If You Keep Kitchen Knives in a Block, This Trick Will Keep Them Sharp for Longer

My favorite way to store knives is on a magnetic strip. If you don’t care to permanently add to a kitchen wall, a wooden knife block works just as well, even if it takes up a bit of precious counter space. If you use a knife block to keep blades safe when not in use, one tiny change in how you slide them in will keep the blades sharper for longer.

This brilliant knife storage tip comes courtesy of Nina Dols, founder and CEO of mail-order knife-sharpening service KnifeAid. I spoke with Nina about this and more common mistakes made when storing kitchen knives.

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 with a child lock. The knives we use less frequently, we keep in rolls.”

“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.”

“When putting the knives on a magnetic bar, start by placing the spine on the bar and rolling 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.

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 use a knife block, store it upside down.

“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, storing them in a dry environment is even more important so they don’t rust or tarnish.

For more, see our list of common mistakes people make when caring for knives and the best chef’s knives to buy in 2025.