Caring for and cleaning your wooden knife block

When you invest in quality kitchen knives, you need to consider how you are going to store them. Keeping them in a kitchen drawer will dull them much faster than they should, and can also chip and damage the blades. Using a wooden knife block is a good way to store your knives and prevent damage.

The problem with wooden blocks is that they can often trap germs and bits of food inside their tiny grooves. They can be difficult to clean, but if you take proper care to clean your knives properly before storing them, you can prevent a build-up of harmful bacteria. It is still important to clean your storage block from time to time. Here are some steps to help make this difficult task quick and easy.

First, be sure to wash all your knives and allow them to dry properly before putting them away. Trapping water in knife slots can cause mold or warping. While the knives are drying, flip the knife block over and shake off as many crumbs as possible. Keep stirring until no more crumbs come out. When shaking doesn’t work, you can use a can of compressed air, like you would to clean your computer keyboard, to blow out some of the dirt.

Fill a spray bottle with water and add a teaspoon of bleach. Spray into the grooves, then rinse with your kitchen sprayer. Let the block dry upside down on the counter. Make sure it is completely dry before replacing the knives.

If you are concerned that the knife block will split or crack due to moisture, you can use a mineral oil to restore and protect the finish. It shouldn’t be a big deal. Preventing germ and food build-up by making sure your knives are clean before storage will save you from having to clean the block too often.

Even if you don’t see crumbs inside the storage block slots, remember that dust can build up over time. Prevention is fine, but you should at least clean the block about once a year to remove any regular dust that may have settled inside the grooves.

A word of caution for those thinking of using steam to try and clean their block: high heat and humidity can cause the glue to melt.