The Best Way to Store Your Knives

It may be tempting to throw your knives in a drawer if you’re looking to save some counter space, but every pro chef and knife expert we spoke to is begging you to please find another solution, especially if the knives are expensive. “Metal hitting metal is not good,” shares Quintin Middleton, knife maker and owner of Middleton Made Knives. Middleton says that storing knives in a drawer will “dull the edge of the knife” quickly and “affect the longevity” of your cutlery. 

Plus, “no one wants to reach a hand in the drawer and accidentally get cut,” says Ayesha Nurdjaja, executive chef at Shuka in New York City. Nurdjaja also adds that standard slotted knife blocks are a good starting point, but “every time you take the knife out or put it back, you can scrape the blade against the wood, which will dull it over time.” From magnetic knife strips to in-drawer knife trays, read on for the best knife storage solutions recommended by the pro chefs and knife experts we spoke to.

Expert-Recommended Knife Storage Solutions

Victorinox In-Drawer Knife Holder

“Our knives are an extension of our hands when we cook,” says Nurdjaja. “Storing knives in the drawer unprotected means you have a better chance of getting the edge nicked, which will dull the blade. A nice sharp edge on your knife makes cutting anything easier, faster, and safer.” Nurdjaja swears by the Victorinox in-drawer knife holder, which fits up to five knives and saves counter space. “A clean counter is something I am always looking for,” chimes in chef Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park in New York City. “This is a perfect solution for that.”

Jonathan Alden Magnetic Wooden Knife Bar Holder Strip

Another space-saving and chef-loved solution is the magnetic knife strip, which can be drilled into the wall to hold knives. Janice Carte, founder and owner of the personal chef service Tiny Spoon Chef, loves her Jonathan Alden knife strip. Knife strips keep blades protected and maximize the vertical space in your kitchen. “It allows me to see my beautiful tools as pieces of art in my home, and they’re always within easy reach.”

Made In Cookware Magnetic Knife Block

Evan Hennessey, chef and owner of Stages at One Washington and The Living Room in Dover, New Hampshire, knows that “everyone has that knife drawer — the place where knives go to be forgotten about.” Hennessey knows a thing or two about knives, having recently collaborated with Narin M. Knives to design his custom chef’s knife. His go-to knife storage solution at home is the Made In Cookware magnetic knife block. Hennessy likes that these blocks don’t require drilling and have a non-slip base, which “is helpful when removing a knife.” It’s also our top pick for magnetic knife holders, having outperformed other models in our tests.

Knife Dock Knife Drawer Organizer

For Miles Odell, chef and owner of soon-to-open Odell’s Bagel in Denver, Colorado, the Knife Dock knife organizer is a go-to for storing knives. The cork lining keeps blades protected since “it’s important they aren’t touching each other to prevent any damage to the blade.”

Yoshihiro Natural Magnolia Wood Saya Cover Blade Protector

Quite a few of the chefs we spoke to advocated storing your most precious knives using individual blade protectors or sheaths. “The edge of a knife is pretty fragile and can become dull almost instantly depending on how it’s handled and used,” shares Kenneth Wan, head chef at MAKfam in Denver, Colorado. “At our home we only use a couple of all-purpose chef’s knives. They are held in a drawer and protected with a Japanese-style wooden sheath.” So if you’re adamant about keeping your knives in the drawer, this is the best solution to keep the blades (and your fingers) protected.

360KB Magnetic Rotating Knife Block

For optimal versatility, this rotating knife block from 360KB is knife maker Geoff Feder’s knife storage of choice. Feder, owner of Feder Knives, says that the 360K knife block “accommodates a lot of different styles and lengths of blades” to “safely and beautifully store your knives.” The magnets are super strong, so you never have to worry about a knife sliding off the block.