Even though I’ve worked in the culinary industry for 15 years, keeping my kitchen knives sharp is something I still struggle with. I finally stopped lying to myself about how I was going to learn to sharpen knives, and I now take them to a professional knife sharpener, but it’s one of those chores that creeps up on me. It’s easy to put off until I realize I’m bearing down WAY too hard when I’m just trying to chop an onion. That’s why the trick Ina Garten posted on Instagram caught my attention.
In the video, she shares that she stores her knives upside down in her knife block. “If you put it in right side, the usual way, as you put it in the blade is scraping against the wood, and I don’t think it’s good for the blade,” she explains. Her solution is simple: she puts the knives in the slots with the sharp edge facing up.
In the caption Ina notes that she goes for knife blocks that have a horizontal rather than vertical slot for the knives to avoid this scenario. However, the bottom slots where the steak knives go are usually vertical no matter what.
Is Your Knife Block Actually Dulling Your Knives?
Maybe you didn’t realize that standard knife blocks are actually working against you by slowly dulling your knives as you take them out and slide them back in. You’re not alone! One commenter remarked, “Heading to the kitchen to turn my knives over…” and many others noted that they were going to change up their knife storage habits ASAP.
Any friction against the sharp edge of the blade, whether it’s from chopping an onion or knocking against the wood of a knife block, has a dulling effect. Reducing unnecessary friction against the blade means your knives stay sharper for longer, reducing the frequency with which they need to be sharpened.
Another person commented that they work for Sur La Table and they “tell everyone who buys knives to do this because it dulls your knives and cuts the wood.” So not only does turning the knives over save the blades from dulling, but it also keeps that knife block in better shape.
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Three Other Ways To Keep Kitchen Knives Sharp
Besides Ina’s brilliant tip, there are plenty of other ways to ensure that your knives stay sharp for longer.
Use a Magnetic Strip: Magnetic knife strips are great for keeping your knives sharp because they reduce friction against the blade edge. Just make sure that your knives aren’t so tightly grouped on the strip that they’re touching each other.
Don’t put your knives in the dishwasher: Never (ever) run your kitchen knives through the dishwasher. The blades may knock against your dishes or utensils, which will dull them and could even chip them. Knife handles, especially wooden ones, can become warped and loose due to the dishwasher’s intense heat.
Invest in a good cutting board: You should also consider investing in an end grain cutting board, which is easier on knives than more common edge grain boards. While end grain boards are more expensive, they’re also more durable and can last a lifetime.
If an end grain cutting board isn’t in your future, take some comfort in knowing that Ina’s easy trick for storing your knives will extend their usefulness and allow you to procrastinate getting your knives sharpened for even longer.
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