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Kitchen knives play an outsized role in cooking, but many home cooks treat them with blatant disdain. My own parents take great care herbs cast iron And oiling wooden cutting boardsand then toss their best knives loosely into a drawer after washing. This unholy act causes even the best-made cutlery to prematurely dull and suffer irreparable damage as the edges rattle against each other and whatever is stored inside.
So how do you store your knives so they stay sharp, last longer, and don’t get extra wear? I turned to Nina Dols, founder and CEO of a mail-order knife sharpening service Knife aidDols, a passionate knife caretaker, shared her thoughts on how to properly store kitchen knives and the biggest mistakes to avoid.
A genius trick Dols told me is to store your knives upside down when using a wooden block. This prevents the knives from scraping against the wood when you slide them in and out.
Here you can read everything I have learned about proper knife storage.
What is the best way to store kitchen knives?
Knife drawers provide dedicated storage space for each knife.
“A knife block for the counter, a in-drawer insert or a knife roll. Anything that keeps the blades separated and protects the edges. If you have to store your knives in a drawer and don’t have an insert, make sure you have one sleeve on each of them.”
Dols notes that she keeps hers in a drawer. “We have small children and lots of knives. So we have a drawer with three inserts that have a child lock. The knives we use less often, we keep in rolls.”
The Worst Mistakes People Make When Storing Knives
Not only will this destroy your knife, but you will also end up hurting yourself.
“Throw the knives in a drawer and store them dirty and/or wet,” Dols says. “And you should always hand wash your knives and let them dry completely before storing them in a secure block, sheath, or on a magnetic bar.”
“While we’re at it, never put your knives in the dishwasher. If you see a little bit of rust on your knives, remove it immediately with a scouring pad.”
Are magnetic knife bars safe to use?
Magnetic rods are safe as long as you use them properly.
Dols emphasizes that magnetic knife bars are perfectly fine to use as long as they are used correctly. However, if the blades are removed incorrectly, the blades can become scratched or bent, the latter being the most common problem.
“When you place the knives on a magnetic bar, you start [by] place the spine on the bar and roll the rest of the blade onto the magnet, ending with the edge. When removing knives, lift the edge first and roll the rest of the blade off, ending with the spine,” reversing the motion of placing the knives on the bar.
If you want to use a magnetic rod, you may want to consider using a wooden model.
Given the extra effort and care required to properly use magnetic knife blocks, this may not be the best method for everyone. wooden knife block instead of a metal version can help reduce dents in the edge of your knife.
If you use a knife block, store the knives
Store your knives so that the blades do not rub against the wood.
“Wooden blocks are great for storing knives,” Dols explains. The best knife blocks allow knives to hang without the blade rubbing against machine material. If you want to be extra gentle with your knives and your block has vertical slots, place the knives in with the spine down and the cutting edge up.”
Do different knives require different storage methods?
Most knives should be stored as described above, but if you have high carbon knives it is even more important to store them in a dry environment so they don’t rust or tarnish.
For more information, see our list of 7 common mistakes that people make when caring for knives and the best chef knives to buy in 2024.
