How To Choose a Knife Block To Store Your Knives

Tips for deciding on a knife block. One of the greatest methods to care for your knives, other than sharpening them regularly, is to keep them safely and securely. Although it may be convenient to store your knives in a drawer with the rest of your cutlery, doing so may lead to dulling and even chipping.

While we know that wooden knife blocks are the most frequent method to keep anything from kitchen shears to your all-purpose chef’s knife, we were intrigued as to whether or not this was the ideal option. The in-house senior chef at WÜSTHOF, Chef Michael Geraghty, helped us weigh the benefits and drawbacks of three common knife storage options: a wooden knife block, a magnetic knife bar, and plastic knife edge protectors.

A Wooden Block

A knife block is a common fixture on kitchen countertops and is used to store a variety of knives. To keep his blades neat and within easy reach, Chef Mike prefers to put them in a knife block at home. Chef Mike suggests disinfecting the knife block by soaking it for two minutes in a solution of one gallon of warm water and one tablespoon of household bleach. After that, he suggests letting it dry on a clean, dry towel.

Having a dedicated space for all of your knives, shears, and sharpening tools is a huge convenience, and knife blocks are the perfect solution. Every knife has its own storage compartment, so they’re simple to arrange and retrieve quickly. Furthermore, knife blocks are a great way to display your collection and add a decorative touch to your kitchen counter.

As compared to the other two alternatives, knife blocks are the most costly, costing anywhere from $40 to $80 for a high-quality version, depending on the type and amount of slots. Don’t forget to wash and dry your knives well before sliding them back into their storage slots; otherwise, they may retain germs.

A Magnetic Bar

Intent on creating the impression of a restaurant-quality kitchen in your own home? Professionals often use magnetic knife bars to store their blades in a vertical orientation. In a commercial kitchen, “a magnetic bar is a terrific alternative for keeping my knives out and immediately available for the faster-paced setting,” says Chef Mike.

For homes with little counter space, magnetic knife bars are a lifesaver. Magnetic knife bars are a great alternative to traditional knife blocks, which take up valuable counter space but can be mounted out of the way almost anywhere. They look nice while displaying your knives, and you can see each one clearly so you can choose the one that’s best for the job.

A magnetic knife bar, in contrast to blocks or plastic guards, will need some do-it-yourself attention to ensure that it is properly mounted on the wall and stays in place.

Edge guards made of plastic

A plastic knife edge guard is the most cost-effective option for safe, convenient, and low-profile drawer storage of knives. We recommend simple sliding shields from Messermeister and Williams-Sonoma. As the blade is hidden, they are very convenient for transporting knives.

We advise a plastic knife guard if you don’t have a vast collection of knives. You can get one for about $10, and it will safeguard your whole knife collection, from the tiniest paring knife to the heaviest chef’s knife.

Knife guards constructed of plastic, as opposed to more sustainable materials like metal or wood, have several drawbacks.

FAQs: How to choose a knife block to store your knives

Q. Should knives be stored in a block?

The cleanest way to store your knives is in a drawer block or a magnetic strip. Knives kept on magnetic strips might also attract food splatter depending on how close your magnetic bar is to your food preparation area.

Q.  What are 3 recommendations for storing knives?

In general, there are three basic methods to store your kitchen knives correctly. You can place them in countertop knife blocks, drawers, or on wall-mounted magnetic strips. All these solutions are considered safe for knife storage, but the best selection usually depends upon how well your kitchen is configured.

Q.  What is the disadvantage of knife block?

One disadvantage is that using a knife block can leave you wondering where to store the knives that don’t fit (hello meat cleaver!), so you’ll need another option as well. It can also be difficult to keep your knife block sanitized, as water and crumbs can sometimes get into the slots.

Q.  Why you shouldn’t use a knife block?

Wooden knife blocks may be a more common storage option, but they’re far from the best way to store knives. Storing knives in wood blocks is more likely to dull your knives, and those knife blocks could also be a hotbed for yeast, mold, and other germs.

Conclusions

best knife block selection. Hand-washing blocks maintain them well. Certain items aren’t dishwasher-safe. It may erode blocks, weakening knife protection. Soap and water clean bricks. Oil can brighten wooden knife blocks.

Universal blocks have thin nylon or polypropylene interlocking rods. Rubber-coated rods suit under-20cm blades (except for blocks that are bigger than average, of course). The block’s appearance may suffer if longer knives are housed.

Nylon rods retain blades in blocks to avoid scratching. Nylon strands prevent knife collisions. To eliminate smells, remove the nylon rods.

choosing a high-quality knife block It can carry 18 knives or culinary items.