Don't Place A Clean Knife Back Into The Knife Block. Here's Why
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Cooks love their knives. They know that a sharp edge is actually safer than a dull one and to never run knives through the dishwasher. They know that letting them hide in the bottom of a sudsy sink is a great way to cut someone and that a comfortable, sharp knife, takes dinner prep from stressful to something more akin to zen.
Storing those knives is always a problem, though. As Cool Mom Eats points out, knives can't just sit on the counter, within reach of children, or pets who love to knock things onto the floor. A knife drawer is a common solution but is a sure way to ruin a knife. You never want the blades, and cutting edges to clang into each other. Not to mention, how dangerous it is to reach for a knife. There are organizers for knife drawers, but that presumes you have an extra drawer.
Knife block can dull blades if you store the knives resting on the cutting edge (per the Los Angeles Times). So, as long as you store knives upside down, they must be the best place to store a knife. Right?
Knife blocks need to be cleaned
Not so fast. The biggest problem with knife blocks isn't about knife storage. It's that they can't be cleaned. Food Network calls putting a clean knife into a block one of a few seemingly clean habits that are low-key filthy. In this case, those dark slots in a knife block are ideal for a yeast or mold outbreak.
So, add cleaning the knife block to the cleaning list of dirty kitchen areas that deserve more attention. After pulling all of the knives, dislodge any debris in the block by flipping it and giving it a good shake. Use warm water, and some dish soap to wash every surface. A small, thin bottle brush should be able to reach into the slots. Give it a rinse, and use a bleach solution to clean the slots, then let it dry completely (per Knives Cetera).
Even if you're knife is clean, the moisture on the knife could be enough to cause some microbial growth. In a perfect world, only dry, sanitized knives would be placed into a pristine knife block. The kitchen is meant to be a happy place, but it isn't a perfect world.
Magnets are the key to clean knives
Thankfully, the traditional, hard-to-clean wooden knife block isn't the only storing option. America's Test Kitchen's search to find the ultimate knife block eliminated all but magnetic blocks. The knives stick to broad, easy-to-clean surfaces with a wooden veneer. That keeps the knife's edge safely away from the metal magnet. They're heavy, take up some room on the counter, and are expensive. Their favorite was a whopping $350, but the second place block, the Schmidt Brothers Acacia Midtown Magnetic Knife Block, is just under $80 at Amazon. That'll strike an impressive pose on your counter. Most importantly, and yes, it's worth repeating, these are simple to clean.
If you can't afford the counter space but have some space on the walls, magnetic knife strips are another easy-to-clean way to store knives. America's Test Kitchen also ran these through the paces and found that again, a wood veneer is preferred. The thicker strips give your hands enough room to fit between the knife handle and the wall. The magnets can be too strong, requiring a lot of effort to dislodge the knife. Or, they can be so weak that larger knives aren't held securely enough. Their favorite has the best of those attributes. It's the Schmidt Brothers Acacia 18" Magnetic Wall Bar, and it's about $56 from Amazon.