Knife Sharpeners

Pro: The rough surface is coated with bits of diamond, which are much harder than the steel in the knife blade, so it sharpens quickly. Professionals prefer using a diamond steel to machine sharpening, which can take off too much metal.

Con: Using this requires skill or you may dull the knife further.

To buy: amazon.com.

Pro: It's the cheapest, easiest way to sharpen knives yourself: Just pull a blade through the slots. This model also comes with a scissor sharpener.

Con: To be sure, it gets knives in good cutting order, but professional sharpening will probably yield a keener blade.

To buy: amazon.com.

Pro: This produces the sharpest DIY edge. Knife guides and diamond-coated rotating disks give professional-level results.

Con: The high price. However, since many electric sharpeners are aggressive and remove a lot of metal, a quality model like this one can be a good investment if you have many knives.

To buy: amazon.com.

Pro: Purists swear by porcelain because it creates a fine edge without removing too much metal. This one works by drawing the blade straight down the side of the cone, so you needn't worry about maintaining the proper angle.

Con: It takes up a lot of real estate in a cabinet.

To buy: Unfortunately, this product is no longer available.