An essential part of any kitchen, including your RV kitchen, is a set of sharp knives. But, with limited kitchen space, storage can often be an issue. To avoid damage to your fingers, and to your RV kitchen drawers, here are 10 ways to store sharp knives in your RV kitchen.
Knife Block on the Counter
If you have plenty of counter space in your RV, a traditional wooden knife block is a good solution. Most cutlery sets come with a knife block and they will definitely protect your blades and keep your knives easily accessible when cooking.
Keep in mind that you will need to find a place to store the knife block when you are traveling. Store them in a place where the knives won’t be able to slide out of the block during travel.
Knife Block in a Drawer
If you have enough drawer space, there are knife blocks that will fit inside a drawer. Made of either wood or plastic, these blocks are slotted so you can slide each knife into a slot.
Pros: This makes them easy to find and grab in a drawer full of other utensils, it keeps the blades protected from dings and chips, and keeps them from sliding around during travel.
Cons: This solution might not work for vans or if you have limited drawer space.
Cutlery Sets With Sheaths
If you’d rather toss your kitchen knives into a drawer along with other utensils, you can purchase cutlery set with sheaths included. A sheath is a case that your knife slides into protecting the blade and protecting your fingers from cuts.
Pros:
Safe, inexpensive, comes in fun colors, easy to find online or at stores like Target or Walmart. Good enough for occasional use on RV camping trips.
Cons: These sets are generally not high quality. Blades may go dull, handles may become loose or break over time.
Knife Guards
If you already have a set of your favorite cutlery (I have a set of Cutco knives that I love) and a knife block is not a good option, consider purchasing a set of universal knife guards.
Most of these are made of plastic and are felt-lined to protect your blades, but you can also find them in leather. They come in a variety of sizes and you can buy sets of 10, 5, 3, or a single one to fit a specific knife.
Pros:
Safe and sturdy.
Inexpensive.
Great for storing knives lose in a drawer.
Cons:
The cheaper, plastic sets might not fit your knives well, and the cover could slip off.
Knife Roll Case
If you’re looking for a safe way to store your knives while you’re traveling, you could use a cutlery roll or knife roll. A knife roll is made of sturdy waxed canvas, nylon, or leather. They have pockets for each of your knives, a flap that folds over the top to prevent the knives from sliding out when rolled, and a clasp or tie to secure it.
The knife roll can easily be stored in your drawer or pantry while you’re traveling. Once you get to your campsite, you can take them out of the roll and display them however you choose.
When buying a knife roll, consider the number of knives you need to store, and the size of each knife. Check the measurements to make sure the pockets will accommodate your knives. Also, make sure you choose a roll that has a secure closure.
Pros:
They come in a large variety of styles and price points. You could a snazzy leather one, or a simple, inexpensive nylon roll.
Very safe way to travel with your cutlery set
Keeps them all in one place so their easy to find
Cons:
Simply a storage option but not a display option.
Wall-Mounted Knife Holder
To save space on your RV kitchen countertops you could install a wall-mounted knife holder. They come in a variety of styles and are usually quite thin, making them a good fit for the RV kitchen.
They can be installed inside a cupboard or pantry door if you don’t have wall space. Most of them secure to the wall with small screws, however, double-sided tape, or command strips, will work just as well when properly used.
Most of them are made of plastic and come in a small choice of colors to match your decor. But some of them come in stainless steel, which are more durable, wider, and will take up more space.
You can even purchase a wall-mounted kitchen organizer with built-in knife holders, to store and organize more than just your knives, but other kitchen utensils too.
Pros:
Low profile and doesn’t take up counter space.
Can be mounted inside cabinet door.
Cons:
Might require screws depending on size.
Under Cabinet Knife Holder
If wall and counter space isn’t an option, but you have space under a cabinet, an under cabinet knife holder might be just what you’re looking for.
This storage solution is a small, pull-down drawer with strong magnets for your knives. It attaches directly underneath the cabinets with screws. When closed, your knives are out of the way and safe, but readily available when you need them.
Pros:
Stealth design
Comes in a variety of colors
Cons:
Strength of the screws not tested on RV kitchen cabinets and may require some reinforcements.
Magnetic Knife Holder
A very popular option for storing knives in your RV is the wall-mounted magnetic knife holder. I have one myself and I love it. My knives are always out and ready when I need them. They are out of the way andoff the counter.
One thing you need to watch out for is the direction you store your knives. I store mine with the blades pointed down and the sharp edge pointed away. I’ve just gotten used to them being this way and I reach for them the same way each time. So, decide if you want them pointed up or down, but stay consistent to avoid reaching for the wrong end.
It is advised to take the knives down and secure them in a drawer when your traveling. Although I have forgotten to do so in the past and the knives stayed on the magnet just fine, I still like to stay on the safe side while I’m driving.
Magnetic knife holders come in a variety of styles such as, stainless steel, wood, or bamboo. They also come as a combo, with hooks, so you can store other kitchen utensils along with the knives.
Pros:
Looks cool.
Can hold other utensils like a bottle opener, scissors, tongs, metal spice jar.
Saves on counter space.
Cons:
Knife tips exposed.
Requires screws for installation.
Magnetic Knife Block
This knife holder is like a combination of the knife block and wall magnet. The magnetic knife block is just what is says; a block of wood with a magnet inside. Your knives stick to the outside of the block.
This storage option will require some counter space but they are only about 4 inches in depth. This is a great option for those that don’t have wall space for a wall mounted rack.
This knife block will have to be stowed away on travel days since it is not mounted to the counter. However, it is a convenient way to keep your knives out when in use.
Pros:
No screws to damage walls.
Can hold other utensils too.
Cons:
Must be put away when traveling.
DIY Knife Sheaths
If you’re on a budget, or you need one now, making a knife sheath out of household materials is really simple and a great temporary solution. They may not be pretty or decorative, but they’ll do the trick.
Cardboard and duct tape are the perfect materials for this. Here are the steps.
- Lay your knife down on a thin piece of cardboard and trace around it.
- Flip the knife over, and trace around the other side, making a profile of your knife blade.
- Cut out the pattern you just drew.
- Fold it in half and it should match the shape of your blade.
- Place the edge of your blade against the folded edge of the cardboard to make sure it’s a good fit.
- Wrap the cardboard with a few layers of duct tape, which comes in many patterns and colors these days, making sure to fully cover the tip.
That’s pretty much it. Slide your knife into your new blade guard and make one for each knife you own. This is a great inexpensive solution to keep you blades safe in a drawer.