Pro Chefs Are Begging You To Stop Storing Knives Like This

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The kitchen can be a chaotic place. Not only do you have to contend with people walking, working, and moving through your space, but some items also take up unnecessary real estate, causing clutter and reducing your workable room. While we can't help you with the former, we can give you some professional advice on which items need to go. To get some insight into the items that home chefs are better off throwing out, we spoke to Rohit Yadav, executive chef at Marriott Executive Apartments Bengaluru UB City.

One of the top items he recommends removing from your space is an oversized knife block. "Many contain slots for knives that are rarely used, making them inefficient in both design and function," he told Tasting Table. These cumbersome storage units don't just detract from your space and make it look visually cluttered, but they could also be damaging your knives. Every time that you slide the blade against the wood, it dulls the knife, which can lead to inefficient cuts, a more frequent sharpening schedule, and the need to replace them sooner. Plus, if you only use a few knives, like a quality chef's knife or utility knife, you may not need to have an entire block dedicated to knife storage. On top of visually disrupting the space, bulky knife blocks can also be home to bacteria and moisture, which can spread foodborne illness.

There are numerous alternative ways to store your knives to keep both them and your kitchen looking sharp. For one, you can purchase a magnetic knife strip — like this model from Enoking, which comes in multiple sizes — to hang on a wall or the backsplash in your kitchen. Since the blades won't touch, you won't have to worry about them dulling as fast. Plus, adding these strips is an easy way to make use of otherwise unused space in your kitchen. However, the one drawback of this smart storage solution is that they can leave behind some superficial scratches, or may not be practical for homes with small children or animals.

Another great way to store your kitchen knives is to use a drawer organizer. You can select a smaller organizer, like this Utoplinke model, if you only have a couple of knives. If you only have one or two knives worth storing, investing in blade sheaths (like these ones from Ergo Chef) might be more practical and safe.