Lysine acetylation is a posttranslational modification that occurs on thousands of human proteins, most of which are cytoplasmic. Acetylated proteins are involved in numerous cellular processes and human diseases. Therefore, how the acetylation/deacetylation cycle is regulated is an important question. Eleven metal‐dependent lysine deacetylases (KDACs) have been identified in human cells. These enzymes, along with the sirtuins, are collectively responsible for reversing lysine acetylation. Despite several large‐scale studies which have characterized the acetylome, relatively few of the specific acetylated residues have been matched to a proposed KDAC for deacetylation. To understand the function of lysine acetylation, and its association with diseases, specific KDAC‐substrate pairs must be identified. Identifying specific substrates of a KDAC is complicated both by the complexity of assaying relevant activity and by the non‐catalytic interactions of KDACs with cellular proteins. Here, we discuss in vitro and cell‐based experimental strategies used to identify KDAC‐substrate pairs and evaluate each for the purpose of directly identifying non‐histone substrates of metal‐dependent KDACs. We propose criteria for a combination of reproducible experimental approaches that are necessary to establish a direct enzymatic relationship. This critical analysis of the literature identifies 108 proposed non‐histone substrate‐KDAC pairs for which direct experimental evidence has been reported. Of these, five pairs can be considered well‐established, while another thirteen pairs have both cell‐based and in vitro evidence but lack independent replication and/or sufficient cell‐based evidence. We present a path forward for evaluating the remaining substrate leads and reliably identifying novel KDAC substrates.