Where should kitchen knives be stored?

The kitchen knife is probably the most important kitchen tool for a cook. A good knife will be a cook's best friend during the preparation of his or her recipes. Hence, it is important to take good care of your kitchen knives, and great part of it is about storing them in the right way. In fact, a kitchen knife cannot be stored the same way as any other kitchen utensil because if stored incorrectly, the knife might get damaged or you might get hurt (i.e. cut by the blade).

In this page, we'll show you how to store your kitchen knives in a safe and convenient way. If you put in practice any of the methods mentioned below, you'll be able to preserve your knives' quality, and you'll have a much more organised kitchen.

Knife blocks

Here's a creative way of putting your knives away, and at the same time, make them part of the your kitchen's decoration: store them in a knife block. Indeed, the knife blocks are a very popular way to store kitchen knives because they are practical and aesthetic. A knife block provides safe storage for your knives because they are not mixed with other kitchen utensils that might scratch the handle or damage the blade's edge. Furthermore, a knife block can be an important decorative accessory in your kitchen as it can stand on your worktop and be seen by everyone. Last but not least, using a block also allows you to have easy access to your knives whenever you need them. If you are preparing a meal and you need to cut something, you won't need to look for the knife in your drawer; you'll simply have to take it out from the block that is already next to you on your kitchen's worktop.

There are several types of knife blocks out there, so choosing the right one for your kitchen will depend on several criteria such as its design, its size, and of course, its price. There are some blocks that have separate slots for each knife, and there are universal blocks in which you can store knives in whatever order you wish. For the fans of innovation, there are also magnetic blocks on which you can simply put the steel blades of your knives against the magnetic surface. In the end, the choice is yours. If you need more advice, have a look at our article about how to choose the right block for your knives.

Knife bags and cases

If you are a professional chef or a student in a culinary school, it is very likely that you need to carry your knives around to use them in different kitchens. If that's your case, it does not make much sense to store your knives in your kitchen, because you'll need to take them out frequently. Instead, it is a better idea to store your kitchen knives in a roll bag or in a knife case. The advantage of storing your knives in one of these accessories is that they serve you a double purpose: on one hand, they are the ideal storage for your knives, and on the other hand, they are the perfect transport method for carrying your knives from one kitchen to another.

For all the chefs on the go, there are different types of knife bags and cases that adapt to the different needs in terms of capacity and design. There is everything from small roll bags with just a few slots to big, rigid cases with space to store more than 10 knives and other kitchen accessories. To have a better idea of which bag or case can be the best fit for you, we invite you to read our article on choosing the right bag for your knives.

Magnetic knife holders

Also known as magnetic racks, these can be made of wood, plastic, or aluminium. Due to their magnetic surface, they are only suitable for kitchen knives with steel blades. As the knife blocks, the magnetic holders provide a smart way to store the knives whilst making them part of the landscape of your kitchen. The main advantages of magnetic holders are that they save you space on your worktop, and since the knives are entirely visible, you can quickly pick up exactly the one you need without risking to pick the wrong one.

The variety of knife holders available in the market is also large. You can find standard ones with just a plain rectangular design, and there are also other racks that are more aesthetical made of exotic woods. The length of the knife racks varies depending on the model, but in the end, the amount of knives that you can put on it will depend on the size and shape of your knives' blades.

Knife organisers

In most kitchens, the most common place where knives (or any other kitchen utensil) are stored is in the drawers. The problem with that storage method is that knives are usually mixed with other utensils, so the drawer is not well organised and finding the knife can take you some time. On top of that, there is the risk of taking the knife from the wrong angle, which can lead you to an unfortunate cut. Nonetheless, storing your knives in a drawer can also be safe and organised if you use a knife organiser. These are accessories that you put inside your drawer, and they have well designed slots for each single knife. This way, there is no need to things move around in order to take out the knife that you need. If you think about it, a knife organiser is somewhat like a knife block but instead of being on the worktop, it is inside your drawer.

Now that you know which are the best options for storing your kitchen knives, it is up to you to opt for the option that best adapts to your needs and desires. However, if there is anything that was not clear, or if you have any further inquiry about any of the knife storage methods mentioned above, please know that we'll be more than glad to help you out. You can either give us a call on the 020 3445 5205, or you can send us a message using our Contact page.