No kitchen instrument calls for correct storage greater than knives. Choices embrace canvas knife wraps, picket blocks and in-drawer organizers, however the mighty magnetic knife strip ranks as my absolute favourite. It is the primary buy I make for any new kitchen, and I push everybody I do know to put in one instantly.
I am a culinary-school skilled nonchef, however even chef cooks advocate this storage instrument: “I first tried a magnetic strip in my house kitchen a number of years in the past and I am hooked,” says Melissa Araujo, chef-owner of Alma Café in New Orleans.
If questioning what’s so nice about knife strips in comparison with different types of kitchen blade storage, listed here are three large causes, private and chef-approved, so as to add an inexpensive magnetic knife strip to your private home.
The most effective half? A top quality magnetic strip in your best blades usually runs underneath $30.
1. Magnetic knife strips save house
The extra you’ll be able to stand up in your partitions, the extra space you may have on the counter and in drawers and cabinets.
All the many causes to personal a magnetic knife strip are nice causes, so it is exhausting to know the place to steer off, however as somebody who has often been at a loss for significant counter house in city residences, I’ll go along with this one. Liberating up house that might in any other case be occupied by a knife block, or in a silverware drawer, is maybe the primary motive for house cooks to think about a magnetic knife strip.
Learn extra: These Kitchen Organizers Will Give You Miles of Extra Counter Space
Area-saving can be a motivating think about skilled kitchens. “I even began utilizing them in my eating places,” says Araujo. “Plus they appear cool, and you’ll see all of your knives on the identical time so it is easy to know which one to tug,” she says.
2. They preserve knives sharper for longer
A knife strip will not uninteresting your blades the way in which some storage varieties do.
Whether or not you’ve got received new knives, or freshly sharpened knives, storing them on a magnetic knife strip has myriad advantages within the staying sharp division. (In case your knives behave extra like bludgeons than blades, first issues first, get them sharpened.)
First, the knife strip prevents your knives from knocking round in a utensil drawer, which may result in dulling over time. Picket knife blocks are okay for this goal, however they nonetheless create somewhat extra put on and tear than merely mounting them al fresco does. And, as Araujo’s level above, you are not continually pulling them out and in of the block in a guessing sport of which-knife-went-where a number of instances a day.
Learn extra: Want to Completely Ruin Your Kitchen Knives? Here’s How
For me, there’s additionally one other component to conserving knives sharp that’s enabled by the knife strip. The honing metal is not a sharpener, per se, however its operate is to assist protect the sharpness. Whilst somebody who was skilled to make use of it, I’ve a really out-of-sight-out-of-mind relationship with this instrument, however with the magnetic strip, the honing metal could be very a lot in sight all the time, which implies I am extra prone to make use of it.
3. A strip is extra sanitary than a knife block
Knife blocks can develop mould within the slots and are tough to wash, making magnetic knife strips a extra sanitary storage choice.
Are you involved about places in your kitchen where bacteria may be hiding? Your magnetic strip is just not one. However your knife block…?
“Knife blocks entice moisture within the slots,” says Araujo, which may trigger microorganisms like mould spores and micro organism to thrive. (She would know, in a damp place like New Orleans. What is the dew level in your neighborhood proper now?) Even when you put your knives away with out totally drying them first — do not do that, however when you do — a minimum of the magnetic strip provides them some air circulation. This helps not solely with conserving issues sanitary, but additionally with conserving issues sharp.
Finest practices for utilizing a magnetic knife strip
All the time put the knives spine-down in your strip so you do not chip the perimeters.
Should you’re now satisfied of the prevalence of the magnetic knife strip, there are some things to think about.
Get an excellent one: “Spend the cash,” advises Araujo. “Low-cost ones aren’t sturdy, particularly when you have strong, high-quality, heavy-duty knives.” Luckily, there’s solely so excessive the value can go right here, and when you’ve dropped some actual coin in your professional-grade knives, the magnetic strip will likely be a really small funding towards conserving them in good situation.
Some magnetic knife strips we like:
Probably the most easy magnetic strip look: I’ve owned this $20 metal holder a number of instances over. It has tens of 1000’s of constructive Amazon scores, is available in six totally different sizes, and maxes out round $35 for a 24-inch strip.
I swear by this $20 knife strip from Amazon.
One other good choice is this $20 model with a dual-strip look and hooks for hanging different kitchen instruments for a complete storage resolution.
There are magnetic strips that maintain extra than simply knives.
An Amazon finest vendor, this $21 magnetic strip has a wooden end to go well with a specific aesthetic, if that is a motive why you are hesitant to surrender a picket knife block.
Picket strips are additionally much less prone to ding your cutlery do you have to unintentionally set a knife on it blade first. CNET’s Residence and Kitchen Editor David Watsky makes use of this one.
This easy picket knife strip is nice for 3 to 4 blades.
Mount it appropriately: In case your knife assortment is small, you might be able to get away with the double-stick tape mounting that’s included with some magnetic strips, however the a lot safer guess is to go the {hardware} route to verify it’s flush towards the wall. I had a professional drill into the tile backsplash in my present kitchen in an effort to accommodate the knife strip. It appears to be like sharp and is extraordinarily safe. (Having your knives clatter to the bottom due to an inappropriately put in strip is not precisely enabling all the advantages of proudly owning one.)
Retailer your knives appropriately: “ALWAYS put the knives spine-down so you do not chip the perimeters,” advises Araujo. When pulling a knife off of the strip, it is also vital to tilt the blade away from the strip, slightly than slide it off, to assist protect its sharpness.
