There are so many ways to store knives in a kitchen, that we usually opt for the most convenient or most aesthetic option without much second thought. However, professional cleaners are now warning that having a knife block could be sabotaging your health.
It turns out that no matter how well you clean a kitchen or maintain your knives, using a knife block significantly increases your exposure to bacteria, risking illness with every use.
Here, professionals break down why you should get rid of your knife block now to help maintain good food hygiene, and how to better store your knives.
Why you should get rid of your knife block
In a video on TikTok by content creator @HowDirtyIs, they swabbed the inside of a knife block and allowed the sample to develop in an agar petri dish. The result was shocking, revealing that the inside of the knife block was swarming with bacteria. This is only made worse by the fact they are one of the hidden areas of a kitchen we forget to clean.
Lisa Yakas, a trained microbiologist with a master's in food science, now a product certifier at NSF reveals, ‘In our Germiest Places in the Home” study, we ranked the knife block seventh on our list of germiest items in the kitchen. Knife blocks can be dark, moist environments that harbor germs and can lead to the growth or spread of foodborne illness. If you put a wet or dirty knife into a knife block, microbes may grow.'
@howdirtyis ♬ Bye Bye Bye - From Deadpool and Wolverine Soundtrack - *NSYNC
Ken Doty, cleaning expert and COO of The Maids explains in more detail, ‘Knife blocks have the potential to be very unsanitary, and can even dull your knives over time. These blocks can be a breeding ground for yeast, mold, bacteria, and other pathogens.
‘Multiple studies have confirmed that knife blocks are often in the top ten of dirtiest kitchen items, despite not being used in everyday life. Most of the damage comes from not properly drying knives before putting them away and creating the perfect environment for those pathogens to come to life.’
This begs the question, is there any way to properly clean a knife block? Lisa Yakas, a trained microbiologist, explains you can mitigate some of the damage by ‘[making] sure that you wash and thoroughly dry your knife before placing it into the block. To clean the knife block, take all of the knives and accessories out then shake out any crumbs or debris. A pipe cleaner or skinny brush can be used to help with this process. Then, wash the block with hot, soapy water before wiping it down with a clean dish towel. Allow it to dry completely overnight, as moisture can cause mold and bacteria to grow.’
That being said, this is a lot of effort and needs to be done regularly. Not to mention that if your knife block is wooden, it could do more harm than good. As a result, it is often better to find alternative kitchen storage ideas for your knives.
What to use instead
There are plenty of other safer and more sanitary ways to organize kitchen utensils and store your best kitchen knives that also help them to stay sharper for longer. However, professional cleaners all favor one alternative in particular – magnetic knife racks. Not only are they more hygienic, but they help you to organize a kitchen like a chef.
For a sleep professional grade looking kitchen, opt for a plain stainless steel knife rack that is easy to clean, durable, rust-proof and looks slick.
For a more rustic option, a wooden covered magnetic knife strip is a fantastic pick
Can't mount anything to the wall? Consider a counter standing magnetic knife holder to protect your knives without any additional DIY.
Eliana Coca, professional cleaner and owner of EC House Cleaning says, ‘A magnetic wall rack is a more hygienic solution. The open design provides no place for grime and pathogens to hide, and all parts can be easily wiped down. For residential clients, I recommend sanitizing the rack and all cutlery at least once a week using a diluted bleach solution to kill any bacteria present.’
Ken Doty, cleaning expert, agrees, ‘These can be installed on your kitchen wall, which in turn saves your valuable real estate in your kitchen. These utensils keep knives better sanitized by storing them in the open air and away from an enclosed space, and offer easy access when you need to put a knife to use.’
If you cannot add a rack to your wall, Ken suggests using a countertop version, ‘A magnetic counter stand sits right on the countertop like a traditional block, but doesn't come with individual knife slots. Instead, knives attach with a magnetic strip that allows each blade to sit in the open air against the wood.’ It is worth noting, however, that ‘some dangers of this method include children being exposed to an easily accessible tool that is sharp and can pose harm,’ Ken adds.
Keeping your knives on a magnetic rack and learning the best way to sharpen knives will ensure that even the worst of your knives stay sharp enough to be safely used in your kitchen.
