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Knife storage- do in drawer inserts dull knives

Nobasil (z4 New England)

10 years ago

We're in the process of redoing our kitchen. We definitely want to get rid of the knife block (on counter). We like the idea of an in drawer solution (out of sight and easy to lock out the toddler) but worry that most of them store knives upright. Does that dull them faster??? Anyone put a magnetic strip in a drawer?

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Comments (8)

ineffablespace
10 years ago
It shouldn't: they rest on the edge in an angled knife block, too.

Putting knives in the dishwasher is the fastest way to dull them.
annkh_nd
10 years ago
I don't know about dulling speed, but we love, love, love our knife drawer. It's one of the favorite things in our new kitchen, for both me and DH. One of my new kitchen goals was to get stuff off the counters, and we had 2 knife blocks. The drawer certainly solved the problem, and is convenient too.
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I cleaned my file up a while back, but here is my short list of links from my search for a knife solution. I can't personally advocate for any of these products or vendors; however, I did grow up with a wooden slotted rack on the counter (knives drop vertically between the rails); and it was very handy. Not child-safe. My in-laws had the magnetic knife strip, on a cabinet to the side of their sink. That system worked well for them. Again, however, children could climb up there and cause mischief. We're going to lay our knives flat in the thin drawer under the cooktop, with a lock on the drawer. We're still waiting to get the drawer back from the carpenter. I expect the whole arrangement to be very annoying, but I know my kids won't be able to get in there for a long time. General Knife Storage Article with Focus on Knife Covers Magnetic Knife Rack Wustof In-drawer Knife Tray Edlund Commercial Knife Rack CulinHome Knife Frame Stand Blade-Bar Wall-Mount Knife Holder Bamboo Magnetic Knife Block Orga-Line Knife Holder Hth - Cate
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"With a knife block (even ones in the drawer, I cannot see what kind of knife it is without pulling it out.. So there is a hunt and peck involved." We use a drawer knife block so I can address this concern. There is a minor amount of hunting and pecking. Our steak knives go in the top half, our chef knives (2) in the bottom half, our bread knife is always on the right, our paring knife always on the left. You do have to be careful putting the knives away, but no more so than putting than in a counter knife block or probably even on a magnetic rack to avoid the other blades.
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That does look smaller. If I don't use a knife holder, what do you recommend I do? I don't want to let my knives get dull. Will letting them be free in a drawer do that? And, I've got a baby who'll grow up to probably be obsessed with getting into my drawers.... so it seems like a knife holder would be good.
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kitchendetective
10 years ago
I have read that the knife blocks that allow one to store knives on their sides are better for blades, the reasoning being that there is less pressure on the cutting edge. Whatever mode of storage places the least amount of pressure on the blades is the best. I store my good ones in sheathes on their sides, and then remove the sheathes and lay the knives on the cutting board before prep. It's an extra step, but I try to preserve the sharpness as carefully as possible. It also discourages the careless users from helping themselves to those particular knives. I do also have an in-drawer knife holder, though, and admit that it is convenient.

Here is a link that might be useful: One of a million forum discussions
Nobasil (z4 New England)
Original Author
10 years ago
Our current block stores them sideways- but it definitely needs to go. We never put knives in the dishwasher, and don't want to have to sharpen them more often.
cevamal
10 years ago
I've decided I don't care if it dulls them slightly, the convenience is worth it!

But to the person who said a regular knife block has the same problem, not necessarily: we put knives in it blade-up.
angela12345
10 years ago
If you are worried about dulling the edge, store them blade side up in the drawer insert. The blade is below the level of the wood anyway for most, if not all, of the knives.
bkay2000
10 years ago
What dulls a knife is using it against a hard surface. Always use a cutting board when using a knife, don't put them in the dishwasher and don't let them bang against anything. They should stay sharp for home use with just an occasional use of a steel.

If the cutting edge rests against wood or plastic, it should be fine in a drawer. It's not sitting there that dulls it. It's banging on metal or a china plate or something like that (and of course, using it).

For my slicing knife, I wrap the blade in a towel and put it in the front of the drawer. There are also knife shields that you can get at the restaurant supply. I have one called edgeguard. You just slip your knife in it, and it protects the edge. (I'm a chef, so keeping sharp knives is important to me.)

bk
Nobasil (z4 New England)
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks- I hadn't thought of it that way- but it makes sense- the damage from sliding it into the block should be minor compared with the damage from the multiple strokes for whatever the knife was taken out to do.

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