5 Smart Knife Storage Solutions

Whether you’ve splurged on forged, hand-sharpened, carbon steel cutlery or you’ve bought a single stamped chef’s knife, you’ll want to be sure to store it carefully. Cutlery is only safe and useful when it’s sharp. Improper storage can dull or damage it. In this post, we’ll cover five smart knife storage solutions to consider, depending on the size of your kitchen, the size of your cutlery collection, and how and where you plan to use your knives.

Knife Blocks

Knife blocks are the most common knife storage solution. Many knife sets even come with a knife block, especially when you buy a set that includes five or more knives. Knife blocks may be made of wood, stainless steel, or plastic. They feature slots to hold different-sized knives, and the number of slots depends on the size of the block. Many knife blocks also have a slot for a honing steel and space for kitchen shears.

Choose a knife block that accommodates the various knives you already own -- such as paring knives, steak knives, chef’s knives, and bread knives -- and allows room for your cutlery collection to grow. You can also choose among a variety of wood types and stains to complement your kitchen.

In-Drawer Knife Trays

If you don’t have enough counter space to accommodate a knife block, but you have a kitchen drawer you can dedicate to knife storage, consider an in-drawer knife tray. These trays are usually made of wood and offer a varying number of slots for holding knives.

In-drawer knife trays offer several advantages. First, they don’t take up any counter space. Second, they keep knives protected from spills, dirt, and dust. Finally, they are an optimal way to keep knives organized regardless of their size or how many you own. You can buy additional trays as you grow your cutlery collection.

Knife Bars

Another smart option for smaller kitchens is a knife bar. This storage method consists of a wall-mounted bar that includes a magnetic strip. The magnetic strip may be embedded inside the bar, such as in the case of wood or stone knife bars. Other knife bars are made entirely of metal.

Choose a knife bar that fits the wall space you have available in your kitchen, as well as the size of your cutlery collection. You can also store your most-often used knives within easy reach, thanks to a knife bar. Then store the rest of your cutlery in a block or drawer, where you can access it when necessary.

Edge Guards

If you don’t own enough cutlery to merit an in-drawer knife tray, but you want to keep your knives in a kitchen drawer, edge guards may come in handy. These plastic sheaths are sized according to varying types of knives. Simply slide a knife into the sheath to protect the blade during storage. Edge guards also protect your fingers as you rummage through your kitchen drawers. Messermeister was the first cutlery company to produce edge guards, and we carry a wide assortment of them.

Knife Luggage

While most of us don’t need special luggage for our cutlery, these bags and backpacks are invaluable to chefs who depend on their knives to make a living. Knife luggage is also a safe means of transporting knives while traveling. If you’re headed to a vacation property and plan to cook there, you might consider bringing a knife bag to carry key pieces of cutlery, such as a paring knife, chef’s knife, bread knife, and a set of steak knives.