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KitchenIQ 50009 vs. PriorityChef 2-Stage Sharpener Side-by-Side Comparison

Anh Ngo
Reviewer
Nguyen Ntk
Visual Specialist
Updated
Tested Using Methodology v1.1
Updated Mar 28, 2023
Tested Using Methodology v1.1
Updated Mar 31, 2023
The KitcheniQ Edge-grip knife sharpener on a cutting board, kitchen knife, chilli peppers, carrot, tomato slices
The Priority Chef 2-stage knife sharpener on a cutting board with a kitchen knife and slices of lemon.
Knife Sharpeners type
manual
manual

Our Verdict

6.2
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    4.3/10
  • Design (15%)
    8.1/10
  • Ease of Use (35%)
    8.2/10
8.4
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    8.7/10
  • Design (15%)
    7.8/10
  • Ease of Use (35%)
    8.2/10

The PriorityChef is the obvious choice over the KitchenIQ.

Both sharpeners are well constructed. The former comes in an awkwardly small size but its selling point is its special EdgeGrip base. The latter sports a sizable body that feels more natural in an adult’s hand, but would benefit from a stronger base.

Both come with two sharpening slots, though they have different abrasives: the KitchenIQ features carbide and ceramic blades, while the PriorityChef sports diamond discs. 

When we put them to the sharpening tests, the PriorityChef proved to be far superior in all parameters: speed, sharpness, material retention, and edge smoothness. The KitchenIQ displayed a mediocre performance at best and is simply not a match.

KitchenIQ 50009 Knife Sharpener’s Performance

PriorityChef Manual Knife Sharpener’s Performance
4.3
Performance Scores
  • Sharpening Time to Cut a Lemon (35%)1.0/10
  • Maximum Sharpness Achieved (20%)6.0/10
  • Edge Smoothness (20%)6.5/10
  • Material Retention (25%)6.0/10
8.7
Performance Scores
  • Sharpening Time to Cut a Lemon (35%)8.8/10
  • Maximum Sharpness Achieved (20%)8.0/10
  • Edge Smoothness (20%)7.5/10
  • Material Retention (25%)10/10
1.0

Sharpening Time to Cut a Lemon

8.8
  • Sharpening Time: 3 minutes 35 seconds
  • Cutting Feel: Swift and smooth

The KitchenIQ took 215 seconds, or more than 3 minutes to sharpen a knife to the point where it could cut through a big lemon in one single swipe. This may not sound like a terribly long time, but we generally expect faster results from handheld sharpeners. In fact, similar one-stage or two-stage devices take less than half that time to get to the same level. For example, it was 105 seconds for the Sharpal, and 65 seconds for the SunrisePro.

  • Sharpening Time: 1 minute 15 seconds
  • Cutting Feel: Swift and smooth

Our blunt test knife emerged sharp and keen after 75 seconds of sharpening with the Priority Chef. In fact, it was sharp enough to slice through a lemon in one go after just 60 seconds on the Coarse stage; the extra 15 seconds served only to refine the edge and, consequently, the cut.

Your mileage may vary depending on the conditions of your knives and the hardness of their steel. However, in most cases, you won’t need more than 30 seconds to rejuvenate a dull knife to a serviceable level.

6.0

Maximum Sharpness Achieved

8.0
  • Sharpening Time: 6 minutes
  • Sharpness Level: 7 (ripe tomatoes, 1 swipe)

An additional 3 minutes on the KitchenIQ took the test knife from the lemon to the ripe tomato level, and that was its peak sharpness with this device.

Though this is below what most sharpeners can achieve, at this level, the knife’s still capable of most cutting tasks, save for perhaps precision cutting and thin slicing. 

We conducted this test several times over the span of six months and used the device in our kitchen throughout that time. The results were consistent, so at least we can conclude that its abrasives will take a long time to wear down.

  • Sharpening Time: 6 minutes
  • Sharpness Level: 8 (chicken breast with skin, 1 swipe)

Even after 6 minutes, our test knife needed two, sometimes three rather heavy swipes to cut through beef tendon. It had no trouble with chicken breast with runny skin and fat, though. Ripe tomatoes, similarly, were a piece of cake.

Since our Control knife was at sharpness Level 8 when brand new, we could say the Priority Chef sharpener can bring it back to factory sharpness after 6 minutes. Of course, you may see different results with knives that are made of particularly hard steel.

6.0

Material Retention

 Material Retention
Top view of a bowl containing metal sharpening residue next to the KitchenIQ sharpener
Top view of a bowl containing metal sharpening residue next to the KitchenIQ sharpener
Metal residue on the abrasive slots on the KitchenIQ knife sharpener
  • Sharpening Time: 1 minute
  • Target Sharpness:

Since its tungsten carbide blades do most of the sharpening, the KitchenIQ peels off more steel from the blade than do most other multi-stage sharpeners. It produces more dust than coarse swarf, suggesting that it acts more like a grinder rather than a serious peeler. This suspicion is confirmed by the relatively fine edges it creates. This was true even when we deliberately applied more force while pulling the knife through. 

Unfortunately, the extra pressure didn’t help much with improving the knife’s sharpness.

The coarse slot on the Priority Chef sharpener, with metal dust and part the diamond coated abrasive disc shown
The coarse slot on the Priority Chef sharpener, with metal dust and part the diamond coated abrasive disc shown
Sharpening residue in a bowl
  • Sharpening Time: 1 minute
  • Target Sharpness:

For the speed and level of sharpness it can achieve, we were impressed by how little material the Priority Chef removed from the knife after one minute of sharpening. The only debris was dust and tiny chips rather than long curls of swarf, like some others. The device seems to only shave off what’s really necessary to make the edge sharp.

6.5

Edge Smoothness

7.5
Close up view of the knife blade and edge after sharpening with the KitchenIQ 50009

The KitchenIQ produces an ok edge with no major chips or burrs. The primary edge looks narrow, with visible horizontal grooves and tiny metal grains and fragments. The ceramic rods seem to do their job of refining the edge, making for better results compared to the Smith’s or SunrisePro.

Close up view in vignette of the knife blade and knife edge after sharpening with the Priority Chef diamond knife sharpener

Unlike the V-shaped abrasive blades found on most other pull-through devices, the Priority Chef’s abrasive discs create short, nearly vertical grooves along the edge — and the ceramic fine stage didn’t do much to refine them. We also detected chips and burrs — albeit very small ones — where the edge is narrowest. That suggested that the sharpening discs do not directly contact that part.

That being said, the Priority Chef still created a much finer edge than did its other disc-based cousin, the Chef’s Choice 4643. The Chef’s Choice created a secondary edge, but it left the primary edge completely untouched.

KitchenIQ Edge Grip 2-stage Knife Sharpener’s Design

PriorityChef Knife Sharpener’s Design
8.1
design Scores
  • Build Quality (75%)8.7/10
  • Grip (25%)6.5/10
7.8
design Scores
  • Build Quality (75%)7.9/10
  • Grip (25%)7.5/10

What’s in the Box With the KitchenIQ 50009 Knife Sharpener

What’s in the Box With the PriorityChef Serrated Knife Sharpener
The KitchenIQ 50009 sharpener on its side next to its package
  • The KitchenIQ 50009 edge grip knife sharpener

The device comes in a simple clamshell package. It has four color options. Interestingly, each color is sold at a different price, though they’re all affordable.

The Priority Chef diamond sharpener on its package box next to the instruction leaflet
  • The Priority Chef manual sharpener
  • Instruction manual
  • Promotional leaflet 

The Priority Chef comes in a colorful cardboard box. The package also includes instructions on how to sharpen with the device, plus care and storage tips.

Dimensions

The KitchenIQ 50009 handheld sharpener with arrows and figures showing its dimensions
  • Length:
    3.7" (9.4 cm)
  • Width:
    2.0" (5.1 cm)
  • Height:
    1.8" (4.6 cm)
  • Weight:
    2.0 oz (57 g)

The Priority Chef 2-stage sharpener with arrows and figures showing its dimensions.
  • Length:
    7.9" (20.1 cm)
  • Width:
    2.4" (6.1 cm)
  • Height:
    2.6" (6.6 cm)
  • Weight:
    8.3 oz (234 g)

8.7

Build Quality

7.9
The KitchenIQ Edge Grip knife sharpener in an open hand

The KitchenIQ deserves a shoutout for its excellent build quality despite its cheap price. The whole sharpener is solid and sturdy. Its parts all fit together seamlessly, leaving no unexpected gaps. We actually dropped it from our countertop a couple times, and it took it well. Even afterward, we didn’t observe any rattling or loose components.

The silicone grip cover was nice to the touch and comfortable to hold throughout the sharpening session.

The Priority Chef sharpener with its logo in full view
The Priority Chef sharpener with its logo in full view
Priority Chef Build Quality 1

The Priority Chef has a minimalist design with stainless steel and ABS plastic parts. Although more oriented toward functionality than aesthetics, the components fit together well and sport pleasant finishes. The only complaint we have is with the base pad that’s made of a low-quality material and doesn’t fit snugly into the stainless steel frame.

6.5

Grip

7.5
The grip of the KitchenIQ edge grip sharpener
  • Material:
    Silicone

We really like the feel of the grip — it’s soft but offers good friction. It has an ergonomic shape and is connected directly to the base, thus offering great stability.  Its tiny size, however, feels awkward in even smaller hands. Users with large hands will have problems finding a safe place for their fingers.

The grip of the Priority Chef and part of its base
  • Material:
    Stainless steel

Unlike most other devices, the grip of the Priority Chef is basically a pipe that’s attached to the device via a plastic framework. The stainless steel is easy to clean but can be cold to the touch and feel slippery if your hand is wet or greasy. Other than that, we couldn’t find a problem with it. The low center of gravity really helps, so we never had to employ excessive force to keep the device in place.

Working Section

Working Section of the PriorityChef Knife Sharpener
The Kitchen IQ’s working section, with a Coarse slot and a Fine slot
The Kitchen IQ’s working section, with a Coarse slot and a Fine slot
The KitchenIQ’s working section from above
  • Levels of Sharpening:
    Coarse, Fine
  • Abrasive:
    Tungsten carbide blades, ceramic rods
  • Mechanism:
    Pull through
  • Sharpening Angle:
    20 degrees

The KitchenIQ offers two levels of sharpening. While the slots themselves are more or less the same size as those on other devices, the whole working section is rather small and doesn’t work well with larger and thicker knives.

The working section of the Priority Chef with 2 abrasive slots on a plastic frame and part of the handle and base
  • Levels of Sharpening:
    Sharpen, Hone
  • Abrasive:
    Diamond-coated coarse disc, ceramic honing disc
  • Mechanism:
    Pull through
  • Sharpening Angle:
    17 degrees

The Priority Chef sharpener has a simple working section with one diamond-coated disc and one ceramic disc for sharpening and honing your knives, respectively. Each is labeled below the slot on either side — it’s equally simple whether you’re left- or right-handed.

the Base

KitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2-stage Knife Sharpener

Base
KitchenIQ 50009 Base
  • Material:
    Silicone
  • Feet Type:
    Edge gripper

Not only is the layout of its working section different from most other devices, the KitchenIQ’s base is special too. It’s a thick silicone pad that covers the grip and extends all the way to the base, creating lots of friction with any flat surface. The cutout in the middle of the base forms an edge grip, allowing you to attach it to the countertop or table edge (as long as that edge is 90 degrees).

Priority Chef Base
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Feet Type:
    Sponge pad

While we love that it’s low and wide, the base is actually the Priority Chef’s least effective component. It’s a stainless steel plate housing a sponge-like pad that feels cheap and is prone to tearing. The pad adds almost no weight or friction, and we suspect that it will come apart long before anything else.

Ease of Use

KitchenIQ Sharpener Review

PriorityChef Serrated Knife Sharpener Review: Ease of Use
8.2
usability Scores
  • Slot Arrangement (10%)7.0/10
  • Insertion (20%)7.0/10
  • Pulling Through (10%)7.0/10
  • Stability on a Clean Surface (40%)10/10
  • Stability on a Wet and Dirty Surface (20%)7.0/10
8.2
usability Scores
  • Slot Arrangement (20%)10/10
  • Insertion (20%)7.0/10
  • Pulling Through (10%)8.5/10
  • Stability on a Clean Surface (40%)8.0/10
  • Stability on a Wet and Dirty Surface (10%)7.0/10
7.0

Slot Arrangement

10
The working section on the KitchenIQ 50009, with one Coarse slot and one Fine slot

The KitchenIQ employs a different slot layout than most others of its type: The coarse slot is placed further from the grip than the fine one. If you’ve used other pull-through sharpeners before, this layout will take some time to get used to. Otherwise, it’s not a problem: The slot names (Coarse and Fine) are printed on both sides of the working section, so pay a little attention and you’ll do it right. This also makes the device south-paw friendly.

The working section on the Priority Chef, with 2 abrasive slots named Coarse and Fine supported by a black frame

The device has only two progressive slots. Their relative coarseness is embossed right underneath on both sides of the working section. That eliminates any guesswork or confusion during sharpening. Both work at the same bevel angle and are not adjustable, so the Priority Chef may not be right for all your knives.

7.0

Insertion

7.0
A knife being sharpened with the KitchenIQ, the sharpener being held in one hand

You may notice that the tungsten blades in the Coarse slot have distinct corners that protrude from the plastic frame. If you use too much force or are too fast with insertion, your delicate knife edge may end up raking across one of those surfaces and risk chipping or deforming.

Also, the tiny size of the KitchenIQ means the slots are jammed together and are very close to the grip. There’s a real danger of cutting yourself if you’re not mindful while sharpening your knives.

All that being said, insertion was not challenging. We measured the actual openings and found to our surprise that they’re some of the widest among all the devices we tested (6mm).

Top view of a kitchen knife being sharpened using the Priority Chef, which is held by a hand

The Priority Chef has some of the narrowest slot openings among the devices we’ve tested. While this may help keep the blade aligned, it does make inserting the knife a little stressful. 

Luckily, with a large grip and a raised plastic frame, you’re unlikely to cut your supporting hand.

7.0

Pulling Through

8.5

The KitchenIQ’s sturdy working section and strong base allows for steady operation. Pulling through was effortless, though it’s easy to cut into the plastic frame underneath the sharpening panels if you go too fast.

We noticed that the ‘brace’ is rather loose on this device — the sharpening rods don’t seem to grip to the blade very tightly. This contributes to the rather mediocre sharpening performance.

A kitchen knife being sharpened with the Priority Chef, and the two hands that hold the knife and the sharpener

Our test knives slid through the Priority Chef with ease every single time: Both sharpening discs offer a firm and steady brace. The knife tip does cut into the U-shape frame from time to time, but because you don’t have to push downwards while pulling through, the contact is mild and should not affect the knife edge.

10

Stability on a Clean Surface

8.0
Two hands holding and sharpening a knife with the KitchenIQ on a countertop edge

With a grip and base made from one solid piece of tough silicone, the KitchenIQ stood perfectly still on a clean countertop as we pulled a knife through it. It has a low center of gravity, so regardless of the force used, the device didn’t wobble one bit.

We tried it on the countertop edge, too, which it’s designed to work on, and were happy with how well it gripped the edge.

A hand holding the Priority Chef on a kitchen countertop and sharpening a knife with it.

With a low center of gravity and a full padded baseplate, the Priority Chef is well-balanced. Its anti-slip pad doesn’t exactly measure up to the name, but as long as you can maintain a relaxed grip, the device will stay in place. It may sound counterintuitive, but too much force on the grip will only make the sharpener slip more often.

7.0

Stability on a Wet and Dirty Surface

7.0
Two hands holding and sharpening a knife with the KitchenIQ on a salt-sprinkled countertop

Like most other devices, the KitchenIQ’s silicone base couldn’t keep it in place on a dirty countertop. To its credit, the device slid but did not shake or wobble like the taller units we tested. Still, given how its grip is so close to the sharpening slots, you run the risk of cutting yourself if things slip. 

The same was observed on a wet and slippery edge: no wobbling, but the silicone foot doesn’t help much in keeping it from gliding along the edge.

A kitchen knife being sharpened with the Priority Chef on a countertop sprinkled with salt particles

While the ‘anti-slip’ pad was barely effective on a spotless countertop, it was useless on one with oil and salt on it. That being said, the sharpening session was still manageable thanks to the unit’s generous footprint and modest height. Again, it seems to fare better when your grip is not too tight.