Knife Storage
Just curious how everyone stores their knives (ie. wall magnets, those wooden knife block or maybe something else)?
I have always wanted to try the magnets strips however still just lay them all on a soft towel on a shelf. Anyone else?
For those using wooden blocks, any problem with the wood dulling the knives??
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18 Comments:
I store my knives in wooden blocks. I've used them for years - one block is 40 years old! They don't dull the knives. At work we use the magnetic strips but I don't like them. Knives fall off them. The strips themselves tend to come apart after heavy use - which may not be a problem in a home kitchen. When I need to take a knife of mine to work I use a plastic knife safe (made by Lamson) which is hinged and completely encloses the blade to protect it and me as well.
tapioca at 4:12PM on 09/09/09
I've block for my regular used knives. But for my lesser used items I have guards over all my blades... to protect them and me. I've some nice ones from Westminster which are just hard plastic. Also, I make them out of left over card board and electrical tape. Just cut to the length of the blade and make it a little over twice the width. Fold in half and wrap the tape like its going out of style. This makes sure that if they are in the drawer, I keep my finger tip and they keep there edge. I
Husband at 4:52PM on 09/09/09
i have a magnetic strip for my more commonly used knives--my chef's knife, my serrated blade, a santoku and a couple paring/utility knives usually live up there...for the rest, i have a drawer in the back of the kitchen where they live.
rasellers0 at 7:38PM on 09/09/09
Wall magnets are the best way. They do not take up precious counter space and they are all visible so you know which one you're grabbing. Also, if you decide you would like to reposition them for better flow, you're able to do so. I had magnets in my restaurant and I have them in my house.
therealchiffonade at 7:47PM on 09/09/09
Block for the steak and paring knives and scissors, magnet for all the longer knives, along with the potato peeler, can/bottle opener.
betteirene at 11:17PM on 09/09/09
I currently have 2 roommates. They use a cheaper set of knives stored in a block. I don't know if the block dulls the knives or not, as they're all "microserrated". I do know the knives chew the heck out of the storage slots, though.
As for my own knives, I have 3 really good knives & 3 mid-range. The mid-range all came with their own sheathes. Two of the really good knives (chef's & serrated) are in sheathes & the paring knife is kept in its box until I get a sheath for it. All of them are in a side drawer in the kitchen.
When I have my own place, they'll be on a magnet.
SconnieGirl at 2:39AM on 09/10/09
Wood block. Some in drawers for seldom used tasks, with cardboard sleeves like @Husband (above) makes.
lemonfair at 6:53AM on 09/10/09
I pretty much only use a chef's knife and a paring knife, so I just keep them in knife guards in a drawer.
producestories at 8:04AM on 09/10/09
We use a wood block for our knives and our kitchen shears.
The last time my mother visited me, she brought over a wicked sharp Chinese meat cleaver -- transported in her baggage with thick layers of fabric. We keep it in a drawer, wrapped in the same cloth.
avaryne at 8:07AM on 09/10/09
If you use a wood block, it can help to put the knives in the block so that the sharp edge does not rest on the wood, put the unsharpened side down so the handle is in the opposite direction of when you are using it. Don't rest the blade on the edge, rest it on the back.
Meat guy at 8:41AM on 09/10/09
I have a hodgepodge of knives that I have collected or inherited over the years so a "standard" or name brand knife block doesn't do it for me. I ended up getting a Kapoosh Universal Knife block from Bed Bath and Beyond. The block has these narrow plastic fiber tubes that move around to enclose your knives. It's pretty cool and you can remove the tubes to clean them if you would like--their attached to a base to it's easy to pull out, rinse, dry and then place back into the base. It's sold at other places too. BBB just happens to be near me. I really like it and the kids (11 & 15) get a kick out of placing the knives in various random positions.
dhorst at 9:02AM on 09/10/09
Ikea has a super cheap wall magnet that looks good, installs easily and holds up a small artillery at my house (and I have it mounted vertically!). I hated my old block--I couldn't clean it, took up too much space, and prematurely dulled my knives. I flipped the sharp edge over in the block for awhile--until it was clear that was dangerous to unsuspecting cooks visiting my kitchen!
Bumblebutton at 9:29AM on 09/10/09
Wood block, love it! It sits on the island right where I do all my prep.
DELICIOUS at 9:51AM on 09/10/09
i keep it in a sheath attached like a shoulder gun holster.
i can't tell you how many times i've cut my armpit tho.
gastronomeg at 4:23PM on 09/10/09
I've used knife safes (plastic covers that snap on and off). They keep fingers and knives safe from harm.
hereandthe at 7:01PM on 09/10/09
Wow - so many block users! I wouldn't go back to blocks because they take up counter space - and for the reasons cited by Bumblebutton, above.
therealchiffonade at 8:39PM on 09/10/09
My knife block is stored on the counter in a corner that is unusable for anything else so it doesn't take space away from any other task. The block itself is made by Henckels and stores the knives not on the edge but on their sides. I really don't have any problem keeping the block clean. It just comes down to a matter of preference and of counter space versus wall space.
tapioca at 4:59AM on 09/11/09
I use a knife block as well, it's always within an arms reach when I am cooking.
I worked in a kitchen store for years we sold both...blocks and magnetic strips. Both work well.
FYI.... you should never put your knives in the dishwasher.
doulamona at 6:57PM on 09/11/09