These come in two types: The corer type is pretty much a cylinder that you push through the center of an apple to remove the core. The corer and slicer, meanwhile, features a ring in the center for coring the apple, surrounded by blades to slice through the flesh, and two handles. It’s designed to not only remove the core but also slice your apples into even, elegant wedges with a single fluid motion. Unsurprisingly, the effectiveness varies from one device to the next among each category, due to the subtle differences in blade sharpness or handle design.

The only way to uncover the ultimate apple corer is, of course, to put them all to the test—which is exactly what we did! We put over a dozen popular apple corer slicers through their paces, and here are our favorites so far.

Best Apple Corers to Buy in 2024

Our recommendations after using a bunch of apple corer slicers to chop a dozen pounds of apples. We note down if it’s easy to use the device, how many wedges of apple it can make at a time, and any special design features. 

• Best to Buy: OXO Apple Corer Slicer
• Best for Small Wedges: Prepworks
• Best Corer: Zulay

1. Best to Buy: OXO Apple Corer Slicer

• Wedges: 8 wedges
• Dimensions: W 4.4 x D 7.2 x H 2.1 in.
• Weight: 2.86 oz
• Materials: Stainless steel, plastic, silicone 
• Dishwasher safe: yes

Among the array of apple corer slicers, the OXO was the one we most frequently reached for when prepping the apples for our juicer tests. Its lightweight, sharp blades, and ergonomic design consistently delivered fast, efficient, and satisfying cutting.

The stainless steel blades on the OXO are thinner than most, with good bevel-heights, allowing them to glide through an apple cleanly with ease, cutting it into eight perfectly even pieces. But what truly sets the OXO apart from the rest is its center ring. While most other corer slicers have a dull ring that doubles the thickness where they meet the blades, the OXO’s ring is beveled and protrudes just enough for its razor-sharp edge to reach the apple first and break through that stubborn skin, paving the way for the blades to follow. This very subtle tweak in design makes it significantly more efficient when working with toughest, thickest-skinned apples. We even tried the apple-slicing challenge: cutting two apples stacked on top of each other at once, and the OXO was the only one up to the task! Plus, those thin blades and rings never lost their shape or edge. Even after slicing through dozens of apples, they still left each one with a clean, pristine cut.

The OXO features a very simple build and is thinner and lighter weight than most. That said, we’ve used it on dozens of apples, and it hasn’t broken. We love the tall frame, which gives our fingers ample space when pressing down. While the blades don’t go all the way through, leaving the wedges connected by a strip of skin (perfect for those who like to keep their apples together), that’s definitely not a dealbreaker. The fit and finish may be a bit meh; then again, an apple corer and slicer isn’t meant to be a showpiece. The most important thing is it gets the job done, which the OXO does. 

Pros

• Lightweight, compact design
• Intelligent ring design
• Thin, sharp blades
• Affordable

Cons

• Doesn’t always separate wedges
• Average fit and finish

2. Best for Small Wedges: Prepworks

• Wedges: 16 wedges
• Dimensions: W 5.3 x D 7.2 x H 1.9 in.
• Weight: 5.01 oz
• Materials: Stainless steel, plastic, silicone
• Dishwasher safe: yes

Slicing an apple may seem easy, but if you’re aiming for perfectly portioned, envy-inducing wedges, you’ll need the right tool for the job. Enter the Prepworks corer and slicer: it will slice your apple into 16 gorgeous wedges with a single press, saving you time for more important tasks (like admiring your apple artistry). It was also the only one we tested that can completely separate the wedges without fail.

The Prepworks features 16 thin, sharp blades distributed evenly around a ring. The sheer number of blades means there’s more resistance during cutting; however, we found that it’s still much faster and more efficient than slicing your apples the conventional way with a knife.

What truly sets the Prepworks apart is, however, its blade cover. Not only does it protect the blades and ensure safer storage, but it also serves as a pusher, helping that pesky core pop out and the wedges separate without a hitch. No more unsightly tears or mangled slices from manually prying them apart! This eliminates the need to manually divide them, which sometimes leaves unsightly tears in the slices. That moment when you flip the cover and watch 16 perfect apple wedges bloom open like a flower? Pure, unadulterated satisfaction. You will find yourself looking for more apples just to experience that feeling again.

The Prepworks itself sports a sturdy construction and decent height that’ll have you slicing in comfort. The cover adds some weight, but it’s minimal. Covered by a beautiful and durable paint, this apple corer looks prettier and has a higher-end vibe than most in its price range, too. 

Pros

• Makes small wedges
• Blade cover for safety
• Can remove the apple core completely

Cons

• May feel more gimmicky than others

3. Best Corer: Zulay

• Wedges: 0 wedges
• Dimensions: W 4.1 x D 1 x H 7.1 in.
• Weight: 3.49 oz
• Materials: Stainless steel, plastic
• Dishwasher safe: yes

Biting into a crisp, whole apple is one of life’s simple joys—until you reach that inevitable core and find yourself awkwardly holding a half-eaten apple with a sad little stub of stem sticking out. Fret not—this Zulay apple corer is here to save your dignity, so you can enjoy a whole apple without any fuss or mess.

The Zulay corer sports a simple design with a stainless steel cylinder for the cutter, serrated at one end to help it break into the apple skin with ease. On the other end, there’s a lever that when pressed, opens up the cylinder to release the core when you’re done. The device is built to last, with a thick, durable plastic handle. Without many nooks and crannies, cleaning is a breeze—just give it a quick rinse and you’ll be good to go.

Now, fair warning: Due to the thick blade, you will need to apply quite a bit of force to push it through the fruit. Two or three apples wouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re staring down a whole basket of them, it’s going to be quite an arm workout.

Pros

• Strong build
• Compact design, easy storage
• Affordable

Cons

• Requires strong arms to use

Things to Note When Using an Apple Corer Slicer

Apple corers and corer slicers are straightforward to use: Place them on the fruit, press down, and you’re good to go. For safe, fast, and efficient apple cutting, however, here are a few tips from our testers:

1. Do NOT place your fingers under the blade while cutting or coring your apples. These blades are sharp! While this may sound like common sense, we’ve seen quite a few videos online of people getting hurt by their cutters.

2. When buying your apples, choose ones that are symmetrical, with a round shape and the core straight in the middle. This ensures easy cutting and even wedges. Once the corer has pierced through the apple, give the core a little twist to help it pop out nice and easy.

3. Water or apple juice can cause rust if left on the blades for too long. Wash your corer or slicer in mild soapy water immediately after use, then dry it with a towel to keep it rust-free and ready for your next snack attack.

4. For easy access, hang your apple corer by the handle. If you’re stashing it in a drawer, make sure to keep the blade side down. To avoid accidental run-ins while you’re rummaging through the drawer for your favorite spatula, cover the blade with a clean tissue or towel.

The post Best Apple Corer Slicers in 2024 appeared first on Cubikook Kitchen Appliances.

Luckily, with a little know-how and a trusty whetstone, you can keep your knives in top condition. In this article, we’ll guide you through how to sharpen a knife with a whetstone like a pro!

What’s a Whetstone?

Let’s get down to basics: a whetstone is a rectangular block made from abrasive materials like aluminum oxide or silicon carbide. When you grind the edge of your knife’s blade against it, the whetstone’s going to shave off a little bit of metal at the edge, resulting in a well-honed blade by the end.

It typically has two sides with different grit levels. The grit levels indicate the size of the abrasive particles – the lower the number, the coarser the grit. The coarser side is great for repairing damage and the finer side with the lower grit level is going to be perfect for honing an excessively dull blade (or if you just want to give your knife a grand touch-up.)

How to Use a Whetstone

There are proper techniques to using a manual whetstone, unlike an automatic knife sharpener where you only need to insert the knife blade into a slot and it should be sharpened in a jiffy. Fortunately, it’s not difficult — you only have to practice a little bit.

Preparing Your Whetstone

Before sharpening, you’ll need to soak the whetstone. We’re not talking about a brief splash and you can get to work right away: this is a 15-20 minute affair. Fill a bucket with tap water and let the whetstone submerge for the whole time.

A whetstone’s structure has a porous structure. When you soak it, the pores are going to be saturated with water, allowing your knife blade to “glide” over the surface rather than getting caught in the tiny chips and cracks on the stone’s surface and chip your blade.

Finding the Right Angle

Soaked and ready to go? Now you’ll need to find the correct angle to grind your blade against the stone.

Maintaining a consistent angle between the blade and the whetstone is the key to a razor-sharp edge. Most kitchen knives require a 20-degree angle on each side. To find this angle, place the blade perpendicular to the stone, then tilt it until it’s halfway to lying flat – this is roughly 20 degrees. Some whetstones come with angle guides to make this step easier (if you’re new to manually knife sharpening, we highly recommend picking whetstones that have these guides.)

Sharpening the Blade

If your blade has become very dull, damaged, or with unsightly nicks in the blade, then start first on the coarser side of the whetstone. With the blade at the correct angle, apply light pressure and draw the knife across the stone from heel to tip, maintaining the angle throughout. 

Repeat this motion a few times, then flip the blade over and sharpen the other side. Remember, you’d only be sharpening a single side of the knife’s blade while you’re grinding. Always sharpen both sides evenly to maintain a symmetrical edge, which will cut better.

Honing the Edge

Once you’ve finished with the coarse side, it’s time to use the fine-grit side of the whetstone. 

This side is used for honing, which smooths out any burrs or inconsistencies left by the coarser grit. Use the same technique as before, but with even lighter pressure. A few strokes on each side should suffice. Don’t try to polish the blade too much, or your knife blade will develop what’s known as a “rolled blade.”

Basically, if you fine-grind the blade too much, the microscopic teeth of the edge can actually bend, creating a blunted, rolled effect. This will make the knife feel duller than before sharpening, even though a very fine, polished surface may be present.

Testing the Sharpness

To test your newly sharpened knife, try slicing through a sheet of paper. A sharp blade should cut cleanly and effortlessly. If you feel any snags or resistance, go back to the honing stage and give it a few more strokes.

You can also try this with fresh veggies or fruits. The knife should feel buttery as it cuts through the fruit’s skin and flesh!

Conclusion

We’re not going to lie: you’ll need quite a lot of practice to get this down. At first, you may end up with an unevenly sharp blade. But in time, anyone can get the motion down. With proper care and attention to your trusty whetstone, your knives will stay sharp and reliable for years to come!

The post How to Sharpen a Knife with a Whetstone appeared first on Cubikook Kitchen Appliances.