How do you store your good kitchen knives?

[Robin Garr]

Okay, here's the story: We're doing a little cleanup and reorg in the kitchen, and as part of the process, Mary would like me to get rid of my well-used old wooden knife block. I've had it for many years and am comfortable with it, but I think she thinks it's got old-knife cooties or something.

More seriously, she'd like to find an alternative that takes up less counter space. (This is the heavy wooden block with slots to hold knives at a handy angle, just off vertical, with their blades protected. (Photo at right is similar, not identical ... mine is bigger, and it's darker. Hmm ... I wonder if it used to be this dark ... maybe that's why Mary doesn't like it. )

She's kind of interested in one of those magnetic wall strips like Alton Brown has, but I'm a little phobic about leaving all our sharp knives exposed that way, fearing a random swipe of hand along wall could lead to bloody consequences. Or if we accidentally knocked one off and it went bouncing around.

What kind of system do you folks use? Any other good alternatives? I don't want to throw them in a drawer, and I don't particularly want to use my knife roll for storage ... that's set aside for traveling cookery.

I wouldn't mind just giving my good old knife block a good power wash, but I'm willing to consider alternatives. I'd just like to find one that really makes me happy.

So, your suggestions, pliz ...

I've got two 12" magnetic strips over my sink (no window there, darn it!). We've never had a problem with them falling. The blades are all pointed up. The handles are right about eye level. We have almost no counter space in our kitchen and this was the perfect solution.

Looks like this:


The blades pointed down look dangerous to me:

I also have two magnetic strips that have held my many knives for 20+ years. The stri0ps are very stron- I even have a 16oz cleaver that has never fallen.

[Robin Garr]

I also have two magnetic strips that have held my many knives for 20+ years. The stri0ps are very stron- I even have a 16oz cleaver that has never fallen.

Thanks, guys! Keep 'em coming. I just noticed a funny quirk about the strip ... I'm right-handed. Mary is left-handed. If we go that route, one of us is going to have to approach the knives from the sharp side no matter which way we hang them. I'm glad to know the magnets are secure, though.

[Robin Garr]

here's my way of storing my knives.
takes up no counter space and yet still right there when you need them.

That really IS interesting, Annemarie! Thanks! I wonder if they make them in larger sizes, though. Being a kitchen geek, I have quite a few more knives than that ...

(Added: I wouldn't want that one in earthquake country! Having lived in the Bay Area and LA in another life and been through a temblor or two, I could see those knives heading straight across the room if you happened to get a lateral shaking in the right direction.)

At work we have several magnetic strips and they work very well.
At home I have a big old block like yours that doesn't hold all of my knives but the ones I use the most. However, we have been blessed with an abundance of counter space.
Another idea to consider is going to Heimerdinger's and purchasing several plastic edge guards so you can store your knives in a drawer without fear of cutting yourself while digging around in there. I store my other knives that way.

messeredgeguard.jpg

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... 8Aa8suGhCg

You can also attach the magnetic strips to the inside of a cabinet so that they're not out in the open.

There's also this cool thing from Henckel's. http://dvice.com/assets_c/2010/03/knife ... -35627.jpg

We use both a magnetic strip and a block because we have so many knives. The strip is so convenient, we use it for other gadgets too - peeler, zester, long-neck lighter, etc.

I was recently shoppping for a wedding gift at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and came across an interesting knife "block." It was stainless steel on the exterior and instead of slots on the inside were all these tiny plastic rods. They moved freely whenever you insterted a knife, so it would hold any size knife and looked like it could hold quite a few. (There were several sizes if I recall.) I thought it looked pretty cool - it doesn't seem like it would dull your knives as much as a wooden block, and the insert with all the rods was removable and dishwahser safe.

Edit - I just found it online and it is called the "Kapoosh" there are several different sizes and styles, including a wooden one.

The Kapoosh looks pretty neat, I've been looking at those for a few years but have yet to hear anything about them. Right now I keep some of my knives in a block and the really good ones in a drawer with a knife rack, though it's now full. I also have a few knives in knife guards, but not too keen on them. It's hard to get the knife in/out and could see that being an accident waiting to happen. I may go with the magnetic strips in the next kitchen, this one doesn't have anywhere I could put a strip without me getting cut or the knives getting knocked around.

I love my magnetic strips. I have knives + cake spatulas on the wall. Counter space is too valuable. I believe I have two 12" strips butted end to end. I'm very consistent hanging the knives in the same location, so barely need to even look up when grabbing the one I want.

Magnetic strips FTW.

The Kapoosh looks pretty neat, I've been looking at those for a few years but have yet to hear anything about them. Right now I keep some of my knives in a block and the really good ones in a drawer with a knife rack, though it's now full. I also have a few knives in knife guards, but not too keen on them. It's hard to get the knife in/out and could see that being an accident waiting to happen. I may go with the magnetic strips in the next kitchen, this one doesn't have anywhere I could put a strip without me getting cut or the knives getting knocked around.

I was at Bret's house the other night and noticed that he has one. I was pretty impressed with it. More so with the fact that you can stick anything in it and that the "rods" come out and can be run through the dishwasher.

Kapoosh.jpg

I think they are only like 30 bucks at Bed Bath and Beyond