Forum: cooking.stackexchange.com
Tags: <storage-method><knives>
Title: Storing knives: wood block or magnetic stripe?
Question: What's better for storing your knives? Wood block or magnetic stripe? And why?

Answers:
sents: text: I prefer the block.
text: I've used the strip before, but if it was knocked accidentally when bustling about the kitchen, it caused a rain of sharp metal death.
text: It was also possible to get the blade of the knife being pulled off under another and cause an extra knife to come shooting off the strip.
text: These could probably be overcome by being less of a clutz or getting a better magnetic strip rack, but I've transitioned to something like this , which you can make at home for about $10.
text: Works great.
text: No need to worry about sizes of knives to holes, and doesn't let the blades rub against anything metal.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/624/Adam Shiemke
score: 15
sents: text: I have (wait for it) . . .
text: a magnetic block!Honestly, best of both worlds.
text: It's a heavy wooden block with magnetic plates on each side.
text: You're not worried about knives fitting in holes etc, it takes everything from small paring knives to my cleaver, and everything in between.
text: I vote for a magnetic block :)
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/92/Binary Worrier
score: 10
sents: text: I prefer the magnet method and have used it for about 4 years now.
text: It's all about proper wall mounting, placement, and having one long enough to space out the knives for comfortable retrieval and return.
text: With a strong magnet you don't have to worry about slippage or knives falling out even with a bump.
text: Unless you're reckless in returning the knife to the holder you shouldn't be damaging their edges.
text: Plus, they're pretty cheap compared to overly cosmetic knife blocks and save counter space.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/788/VoutilaD
score: 9
sents: text: I use both, as well, I have too many knives.
text: In my case, I actually have the magnetic bar hanging vertically, just because that was the only place to mount it.
text: (it's a bit tricky, as you have to get the bolster of the knife in tight against the magnet, or it'll try to rotate due to gravity.)
text: What I don't like about my knife block is that it takes up too much counter space, and you're rather forced into what size of items you can place in it.
text: I've never managed to find an under-counter knife block, and I don't have enough drawers in my kitchen to justify giving one up for a drawer knife block like we had growing up.
text: If I ever redo my kitchen, I'm going to do what my grandfather had -- a section of the countertop was butcher block, with slits cut along the back wall -- knifes were dropped in there, so only the handles were showing above the counter, and the blades dropped into the cabinet below.
text: (with the top shelf having a back that'd prevent you from shoving anything back there and hitting the knives).
text: Oh, and
text: because I have too many knives, I keep some of my larger knives in cases, in a drawer.
text: (specifically, LamsonSharp Knife Safe; also useful for when you need to transport your knives for sharpening or picnics or whatever)
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/67/Joe
score: 5
sents: text: My kitchen has a dearth of open wall-space, especially near the areas I do most of my cutting, so a mag-stripe method is counter-indicated.
text: The wooden knife block (with horizontal holes) has a very good knife-density-to-counter-space ratio going for it.
text: I have a lot of unpowered counter-space, so this works for me.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/798/sysadmin1138
score: 2
sents: text: I prefer wooden blocks as well, because it guards/protects the sharp edges.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/783/Johannes Setiabudi
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
Personal preference will vary, but the block takes up less space and protects the blades when knocked accidentally.
It is a question of space as to whether you prefer the wooden block or a magnetic strip as both have advantages.