Favorite ways to keep your knives handy?

[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 ...

That's a great question Robin. We have used a magnetic bar in the past with none of the problems you bring up. Problem is there is no good place for one in our current kitchen. I thought about getting a block, but wife had same concerns as yours. So, we keep them in a narrow drawer. It know this is not good for knives or fingers, but don't have a better answer.

I have that knife block thingy. I don't worry about cooties, as I always give my knives a swipe on the stone, a swish under the hot tap, and a wipe on the towel before use. But, I hate the fact that it takes up precious counter space. And, I don't want to ruin the aesthetic of my cabinets with that metal bar thingy. If you come up with some good alternatives, I'm interested.

I used to have a magnetic strip. It worked fine and safely. In my current kitchen, however, wall space is at even more of a premium than counter space; now I have a block.

[Jenise]

You basically have three choices: block, magnetic strip, or drawer. Usually, as in Jeff's case, it comes down to elimination according to what you can't do, what you don't have room for. I used to have three blocks, but in my new kitchen it looked junky so I narrowed myself down to two and put all the paring knives in a drawer. Which are the only options I have. In my new kitchen there is no wall behind the place I do prep work. If you do have the wall space, go for the strip. Your hands won't be there for any other reason than grabbing a knife.

This drawer is just to the right of the cutting board on the counter. It works great for me, and my knives are out of the way...with less clutter on the counters.

For the past few years I have been using plastic sheaths. Check out the link here. http://www.warthercutlery.com/catalog/a ... -c-38.html

You basically have three choices: block, magnetic strip, or drawer. Usually, as in Jeff's case, it comes down to elimination according to what you can't do, what you don't have room for. I used to have three blocks, but in my new kitchen it looked junky so I narrowed myself down to two and put all the paring knives in a drawer. Which are the only options I have. In my new kitchen there is no wall behind the place I do prep work. If you do have the wall space, go for the strip. Your hands won't be there for any other reason than grabbing a knife.

There are many more options than the three you mention. Here are just a few:

http://www.fantes.com/knife-storage.html

We've got a knife block similar in design to the one in Robin's pic. Although I'm pretty slack about a lot of things round the kitchen, I always rinse off my knives, dry them, and replace them in the block as soon as they've been used.

I keep mine in a drawer, using a block similar to the one in Karen's pic. I got the block at Sur la Table.

John

Magnetic bar for the good ones, junk utensil drawer for the crappy ones.

rwj

[Jenise]

You basically have three choices: block, magnetic strip, or drawer. Usually, as in Jeff's case, it comes down to elimination according to what you can't do, what you don't have room for. I used to have three blocks, but in my new kitchen it looked junky so I narrowed myself down to two and put all the paring knives in a drawer. Which are the only options I have. In my new kitchen there is no wall behind the place I do prep work. If you do have the wall space, go for the strip. Your hands won't be there for any other reason than grabbing a knife.

There are many more options than the three you mention. Here are just a few:

http://www.fantes.com/knife-storage.html

Checked out the site and I didn't see anything different, Chef. I mean, there was stuff like plastic sheaths and knife rolls, but in most kitchens those would have to go in a drawer so we're still at the three above, aren't we?

[Robin Garr]

Checked out the site and I didn't see anything other than the big three

I just thought of one! Leg holster!

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..

We have a block now, because a new piece of storage furniture blocked the strip we had on side of fridge. But we'd used the strip for years with no issues- Betsy makes her living with hands, and a bad cut would be a disaster.So we on side of fridge, above a storage cabinet so no one walking past would accidentally bump, and just made sure the blades always faced back. No accidents. Depends on your kitchen layout, but shouldn't be hard to find a safe spot.

I have a magnetic strip mounted on the side of the wooden cabinet that arcs over our sink. It is always handy for grabbing the right knife and returning the knife to its place after washing and drying.

We also have a wooden sheath block for less frequently used lives, like filet knives. I keep extra steak knives in a drawer.