Let me start by saying the worst ways to store kitchen knives are tossing them loose in a drawer or leaving them in a pile on the counter. It is dangerous. You, or someone you love, could be seriously injured. Furthermore, you could damage the knife blades, so they become dull and unable to be sharpened. Instead, let’s look at better ways to organize and store your kitchen knives.

How to Organize Your Kitchen Knives

The first step is to organize the knives you have. Then, you can determine how to store them. Search your kitchen, collect the knives, and place them in one area. Now, separate them into two main categories: keep and toss.

• Keep: Keep your favourite knives, the ones you use most often.
• Toss: Toss any with bent/chipped blades, cracked/broken handles, and those you never use (e.g., the fish boning knife you got as a wedding gift even though you’re allergic to seafood).

Next, prepare the knives you want to let go of. You shouldn’t just toss sharp, pointy knives into the trash or donation bin. That is very dangerous for sanitation workers and charity collection volunteers. Be kind! Take the time to wrap the blades in cardboard (old cereal or tissue box), tape the cardboard tightly, and write SHARP on the cardboard.

For the knives you’re keeping, take the time to clean and sharpen them. Sharp knives are safer and promote better cutting techniques allowing you to prepare food faster. Safety and productivity all in one! I love it!

Kitchen Knife Storage

Now that you can see all the knives you will keep, it’s time to look at storage solutions. There are four ways to store kitchen knives, wall mounts, countertop knife blocks, drawer inserts, and knife rolls. Which method you choose depends on how you work and the design of your kitchen.

Wall Mount Storage

If you’re low on counter space but want to access your knives quickly, consider mounting a magnetic knife strip on your wall or cupboard. They vary by price but consider choosing one with a strong magnet so the knives don’t fall off. If style and décor are important, these wood-covered knife strips are sleek, and the wood protects the blade from becoming dull. If you choose wall-mount storage, keep the knives out of the reach of children.

Countertop Knife Blocks

A knife block is usually a large slab of wood with slits in it that you can put the knives in for storage. Often you can buy a set of knives with its own block. Although wood blocks are traditional, they are not easy to clean and sanitize and could become a reservoir of nasty germs. However, you can buy easy-to-clean, stylish knife blocks. Another option is a magnetic knife block. It’s a brick-shaped magnet covered with wood veneer. It has the easy-clean advantage of magnetic wall mounting but the convenience of countertop storage. However, it is probably not the safest option if you have children.

Drawer Storage

Using a drawer to organize and store your kitchen knives is a good choice if you have drawer space. Even though it may be more work for you to access the knives, it is easier to keep children from accessing them. Again, choose a storage solution that fits your drawer space. And it should be one you can clean without too much trouble. Since you’ll open and close the drawer frequently, it should also have a non-slip bottom. This inexpensive knife organizer fits in most drawers and has slots for knives of all sizes.

Knife Rolls

A knife roll is a piece of leather or fabric with stitched slots to hold knife handles and a flap that covers the blades. The cook/chef can roll the fabric up and take their knives with them. Knife rolls are available in vegan leather, heavy canvas, and ballistic nylon.

Knife rolls take up much less space in a drawer than typical drawer organizers while still protecting the knives and keeping them away from children. In fact, you can unroll the fabric and hang it in your kitchen area while preparing meals, then put it away when you finish. It’s also super convenient to transport your knives between “homes,” whether to your holiday house or your friend’s place, to help prepare meals.

Regardless of how you organize and store your kitchen knives, prioritizing knife safety and accessibility is essential. And it will ensure your knives remain in optimal condition while creating a functional and enjoyable food preparation space.

Image by Pexels on Pixabay.