Henckels 20-Slot Super Knife Storage Block

I haven’t been on this cooking gig all that long, but I’ve already found some tools, methods, and tricks that work well for me. I told you when I started this adventure I’d share these with you, so today let’s look at one of my favorite kitchen gadgets.

Though I don’t have an expensive collection of knives, I’ve come to learn that keeping my knives clean, dry, and sharp is one of the most important things I can do to keep the workflow in my kitchen, well, flowing. For too long our solution to knife storage was in the big catch-all utensil drawer, with the knives all banging together in a long tray. Invariably, my knives would come out dull, and it was always too hard to find the one I wanted buried under the rest.

We were in Bed Bath & Beyond a few months ago, drooling over the plethora of cook gadgets they have, when we ran across this ingenious little knife block called the Kapoosh. I knew one day it would be mine. I can’t remember what exactly drew me back into the store, but sometime later I found myself there, searching for something completely unrelated when I saw the Kapoosh on sale. Armed with my handy-dandy 20% coupon, I proceeded to the check-out counter with the nifty knife block in-hand.

Rather than being the standard slotted-style knife block, the Kapoosh is a wood (or sometimes plastic) container filled with hundreds of little plastic rods. The rods allow you to insert just about any size of knife, and it can usually accommodate many more knifes than a traditional knife block of the same size.

As you can see in the picture above, I even store my instant-read thermometer in my Kapoosh. The instructions warn you to be careful not to overfill the block, but as you can see there is more than enough room for my 16 favorite knives plus the thermometer. I keep my chef’s knife, a santoku, a tomato knife, paring knives, and several others of all sizes in my Kapoosh without any problems. The only knife I would like to add is our bread knife, but it’s simply too long to fit.

I read some negative reviews about the block, citing black plastic particles on the knife blades when withdrawn from the Kapoosh. For myself, I only experienced this at the very beginning, and it’s simple to wipe the blades clean with a dry towel before use if necessary. The entire plastic insert is removable and can be cleaned, however it does take some time to thoroughly dry. Keeping the insert dry is very important, as water is one of the many enemies of your knives. Just like a traditional knife block, you’d never put your knives away wet would you?

If you’re looking for a great knife block, I highly recommend you give the Kapoosh a serious look.

J.A. Henckels 35101-901ot Super Knife Storage Block Product Description

Not only is storing your knives in a block convenient, it also protects the honed edges of your blades. As everyone knows, a sharp knife is a safe knife so a storage block is also an investment in your safety. This hardwood block stores more than just knives, there’s room for a cleaver, shears, steel and more.

Details

• Renowned cutlery brand, Henckels, offers a storage solution to keep fine cutlery safe, sharp, and at the ready
• Crafted from a handsome hardwood and angled to keep cutlery easy to reach
• Includes 20 slots; 8 slots at the bottom are great for a set of steak knives
• The twin Henckels logo is featured on the side
• A handsome addition to countertops and kitchens

I am about to write the most enthusiastic review for a product most people would not think much about. I have owned my Kapoosh for nearly two years now, purchased from Bed, Bath, & Beyond when they were first introduced. The store had a demo model setup with various knives chained to the side of the pedestal. I remember casually sticking a knife into the black surface of the Kapoosh, not thinking much about it. And to my surprise, it slid right in.

I am sure that at this point, my fellow Amazon shopper, you will think well gee, isn’t that how ALL knife blocks work? And yes, you would be correct. What makes the Kapoosh different, though, is that it is a universal knife block. No more pre-cut slits to fit your knives into. No more having sharp knives stuck in a drawer because your knife block cannot accommodate it. No more buying knives specifically designed for a particular knife block. With the Kapoosh, you can store any type of knife in any manner you wish (Sideways? Why not? Diagonally? Sure!) without having to worry about another knife losing a spot in your knife block.

The Kapoosh has a look that matches almost every other knife block on the market; it is slanted so that the handles of the knives slid into the product will point outward toward the chef. In terms of storage, you simply push the knife into the surface, and slide it back out when you wish to retrieve it. In this regard, there is nothing new.

What makes the Kapoosh so wonderful is the knife storage part of the block. There are hundreds of thin plastic rods inside the body; if you refer to the picture of the product, this is the black part. These plastic rods (think really thin dowels) are slightly rubberized and packed close together. They are glued to a plastic base which rests inside of the Kapoosh block. Now, even though they are very close together, they give way whenever a knife is slid into the Kapoosh, parting just enough to allow the blade to slide between them, but remain tight enough to hold the knife into place without having it slide to the bottom of the block.

This may seem like it would damage your knives, but it does not. I can say this with 100% confidence; my Santoku knife (my favorite!), which I use almost daily, is slid in and out of the Kapoosh with great frequency. After honing my knife, I have noticed no marks on the blade, any mechanical damage, or a reduction in the sharpness.

The best part, though, is that I have used my Kapoosh for almost two years and it is just as great as the day that I purchased it. The plastic rods still part easily and grip my knives tightly. There is no discernible damage to the knife block, and best of all, it is easy to clean! The plastic rods slide out of the body so that they can be rinsed off. This within itself makes the product a must-have; cleaning a traditional knife block is all but nigh impossible.

The Kapoosh stores several knives quite comfortably, and can even hold my honing blade. Currently, I have nine knives stored in my Kapoosh: a boning, paring, and bread knife, two Santoku blades (both 9 inches each), a lettuce and chef’s knife, one butcher’s blade, and my “long, sharp knife that I forget the proper name for”. Each one fits easily within the block without crowding the other knives. Now, as can be surmised, storage within the Kapoosh is primarily determined by the size of your knife handles; if your knives have bulky handles then your overall storage capacity will be less. This is still not a huge deal; since you can push a knife anywhere into the surface of the Kapoosh you will still (most likely) be able to store more knives than a traditional block would.

This item is a must-have for any cook, whether novice or chef of a 5-star restaurant. Being able to “stick it and forget it” is great, being able to easily clean a product that is usually associated with being unclean-able is even better. Maybe the best feature of all is that all those mismatched knives we have all acquired over the years can now have a place to call home rather than a drawer (which could be unsafe, not to mention dulls blades). If you have a knife block already, use it as kindling for a bonfire; the Kapoosh is simply superior. — Best Kitchen Device- EVER

The products covered covered DescriptionDull is dangerous. One of the easiest ways to keep your knives sharp, thin is stored in a block of knives. An additional advantage is that the knives are well prepared and waiting for the next time you need to carve a roast and vegetables into strips. . . . More>>J.A. Henckels 35101-901ot Super Knife Storage BlockView More in MarketGadget Shopping Mall OnlineJ.A. Henckels 35101-901ot Super Knife Storage BlockView More in MarketGadget Shopping Mall Online

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It seems that everyone is selling cutlery sets, from your friends to infomercial outlets. Some of the knife sets may be perfectly fine, while others are not worth the box they are packed in. To find out if the cutlery sets are all you want them to be, consider a few pointers.

First, the best cutlery sets have a nice variety of knives. A Chef’s knife is very versatile, and can be used for a large variety of tasks, cutting up and slicing just about any type of food. Bread knives with a serrated edge work better at slicing loaves without crushing them. Santoku knives are similar to narrow bladed cleavers, and they are good for chopping, mincing, and slicing. A paring knife is handy for peeling fruits and vegetables. It also can be used to cut fruits and vegetables into smaller pieces. A filet or boning knife is good to have if you cut up whole chickens or fish. Do not forget the steak knives. Most good cutlery sets have 4 to 8 steak knives included.

Second, good cutlery sets will be made with quality construction methods. Stainless steel is the metal of choice for most cutlery sets, with high carbon steel being the best. Full tang blades are nice to have because they are durable and cut smoothly. Full tang just means that the metal that forms the blade continues down through to the end of the handle. Metal rivets are sometimes used to hold the knives together securely. Ergonomic handles are preferable, especially if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

Finally, consider the knife accessories that come with the cutlery sets. Kitchen shears come in handy not only for opening bags and containers, but also for cutting foods. Most cutlery sets will come with either a knife storage block or individual knife covers. While some knives are made to hold a constant edge, others need routine sharpening maintenance. Having a good sharpening steel for these sets is a good idea to keep the knives sharp between professional sharpenings.

When you have found good quality cutlery sets for your kitchen, you will be ready to handle any recipe. Your food will look better, and in some cases, even taste better. What is more, slicing, chopping and dicing will be a joy instead of drudgery. Look for the best cutlery sets, and you will be happy with your choice.

You can find magnetic knife blocks at all leading department store retailers as well as on several online retail sites. The advantage of having a magnetic knife holder is that it has the ability to accommodate any type of knife, no matter what the size and shape of the knife is. The magnetic knife rack is very effective in organizing the knife and scissors in your kitchen.

It can also hold other items such as keys or chisels or other types of lightweight magnetic items. Another handy feature of the knife block is the availability of wall mounted units. This knife storage is valuable and will ease your life in your kitchen. If you have a smaller kitchen then you will have the convenience of a wall mounted unit as opposed to a counter-top one. In addition to major department stores, you can also find magnetic knife blocks at kitchen specialty stores and stores such as Crate and Barrel.

There are is also a variation of this unit designed as a wall mounted knife rack. The knife rack is also magnetic and makes your knives very accessible. Depending on the type of knife block unit and the place of purchase the prices can vary anywhere from $21 – $39. This knife storage is really affordable and valuable. If you are looking for a specific type your best bet would be to try a kitchen specialty store or a chef store. You can also find them at discount retail department stores as well as the more upscale stores such as Macy’s and Younkers. The knife blocks are also available in several different styles, so you can shop around for what fits your kitchen decor best.

Whether you purchase the best kitchen knives money can buy or the cheapest knife set you can find, you have to consider how you are going to store your knives. Storing your knives properly is important for safety and for preventing dulling and damage to your knives. This article contains information and tips on how to store kitchen knives.

Knife blocks are a very popular way to store kitchen knives. If you buy a knife set, storage blocks are often included. You can also buy stand alone knife blocks in various sizes. Knife blocks provide safety and convenience, but they take up counter space and can be difficult to clean when necessary. It is important to make sure your knives are clean and dry before you store them in a block. Moisture, dirt and food particles can get stuck in the slots and cleaning the slots is not usually easy though a can of compressed air can help.

A magnetic strip mounted to a kitchen wall is another knife storage option and the one I personally use. Magnetic strips are simple to clean, can easily accommodate large kitchen knife sets, and this method of storage is extremely efficient in that it saves both counter top and drawer space. I would not recommend it, however, if you have young children or rambunctious pets.

Storing your knives loosely in one of your kitchen drawers is a bad idea, yet many people do exactly that. Doing so poses a danger to anyone who opens the drawer. Your knives can also be damaged while sliding around among the other cutlery and kitchen tools sharing the drawer.

If you must store knives in a drawer, the best option I have found for storing knives in a drawer is a knife safe. These blade protectors prevent damage to both the blade and hands when storing knives in a drawer. Some two piece models snap over the blade while some are hinged and more like cases. Most are made of strong plastic and are dishwasher safe.

An in-drawer knife block is another option for storing knives in a drawer. Part drawer organizer and part knife block, drawer knife blocks are fitted with slots to hold knives of varying sizes and lie flat in a drawer. They provide protection and a way to store your knives out of site. The downsides are that they are not a very efficient use of drawer space and may not accommodate all of your knives. If you do not own a lot of knives and drawer space is not an issue, an in drawer knife block may be adequate.

You can also use knife guards or kitchen knife sheaths for protection. A sheath or guard functions more like a sleeve that is slipped over the knife blade. While they will prevent damage or injury, they are often difficult to clean, can trap moisture and dirt, or harbor bacteria.

For safety and to prolong the lives of your kitchen knives, you should have a plan for storing any knives or knife sets you buy. Sometimes the decision is made for you as in a case where the set you buy comes with a block or if you are in a situation where you have no available drawer space but plenty of room on your counter top. Ultimately, several factors will contribute to determining the manner in which you store your knives. Your budget, your available space, the number of knives you have, and other circumstances will need to be considered in order to choose the best option for you.