Whether you’re a basic home cook or prefer the term amateur home chef, having the right equipment in good condition is essential. With a sharp set of knives forming a vital part of any good kitchen inventory, Tormek’s T-1 Knife Sharpener might be just what you need. We wanted a slice of the action, so we put it to the test.
What is it?
The Tormek T-1 Kitchen knife sharpener is an electrically driven tabletop appliance which can be used quickly and easily in any kitchen. Tormek is a Swedish company that has produced professional sharpening equipment for 50 years and has taken that knowledge to create a more compact, user-friendly version for home use.
It’s compact but very sturdy, and at first glance, wouldn’t look out of place on your garage workbench, but once you get to grips with it, it really isn’t daunting at all.
How does it work?
Straight out of the box, it’s just a matter of plugging it in and ensuring all the packaging has been removed, adjusting the angle guide by loosening the screw and moving the needle to the angle you want, and you’re ready to begin.
If you aren’t sure about the angle to set the dial to, then you won’t go too far wrong by selecting a point at around 15-17°. This will create a bevelled edge that will work for most knives. As a rule of thumb, small knives like vegetable and paring knives are better suited to a smaller angle, and chunkier meat knives are best with a slightly larger angle.
Select your angle, switch on the power, slide the knife into the blade guard with the blade making contact with the diamond grinding wheel, and you can start sharpening.
It’s a really easy process — move the blade evenly across the wheel a few times, and then repeat on the other side of the knife. The first time you sharpen each knife, it could take a little longer to develop the sharp edge, as the previous angle of the blade may have been slightly different.
Once you have the edge sorted, the honing wheel deburrs and polishes the edge to finish the job to perfection.
There’s no need to worry about your kitchen counter being covered in tiny metal filings — a small magnet catches those during the sharpening process, which you can clean off once you’re done.
Who is it for?
The Tormek T-1 kitchen knife sharpener is designed for home kitchen use and can sharpen a wide range of differently-sized kitchen knives, from the most basic, functional set to more specialised knives belonging to the more serious hobby chef.
It is a fairly chunky piece of equipment, but it is nicely designed and wouldn’t look out of place on a kitchen worktop. It weighs 5.4kg, which isn’t too heavy, but keeps it nice and steady while in use, but easy enough to stash away in a cupboard once you’re done if you don’t want it on display.
Is it worth it?
The Tormek T-1 costs £330
, which is a significant investment for most people. However, it is an excellent product, made with quality materials backed by a manufacturer’s warranty of up to 8 years (five years as standard, with an additional three by registering your purchase online).
The more serious foodies who care about the state of their knives will make this purchase based on the heart rather than the head. It will undoubtedly prolong the life of a set of knives, creating a perfectly sharp blade every time, and for those people, yes, it will be a worthy purchase.
If you’re more inclined to use your kitchen knife to hack your way into a bacon packet and chop the occasional salad, I’d probably suggest this one isn’t for you.
