comes to blades, it still happens.
Besides, as you use them, the microscopic point of your blades will start to sag. No matter how careful you are, all knives suffer from this in the end.
This is a bit confusing because it all happens on a microscopic level. But to put it simply, having a straight edge can make the knife feel sharper.
Therefore, instead of making the edge of a blade sharper, the best honing steel can reshape the edge to be more upright than before.
Classifications Of Honing Steel
When grading by material, there are three main types of honing steel:
Steel
This universal and versatile honing steel is suitable for most knives. It will only remove a small amount of the blade’s metal and will straighten almost any type of blade. It can be magnetic steel, carbon steel, or stainless steel.
Ceramic
The rod of this honing steel is stronger than stainless steel. It will sharpen out a bit of metal in each pass and will sharpen a bit of the blade.
Diamond Plating
This is the hardest honing steel because it is combined with diamond plating. Therefore, it removes a relative amount of metal, getting closer to true sharpness.
Famous Honing Steel Brands To Refer To
Here are some of the most popular and reputable brands today that you can refer to find your best honing steel:
- Kota Japan: offers a limited selection of efficient and high-quality home appliances, including honing steel. Kota Japan seeks to build its reputation by providing excellent and useful products for your kitchen.
- Allwin Houseware: sells a wide range of affordable kitchen utensils online and through stores. Its reputation is relatively high for affordable honing steel products and outstanding quality.
- Winware: With the desire to bring customers the best cooking experience with knives, Winware has created the famous quality honing steel and reasonable price.
What Are The Best Honing Steels?
The best honing steels this year are Kota Japan and Allwin Houseware for their precise hone capability, the comfort when holding as well as their durability. Besides, Winware also excels with its ergonomic design and durable materials.
Let refer to the best honing steels with their outstanding features below:
- Best Overall: Kota Japan Diamond Professional Honing Steel
“Diamond electroplated steel rod, professional designed, lifetime warranty, doing the job perfectly, requires minimal effort, extremely durable and convenient handle.” - Best Budget: Allwin Houseware Carbon Steel Honing Steel
“Magnetic design, for left and right-handed people, requires less effort, durable carbon steel rod, nickel-chromium plating, suitable for restoring dull knives, and bring a sense of comfort.” - Best Ceramic: Green Elephant Shatterproof Ceramic Honing Steel
“Hone and sharpen a variety of knives, ceramic rod, the hardness of 9 Mohs, provides 1500 grit, durable plastic handle, increase the durability of the blade, and ease maintenance.” - Best Stainless Steel: Winware Stainless Steel Sharpening Honing Steel
“Ideal for dull blades, plastic handle with hanging ring, durable stainless steel, easy to store and convenient, sturdy, and last a long time.” - Best Diamond: Buck Knives 97082 Diamond Honing Steel
100% diamond honing surface, three-sided grinding wheel, ergonomic design, contoured polypropylene handles, lightweight, and easy to use.” - Best Heavy-Duty: DMT CS2 Wear-resistant Ceramic Honing Steel
“Durable material, plastic handle, available handguard, integrated hanging ring, not require maintenance oil, faster act than conventional items, lightweight, and heavy-duty.” - Best for Honing & Sharpening: Wüsthof Magnetic Steel Sharpening Honing Steel
“Made of magnetic steel, attract metal fibers, integrated hanging loop on the handle, reasonable size, easy to use and clean, non-slip plastic handle, and easy to hang after use.” - Best for Japanese Knives: Messermeister Ceramic Sharpening Honing Steel
“Hone and sharpen, ceramic 1200 grit rod, durable and lightweight, convenient handle, handy non-slip handle, increase the blade’s durability.” - Best for Global Knives: Utopia Nickel-chrome Carbon Steel Honing Steel
“Suitable for all types of knives, anti-slip rubber handle, made of carbon steel, covered with nickel-chrome, lifetime warranty, and anti-slip rubber handle.” - Best for Professionals: Noble Home & Chef Professional Honing Steel
“Chrome-plated carbon steel rod, resistant to corrosion and rust, ideal for shun knives, oval handle, dishwasher safe, durable and sturdy, and stable for safe honing.”
Honing Steel Comparison Table 2023
We have gone through the general information. Now please refer to the table below for an overview of the 10 best honing steels that I will recommend to you today:
Top 10 Best Honing Steel Reviews in 2023
What are you waiting for without entering the main part! Let me help you look at each aspect of this year’s 10 best honing steel so you can find the one for your knife:
1. Kota Japan Diamond Professional Honing Steel
(Best Overall)
What if you need to show off your skills for cutting cantaloupes, pumpkins, and other fruits/vegetables with a hard rind, but your knife is too blunt? Fear not, the Kota honing steel is here to help you!
Kota Japan Diamond Professional Honing Steel is a tool for professionals. Made of electroplated diamond, this honing Steel delivers precision hone capabilities with very little effort. Furthermore, it also sharpens old knives.
Besides, this product is 12 inches long. It is very durable and sturdy as it is electroplated with diamonds. You can sharpen knives made from any metal.
In particular, this tool is in the form of an oval rod, giving you more surface area to sharpen your knives and reduce your effort.
Moreover, this honing steel’s handle is sleek, easy to hold, and feels good to hold. And the best part is the manufacturer has a lifetime warranty on this product.
Key Features:
- Electroplated diamond steel rod
- Designed for professional
- Lifetime warranty
- Equipped with a hanging hole
Pros
- Doing the job perfectly
- Requires minimal effort
- Extremely durable
- The handle is easy to hold
- Ideal for shaping curved blades
- Easy-to-hold handle design
Cons
- Large size, difficult to manipulate
- The diamond coating has a limited lifespan
Product Specifications:
| Length of Rod | 12 inches |
| Rod’s Material | Diamond-electroplated steel |
| Handle | Plastic |
| Brand | Kota Japan |
You can see this review video to know how the knife will change after using this honing steel:
2. Allwin Houseware Carbon Steel Honing Steel
(Best Budget)
If you are looking for the answer to whether carbon steel kitchenware is healthy to use, this Allwin Houseware Honing Steel will give you the answer and the best honing experience.
Moreover, this product promises you its ability to both hone and sharpen your blades professionally with a carbon steel rod with nickel-chromium plating.
In particular, this rod is magnetized to prevent metal particles appearing during honing from having a chance to come into contact with nearby food.
Besides, the rod has a length of 12 inches to support you maintaining an edge on all knives, restore old cutleries with regular use.
In addition, this honing steel has a comfortable and non-slip polypropylene handle that gives you the most comfortable grip.
Key Features:
- Magnetic design
- Can use for both honing and grinding
- Designed for left and right-handed people
- Requires less effort
Pros
- Carbon steel with nickel-chromium plating for a durable rod
- Suitable for restoring dull knives
- Bring a sense of comfort
- Non-slip polypropylene handle when handling
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Need to dry completely
- Not safe in the dishwasher
Product Specifications:
| Length of Rod | 12 inches |
| Rod’s Material | Carbon steel, nickel-chrome coating |
| Handle | Polypropylene |
| Brand | Allwin |
3. Green Elephant Shatterproof Ceramic Honing Steel
(Best Ceramic)
If you are looking for the best honing steel for Japanese and German knives, then Green Elephant 11-Inch Ceramic Honing Steel is a great choice for you.
In addition to being a great hone tool for Japanese and German knives, it’s also a great choice for sharpening hunting knives.
Besides, this item hardness has been tested to9 Mohs and offers 1500 grit, allowing you to align and sharpen your blades as desired.
Moreover, this honing steel also features exclusive shock absorption. Because between the ceramic rod and the handle is a silicone gasket along with the final plastic cap to help absorb vibration waves as well as keep the ceramic rod safe.
Furthermore, the comfortable and lightweight handle makes the honing process simple. It is also very easy to use and maintain. All you need is to wash it by hand and dry the porcelain rod in the air.
Key Features:
- Hone and sharpen a variety of knives
- Ceramic rod has a hardness of 9 Mohs
- Provide 1500 grits
- Durable plastic handle
Pros
- Increase the durability of the blade
- Light and comfortable
- Durable for many years
- Anti-slip handle
Cons
- Do not drop because ceramic is fragile
- Wash by hand only
Product Specifications:
| Length of Rod | 11 inches |
| Rod Material | Ceramic |
| Handle | Plastic |
| Brand | Green Elephant |
What how great this ceramic honing steel works in this video:
4. Winware Stainless-Steel Honing Steel
(Best Stainless Steel)
Winware Stainless Steel Honing Steel with a 12-inch sharpening blade is a great choice for dull blades. With this product, you can easily hone and sharpen knives easily.
The quality plastic designed handle provides you with a firm grip for your peace of mind. The handle also comes with a hanging ring for easy storage.
Besides, this item is convenient and easy to maintain thanks to its solid stainless steel. You can use it for a long time without worrying about rust or damage. It also doesn’t have the same risk of breakage as ceramic rods.
In addition, cleaning this honing steel is also very simple. Once you have done with the honing process, simply wipe the rod with a soft, damp cloth.
Key Features:
- Ideal for dull blades
- Can hone and sharpen
- 5” plastic handle with hanging loop
- Durable stainless steel rod
Pros
- Easy to store and convenient
- Comfortable plastic handle to hold
- Sturdy material
- Last a long time
- Gentle to grip
- Easy to use and clean
Cons
- May not get a full swipe along the blade
Product Specifications:
| Length of Rod | 12 inches |
| Rod’s Material | Stainless steel |
| Handle | Plastic |
| Brand | Winware |
Do you want to take a deeper look at this Winware honing steel? Let’s find this video:
5. Buck Knives 97082 Diamond Honing Steel
(Best Diamond)
Buck Knives 97082 Diamond Honing Steel is made of high-quality materials with 100% diamond coating to give users the ultimate honing experience. The rod has a three-sided grinding wheel consisting of the coarse, medium, and smooth.
At 15.75 in total length, this item is ergonomic and lightweight, allowing you to carry and manage required honing projects.
With this honing steel, you can easily hone your knife without difficulty. Besides, the handle is finished in propylene material with an integrated handguard to ensure the user’s safety, helping to minimize any risk of slipping.
Moreover, this product has a hole that help you hang when not in use for easy storage.
Key Features:
- 100% diamond honing surface
- Three-sided grinding wheel
- Ergonomic design
- Contoured polypropylene handles
Pros
- For the ultimate honing experience
- Lightweight and easy to use
- The handle has holes for easy hanging
- Very easy to clean
- Flexible and easy to handle
- Long and anti-slip handle
Cons
- The handle is a bit small for big hand
Product Specifications:
| Length of Rod | 10 inches |
| Rod’s Material | Diamond-plated steel |
| Handle | Polypropylene |
| Brand | Buck Knives |
6. DMT CS2 Wear-resistant Ceramic Honing Steel
(Best Heavy-Duty)
If you are regular honing steel for your heavy-duty job, then the DMT CS2 12-Inch Ceramic Honing Steel is a great choice for your needs.
The reason is that this item is made of durable material. That means it will last a very long time even under continuous use, and the aluminum base keeps the rod from getting too heavy.
Moreover, this honing steel has an outstanding quality that makes the honing process easy. Honing your knives has never been so easy. With only 5 to 6 light swipes, you can save time and effort compared to using a regular stroke.
The best thing is, with this ceramic rod, you don’t need to use oil to sharpen your cutlery. Besides, this product has a sanitary plastic handle for your hand safety and comfort. The durable handle keeps the rod in place even after heavy use.
Key Features:
- Durable material
- The handle is specially designed in plastic
- The handguard is available
- Integrated hanging ring
- No maintenance oil is required
Pros
- Faster act than conventional items
- Used for many different types of knives
- Lightweight but heavy-duty
- Easy to clean
- Can be used dry or with water
- Ease of use and maintenance
Cons
- The handle maybe small for large hands
Product Specifications:
| Length of Rod | 12 inches |
| Rod’s Material | Ceramic |
| Handle | Plastic |
| Brand | DMT |
Before buying this honing steel, you can take a look at this video to see how amazing it is:
7. Wüsthof Magnetic Steel Honing Steel
(Best for Honing & Sharpening)
When you need a device to both hone and sharpen knives, for example, to use your utility knife better, the Wüsthof Magnetic Steel Sharpening Honing Steel will be a good partner at an affordable price for you.
Primarily, this product’s rod is made of magnetic steel that attracts metal fibers. That means the small metal fragments spawned when you hone the blade will be absorbed by it so that they won’t fall into nearby food.
Besides, this steel rod has a length of 10 inches, which can provide the perfect surface for sharpening your favorite knives. This makes it easier to manipulate the honing process.
Moreover, this item has a handle design made of anti-slip plastic and also fits well for left or right-handed people.
This tool is also easy to clean. You do not have to always wash it after using it. All you need to do is use a damp cloth and wipe it off.
Key Features:
- Honing and sharpening the blade
- Made of magnetic steel
- Can attract metal fibers
- Integrated hanging ring on the handle
Pros
- Reasonable size
- Easy to use and clean
- Non-slip plastic handle
- Fits your and easy to grip
- Easily wipe off with a wet cloth after grinding
- Easy to hang after use
Cons
- Place of production is subject to change
Product Specifications:
| Length of Rod | 10 inches |
| Rod’s Material | Magnetic steel |
| Handle | Plastic |
| Brand | Wüsthof |
Are you curious at how effective this honing steel works? Take a look at this video:
8. Messermeister Ceramic Rod Honing Steel
(Best for Japanese Knives)
Do you own a Japanese knife? This is a very hard and sharp type of knife, which is very difficult to hone. Don’t worry; with the high quality ceramic rod, Messermeister Ceramic Rod Honing Steel is a great choice for you.
This product is a household ceramic honing steel. The rod is combined with industrial-strength ceramics for exceptional durability. .
One thing I love about this honing steel is its ability to align sharpening and blades with a slight abrasion. This tool is very sturdy to withstand harsh honing.
Besides, this honing steel is 12 inches long and can help sharpen and reshape any knife. Moreover, its handle is soft and ergonomically designed to keep your hand steady every time you use it.
Key Features:
- Hone and sharpen your Japanese blades
- Ceramic 1200 grit rod
- Durable and lightweight
- Handy non-slip handle
Pros
- Increase the durability of the blade
- Strong enough to withstand sharpening
- Convenient handle
- Can be used to hone all types of knives
- Comes with hook ring for hanging after use
- The handle is soft and ergonomically designed
Cons
- The ceramic rod can break
- Must be washed by hand
Product Specifications:
| Length of Rod | 12 inches |
| Rod’s Material | Ceramic |
| Handle | Plastic |
| Brand | Messermeister |
9. Utopia Nickel-chrome Carbon Steel Honing Steel
(Best for Global Knives)
12 Inch Sharpening Honing Steel Utopia is designed with nickel-chrome carbon steel. The rod has a smooth surface that prevents the blade from being damaged during sharpening.
This honing steel works on all blade designs and sizes, allowing you to sharpen a variety of knives without restrictions. It is also very suitable for your global knives.
Really, its features and performance are excellent. You can hone your serrated and standard blades with just a few strokes.
Besides, its grip is comfortable with a non-slip rubber bottom and perfectly fits into the hand, allowing you to sharpen the knife perfectly.
The specially design of this item will help you align and sharpen knives easily, especially whether you are right-handed or left-handed.
Key Features:
- Suitable for global knives & all types of knives
- Anti-slip rubber handle
- Carbon steel and with nickel-chrome coating
- Lifetime warranty
Pros
- Honing regardless of size and style
- Ambidextrous design
- Rubber handle for easy sharpening with anti-slip feature
- Safe and easy to use
- Easy to maintain and very durable
- Good price
Cons
- The rubber handle may wear out with long use
Product Specifications:
| Length of Rod | 12 inches |
| Rod’s Material | Carbon steel, nickel-chrome coating |
| Handle | Rubber |
| Brand | Utopia |
10. Noble Home & Chef Professional Honing Steel
(Best for Shun Knives)
If you need your to sharpen and reshape your professional chef knives, Noble Home & Chef Professional Honing Steel has you covered.
This product has a hardened carbon steel rod plated with chromium that is anti-rust and anti-corrosion to ensure durability.
Besides, it is specially designed to prevent metal debris from entering your nearby food thanks to its superior magnetization features.
Moreover, the hand also has an oval shape for you to easily grip. In particular, the handle is also available in 3 designs for you to choose from according to your preference.
In addition, this product is also safe in the dishwasher. However, you can wipe it off by a wet towel and let it dry after using it.
Key Features:
- Carbon steel rod with chrome-plated coating
- Anti-corrosion and anti-rust
- Ideal for shun knives
- Oval handle
- Dishwasher safe
Pros
- Durable and sturdy
- Stable for safe honing
- Ease of maintenance
- Luxurious design
- Easy to handle
Cons
- Damage may occur during shipping
- The smell is a bit strong
Product Specifications:
| Length of Rod | 10 inches |
| Rod’s Material | Carbon steel, chromium-plated |
| Handle | Plastic & steel |
| Brand | Noble Home & Chef |
How To Buy The Best Honing Steel
It is difficult to find the best honing steel for your knives. There are many options available in the market with many different features. It is important to determine the best product for your specific needs and experience level.
To help you decide, here’s what you should look for when buying a new honing steel:
Material
What material Honing steel is made of determines its grind ability. For example, a ceramic rod is abrasive but is not easy to maintain as it may break. Steel requires more effort, and diamond plating can be too abrasive with some conventional knives.
Surface
The surface area of honing steel is important for reducing the effort you need to sharpen your knife. If you have cutlery that needs a large surface to sharpen, make sure you choose sharpened steel with a large surface area.
Weight
Honing steel can be difficult to use in case you are not a pro. A lighter tool will be support you the best. If you’re an expert, you mayneed a heavier version. The choice is yours.
Length
The length of honing steel is also important. You need to find a length that matches your knife’s length.
Type Of Knife
First, you need to determine what kind of knife you will use honing steel for. You will need to choose a honing steel that matches the size and characteristics of your knives.
Smoothness
Check that the smoothness of the grinding steel you want to use is right for your knife. The finer the Honing Steel, the sharper your knife will be.
Handle
You need to try holding the honing steel in your hand and check the handle’s grip. The honing steel must not slip out of your hand under any circumstances, as it could cause an accident.
You may also prefer the honing steel with a hanger ring as it makes it easy to store and use.
Hand Protection
Honing steels should have a handguard to keep your finger from getting hurt. However, the handguard should not be too large as that can make honing difficult.
Cleaning
Honing steel should be easily washed or wiped off. Alternatively, you may want to consider whether you want a dishwasher safe honing steel.
How To Use The Honing Steel
Honing is not difficult, but if you are a beginner, you will feel unfamiliar. Therefore, to make it easier to understand, you can follow these steps below:
- Grab the handle of the honing steel and place the pointed tip down on the tabletop. You should use the cutting board underneath the steel for the entire time you are honing.
- Place your knife at the end of the rod at an angle of about 20°.
- After that, you draw the knife down the length of the honing steel from the top to the end. Then, you do it again in the opposite direction.
- Perform the same process with the opposite edge of the knife. To achieve the effect, you should do 10 repetitions on each side of the knife.
- After using the honing steel, you should clean it. Just soak a small part of the cloth with water and run it the length of the steel.
To make it easier to imagine, you can refer to the following honing steel manual video for better understanding:
FAQs
You can see the Q&A below to find if there is some useful information for you:
My Top Pick
I know that there are plenty of excellent honing steels. However, for me, none is as good as the Kota Japan Diamond Professional Honing Steel. It is made of the best materials to create the best features of a honing steel.
This honing steel keeps your knife balanced and sharp at the same time without losing too much metal. You also do not need to use it too often because once is sufficiently effective with a super hard diamond coating.
For an inexpensive yet high-quality choice, Allwin Houseware Carbon Steel Honing Steel is your best bet.
Hopefully, I’ve given you some useful ideas on how to find the ideal polished steel. Don’t forget to let me know your opinion in the comments and share this article with other people!
