kitchen knives They’re as critical as any tool you’ll use to work on a recipe, and a dull or damaged chef’s knife or paring knife will cause a host of problems, some of which are potentially dangerous to your fingers. Storing knives properly is one of the keys to keeping knives sharp and free of irreparable dents and nicks.

There are several ways to store knives safely. To find out, I turned to Nina Dols, founder and CEO of a mail-order knife sharpening service, to find out the excursions and tips I missed to better maintain my favorite kitchen slicer. KnifeAid. A knife care expert shared his thoughts on storing knives properly and the biggest mistakes you can make when doing so.

One of the genius tips Dols told me is to store the knives upside down if you use a wooden block. This will prevent the blades from rubbing against the wood when you slide them in and out.

Here’s everything I learned from an expert on storing knives correctly.

What’s the best way to store kitchen knives?

“A bench knife block is a drawer insert or a knife roll. Anything that keeps the blades apart and protects the edges. If you need to store your knives in a drawer and you don’t have any attachments, be sure to put them in a drawer. dress sleeve on every single one of them.”

Dols states that he keeps his in a drawer. “We have young children and we have a lot of knives, so we have a three-piece drawer with a child lock on it. We keep the knives we use less in rolls.”

The biggest mistakes people make when storing knives

“Throwing knives in a drawer and placing them somewhere dirty and/or wet,” according to Dols. “And you should always hand wash and dry your knives completely before storing them in a secure block, sheath, or magnetic bar.”

“While you’re done, never put knives in the dishwasher. If you see even a little rust on your knives, be sure to remove it immediately with a sponge.”

Are magnetic knife bars safe to use?

Dols emphasizes that: magnetic knife sticks They can be used easily as long as they are used correctly. However, if the blades are removed incorrectly, the blades can be scratched or bent; The latter is the most common problem.

“When placing 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 the edge first and roll the rest. This reverses the motion of placing the blades on the bar, allowing the blade to finish with the spine.”

Considering the extra effort and care required for proper use of magnetic knife blocks, this may not be the best method for everyone. using a wooden knife bar It can help reduce scratches on the edge of your knife instead of the metal version.

If you use knife blocks, store them upside down

“Wooden blocks are great for storing knives,” explains Dols. “The best knife blocks allow the knives to hang without the blades having to rub against any machine material. If you want to be extra gentle with your knives and your block has vertical slots, place the knives with the back down and the cutting edge facing up.”

Do different knives require different storage?

Most knives should be stored as mentioned above, but if you have high carbon knives, it’s even more important to store them in a dry environment so they don’t rust or tarnish.

See our list for more seven common mistakes What people do when servicing knives and The best chef knives to buy in 2024.