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I Finally Replaced My Knife Block and My Whole Kitchen Opened Up
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items That bulky knife block was eating up half my counter space and dulling my blades every time I slid them in and out. If you cook in a small kitchen and you're tired of cluttered countertops, this is the setup that gave me room to actually prep food. T...
Sections
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Magnetic Knife Strips That Actually Hold Heavy Blades
Chef's Knives Worth Displaying on Your New Strip
Knife Sharpeners That Keep Your Blades Ready
Cutting Boards That Protect Your New Sharp Edges
Counter Organization That Pairs With a Clean Wall Setup
Wall Mounting Hardware for Renters and Homeowners
Magnetic Knife Strips That Actually Hold Heavy Blades
My first cheap strip dropped a chef's knife on my foot at 7 AM. Never again. These hold everything from cleavers to paring knives without a single wobble.
Grab this if you want something that looks like real furniture, not a garage tool. Holds six knives flat against the wall and the walnut grain gets compliments from everyone who walks into my kitchen. Wish I'd skipped the plastic ones and started her...
Zulay 11.75" Seamless Walnut Wood Magnetic Knife Holder
Use this one if you're renting and need something you can mount with adhesive strips instead of drilling. Held my heaviest santoku for three months straight without budging. Perfect for anyone terrified of losing a security deposit.
Ouddy 16 Inch Magnetic Knife Holder
Toss your old knife block and put this up instead. The magnet pull is seriously strong. I hung a meat cleaver on it and my roommate thought I was pranking him because it looked like it was floating. Stock up on mounting screws though, the included on...
GORILLA GRIP Magnetic Knife Holder, 304 Stainless Steel
Keep this in mind for a smaller kitchen. Twelve inches fits perfectly between my cabinets and holds four knives without crowding. Bamboo feels warmer than steel if your kitchen already has a lot of metal going on.
12 Inch Magnetic Knife Strip, Premium Stainless Steel Wall
Chef's Knives Worth Displaying on Your New Strip
Once I cleared the counter, I realized half my knives were garbage. These are the ones that earned a permanent spot on the wall.
Swap out whatever dull knife you've been forcing through onions. This one glides through butternut squash like it's butter. Got mine two years ago and it still holds an edge after weekly sharpening. For anyone who actually cooks dinner most nights.
J.A. Henckels International CLASSIC 8" Chef's Knife
Try these if you want a full set without spending rent money. Color-coded so you're not using the chicken knife on vegetables. My partner finally stopped asking which knife to use, and that alone was worth it.
Cuisinart, Kitchen Knife Set, 12-Piece
Built-in sheath has a ceramic sharpener so it hones every time you pull it out. Bought this for my college kid and she stopped texting me about dull knives within a week. Great for anyone who will never buy a separate sharpener.
Farberware Edgekeeper 8-inch Chef Knife with Self
Pair this with your new magnetic strip for a real workhorse setup. Restaurant cooks use these because they can take a beating. Not pretty, but it chops through everything without complaining. Costs less than a pizza delivery.
Dexter Sani-Safe® Stainless Steel Cook's Knife with Green
Knife Sharpeners That Keep Your Blades Ready
A magnetic strip protects edges better than a block, but you still need to sharpen. I ruined two knives before finding tools that actually work without destroying the bevel.
Use this if you have knives with different angles. The adjustable slot means you're not forcing a Japanese blade into an American grind. Figured this out after I chipped my santoku on a fixed-angle sharpener. Learn from my mistake.
Smith's Adjustable Angle Knife Sharpener 50264
Keep this next to your stove and run your knife through it before every cooking session. Three stages from coarse to fine. My neighbor borrowed it once and tried to keep it, which tells you everything.
Gorilla Grip Manual Knife Sharpener In-depth Review
Grab a honing rod if you think sharpening is enough. This straightens the micro-edge between sharpenings so your knife feels fresh every single time. Hang it right on the magnetic strip when you're done. Satisfying click.
Brod & Taylor
Cutting Boards That Protect Your New Sharp Edges
Sharp knives on a glass or marble surface will go dull in a week. Learned that lesson the expensive way. These boards keep edges intact and don't slide around.
Pair this with your sharp knives and they'll stay sharp way longer. Maple is soft enough to absorb the blade without scarring. Heavy, so it never slides. Worth every penny if you're done replacing cheap boards every six months.
John Boos Chop-N-Slice Wood Cutting Board with Eased
Try these BPA-free boards if you want separate ones for meat, veggies, and bread. Non-slip edges mean no chasing the board across the counter. Three kids, one kitchen, zero cross-contamination arguments now.
GORILLA GRIP, Cutting Board Set, Oversized
Toss this one in your cart if bamboo matches your magnetic strip. Lightweight enough to wash one-handed but thick enough to feel solid. Knife-friendly surface that won't dull your new blades. I keep two in rotation.
Totally Bamboo Kauai Bamboo Serving & Cutting Board
Get this specifically for raw meat nights. Juice groove catches everything so your counter doesn't look like a crime scene. Non-slip feet actually work on wet surfaces. My Thanksgiving turkey prep went from disaster to smooth.
OXO Good Grips Plastic Prep Cutting Board - Reversible
Counter Organization That Pairs With a Clean Wall Setup
Once the knife block disappeared, I went on a tear clearing everything else off the counter. These are the pieces that finally made my kitchen feel twice as big.
Slide this inside a cabinet and suddenly all your cutting boards stand upright instead of leaning against each other like dominos. Freed up a whole shelf in my kitchen. Anyone with limited cabinet space needs this yesterday.
SimpleHouseware Kitchen Cabinet & Counter Organizer
Use this inside a deep cabinet to stack spices on two levels. Before this, I had bottles hiding behind bottles and I'd buy duplicates constantly. Found three jars of cumin the day I installed it.
Two Tier Organizer with Dividers
Keep this as a backup if you have overflow knives that don't fit on the strip. Sits flat in a drawer with a two-tier design. My steak knives live here now instead of rattling around loose. Blades stay protected.
Joseph Joseph
Ditch the lazy Susan and try this tiered rack instead. Every label faces forward so you stop pulling out six jars to find paprika. Fits standard cabinets and doesn't slide around. Cooking dinner got noticeably faster.
YouCopia® SpiceStack® Spice Bottle Organizer, 18 Bottle
Wall Mounting Hardware for Renters and Homeowners
Drilling into tile almost cost me my sanity and my security deposit. Whether you own or rent, the right hardware makes installation painless.
Stick these on the back of a lightweight magnetic strip and skip the drill entirely. Held up for nine months in my rental before I moved out and peeled them off clean. Perfect for anyone whose landlord checks for wall holes.
Command Large Water Resistant Picture Hanging Strips [Removable]
Grab these if you're mounting on drywall and hanging heavy knives. Regular screws pulled right out of my wall the first time. These anchor into the back of the drywall and held my fully loaded 16-inch strip without a single wobble.
Anchor Toggle Hardware for Home Improvement
Borrow one or buy this if you have zero tools. Drilled four holes for my knife strip in about 90 seconds. Light enough that my wrist didn't ache. Paid for itself when I mounted shelves, curtain rods, and a towel bar the same weekend.
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* Cordless Powerconnect Drill
Pair these with any drill when you're going into tile or brick backsplash. My cheap bits snapped on the first hole. These cut through without overheating. Overkill for drywall, but if your kitchen has tile, don't skip them.
Black and Gold Drill Bit Set (14-Piece)
Kitchen Towels and Hooks to Complete the Wall
While I was mounting the knife strip, I added hooks and towels to the same wall. Now everything hangs and nothing sits on the counter collecting crumbs.
Swap your ratty towels for these thick cotton ones. They actually absorb water instead of pushing it around. Hang them on a hook next to your knife strip and the whole wall looks intentional. Machine wash without pilling.
KitchenAid Albany Kitchen Towel 4-Pack Set, Blue Velvet
Stick these next to your magnetic strip for hanging towels, oven mitts, or a small colander. No drilling, no damage. Rearranged mine three times before I found the perfect spot. Renters, this is your best friend.
Command Small Stainless Steel Metal Hooks, 6 Hooks
Toss a fresh one on the hook every morning and throw the dirty one in the hamper. Twelve in a pack means you always have a clean one ready. Way cheaper than paper towels and they hold up wash after wash. Bought a second pack within a month.
Utopia Towels Kitchen Bar Mops, Pack of 12, 16x19
Try this if you want a bar instead of individual hooks. Adhesive mount holds a folded towel plus a couple hanging utensils. Lined it up right below my knife strip and my kitchen wall went from bare drywall to actually functional.
iDesign Forma Self-Adhesive Towel Bar Holder
Under Cabinet Lighting to Show Off Your Setup
Mounted my knife strip and realized I couldn't see it properly at night. Added lighting underneath the cabinets and now the knives practically glow. Cooking after dark became way easier too.
Plug this in under your cabinet and suddenly you can actually see what you're chopping at 8 PM. Warm light, not that harsh fluorescent look. Linked two together across my counter and the whole kitchen feels like a renovation without the renovation pr...
GE Premium Slim LED Under Cabinet Light Bar
Stick these anywhere with adhesive and tap to turn on. No wiring, no electrician. Put two under the cabinet right above my knife strip and now the blades catch the light perfectly. Battery lasts months if you're not leaving them on all day.
Brilliant Evolution LED Puck Light
Get this kit if you want a permanent hardwired look without the permanent commitment. Links together and plugs into one outlet. Dimmer switch lets you go from task lighting to mood lighting. My kitchen went from cave to showroom.
EShine 3 Pack 7in Black Smart Dimmable LED
Keep these around for quick, cheap lighting anywhere. Tap on, tap off. Stuck one under the cabinet above my prep area and it made nighttime cooking way less sketchy. For anyone who isn't ready to commit to a full lighting setup yet.
Energizer Battery Powered LED Tap Light
Small Kitchen Gadgets That Earned Counter Space Back
After clearing the knife block, I got ruthless about what deserved counter real estate. These few items stayed because they actually get used daily.
Ditch the knife-and-spoon method before you slice your palm open like I did. Pits, slices, and scoops in one tool. Fits in a drawer so it takes zero counter space. For anyone eating avocado toast more than twice a week.
3-in-1 Avocado Slicer | Good Grips
Grab this for fresh citrus zest, hard cheese, garlic, ginger, basically anything you've been mincing by hand. Hang it on a hook next to your knives. Changed my pasta game overnight and it weighs almost nothing.
To Find the Best Rasp-Style Graters, I Zested Loads of Citrus
Use this instead of peeling with a knife and wasting half the potato. Sharp blade, comfortable grip, and it doesn't slip when your hands are wet. Bought one for home and one for my mom. She called to thank me.
OXO Good Grips Swivel Vegetable Peeler with Soft Comfortable Handle Black
Toss your electric can opener and reclaim that counter space. This manual one grips the can, turns smoothly, and stores in a drawer. Sounds boring but freeing up that outlet spot felt surprisingly good.
KitchenAid Stainless Steel Multi-function Can Opener
Cleaning Supplies to Maintain Knives and Strips
Sharp knives and magnetic strips need a little care or they get gross fast. Water spots, food residue, sticky fingerprints. These keep everything looking fresh.
Sprinkle this on your stainless steel knife strip and wipe. Water spots and fingerprints vanish in seconds. Works on the knives too. Bought my first can three years ago and I still have some left because a little goes far.
Bar Keepers Friend, All-Purpose Cleaner, 12 fl oz, Powder
Pull one out and wipe down your strip after cooking. Leaves a thin protective layer so fingerprints don't stick as fast next time. Keep the canister under the sink. Quick enough that you'll actually do it instead of putting it off.
Weiman Products Stainless Steel Wipes 30 Count (Pack of 1)
Pair these with Bar Keepers Friend for stubborn spots on your strip or blade. Won't scratch stainless steel or wood finishes. I go through about one a month in the kitchen. Buy the six pack and forget about sponge shopping for half a year.
Scotch-Brite, Cleaning Sponges, Blue
Rub this into your wooden magnetic strip once a month to keep it from drying out and cracking. Also works on cutting boards and wooden utensils. Takes two minutes and prevents that sad, gray, neglected-wood look. Your future self will thank you.
Velona Food Grade Mineral Oil 70 Viscosity NF USP Grade
Cookbook Stands and Recipe Holders for Your New Clear Counter
With actual counter space for the first time, I started cooking from real recipes instead of squinting at my phone. These holders keep pages open and screens visible.
Prop a cookbook open on this and the acrylic shield keeps pages clean while you're splashing sauce everywhere. Bamboo matches most magnetic strips if you went that route. Finally stopped propping books open with a can of beans.
Book Stand for Reading Bamboo Cookbook Stand Holder
Set your iPad or tablet on this at eye level while you follow a recipe video. Adjustable angle means no neck craning. Folds flat and stores in a drawer when you're done. For anyone who cooks with YouTube on in the background.
Tablet Stand, Lamicall Adjustable Stands : Desktop
Try this clear acrylic stand if you want something that disappears into the counter visually. Holds thick cookbooks and magazines upright. Lightweight enough to move around but heavy enough to stay put. Looks way more expensive than it costs.
iDesign
Stick your phone on this while you scroll through recipes. Keeps it upright and away from splatter zones. Costs almost nothing and saves you from propping your phone against a jar of peanut butter. We've all been there.
Customer reviews for MoKo Overhead Phone Mount