Kitchen knives play an outsized role in cooking, but many home cooks treat them with blatant disregard. My own parents take great care in seasoning cast-iron and oiling wooden cutting boards, only to toss their best blades loosely in a drawer after washing. This unholy act causes even the most well-crafted cutlery to suffer premature dulling and irreparable damage as edges clink against one another and anything else stored within.
So how should you store knives so they stay sharp, last longer and don't suffer extra wear and tear? I turned to Nina Dols, founder and CEO of mail-order knife-sharpening service KnifeAid. Dols, a passionate knife care professional, shared her thoughts about properly storing kitchen knives and the biggest mistakes to avoid.
One genius hack Dols told me involves storing your knives in upside down if you use a wooden block. This will keep the blades from rubbing against wood when sliding them in and out.
Here's everything I learned about properly storing knives.
What's the best way to store kitchen knives?
Knife drawers offer specialized storage for each blade.
"A countertop knife block, an in-drawer insert or a knife roll. Anything that keeps the knives separated and the edges protected. If you must keep your knives in a drawer and don't have an insert, make sure to put a sleeve on each of them."
Dols notes that she keeps hers in a drawer. "We have little children and lots and lots of knives. Therefore we have a drawer with three inserts that has a child-lock on it. The knives we use less frequently we keep in rolls."
The worst mistakes people make when storing knives
Not only will this ruin your knife, but you're bound to hurt yourself eventually.
"Throwing the knives in a drawer and putting them away dirty and/or wet," according to Dols. "And you should always hand wash your knives and dry them completely before storing them in a safe block, sheath or on a magnetic bar."
"While we're at it, never put knives in the dishwasher. If you see a tiny bit of rust on your knives, make sure to remove it immediately with a scrubbing sponge."
Are magnetic knife bars safe to use?
Magnetic bars are safe as long as you use them properly.
Dols stresses that magnetic knife bars are fine to use as long as they're used correctly. However, when the knives are removed the wrong way, the blades can scratch or bend, the latter being the most common issue.
"When putting the knives on a magnetic bar, start [by] placing the spine on the bar and roll the rest of the blade onto the magnet finishing with the edge. When removing knives, lift off the edge first and roll off the rest of the blade, finishing with the spine," reversing the motion of placing the knives on the bar.
If you're going to use a magnetic bar, you might consider springing for a wooden model.
Considering the extra effort and care that goes into proper use of magnetic knife blocks, this might not be the best method for everyone. Using a wooden knife bar instead of a metal version can help mitigate dings to your knife's edge.
If you're using a knife block, store them blades up
Store your knives blades up to avoid the edges rubbing against the wood.
"Wooden blocks are great for storing knives," Dols explains. The best knife blocks allow knives to rest suspended without the blade rubbing against any machine material. If you want to be extra gentle on your knives and your block has vertical slots, put the knives in with the spine down and cutting edge facing up."
Do different knives require different storage?
Most knives should be stored as outlined above, but if you own high-carbon knives, it's even more important to store them in a dry environment so they don't rust or tarnish.
For more, see our list of 7 common mistakes that people make when caring for knives and the best chef's knives to buy in 2024.