Organizing your knife drawer is a great way to keep your kitchen safe and efficient. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you organize it: 
1. Clear it Out: Empty your knife drawer completely. Take inventory of the knives you have, including kitchen knives, paring knives, serrated knives, and specialty knives (like boning or filleting knives). Check the condition of each knife (do any need sharpening or cleaning?).
[a d] Bameos bamboo drawer dividers, 4-pack.
Amazon creator ad link https://amzn.to/3X8Vker
2. Sort by Type and Usage: Chef’s knives, paring knives, and utility knives should be grouped together. Specialty knives like serrated knives, boning knives, or carving knives can be separated into their own sections. If you have more knives than can comfortably fit in one drawer, you may want to keep some in a separate storage box in the pantry.
3. Invest in a Knife Organizer: A drawer insert with slots for each knife is ideal. Look for inserts with soft, protective material to keep your knives from getting scratched. Magnetic knife strips also work well if you have the wall space or a non-drawer storage option (I wanted all my knives in a drawer. Knife blocks can also be a good alternative, but they will take up counter space (I took my knives out of the butcher block and put them in the knife drawer so all knives are in one place. I threw away the butcher block they were in).
4. Keep Knives Separate from Other Tools: Avoid mixing knives with utensils or other kitchen tools. This prevents dulling and keeps knives easily accessible.
5. Consider a Drawer Tray or Dividers: If you don’t want a full knife block, use adjustable drawer dividers to separate the knives. This helps keep them organized and easy to grab. This is what I did!
6. Store Safely: Make sure knives are securely stored and can’t shift around or cause accidental cuts when opening the drawer.
If using a divider system, ensure each knife fits snugly and doesn’t touch the edge of the drawer or other knives.
7. Regular Maintenance: Periodically clean and sharpen your knives to ensure they’re in good condition. A clean knife drawer means fewer chances for cross-contamination.
Bonus Tip: If you have a lot of knives, consider creating a small inventory list inside the drawer for quick reference (especially if you’re the type who forgets which knife is for what purpose!). I don’t have a knife inventory even though I have OCD.
I bought these bamboo separators! They’re durable, look nice, and offer flexibility. Here’s a more tailored plan to make sure your knives fit neatly and safely in a single drawer:
1. Measure the Drawer: Before you start, measure the dimensions of your drawer to see how much space you have to work with. This will help you determine how many dividers or sections you need.
2. Sort Knives by Size and Use:
Large Knives: Keep your chef’s knives, santoku, and other large knives together in one section.
Medium Knives: Paring knives, utility knives, and similar-sized knives can be grouped in a smaller section.
Specialty Knives: Serrated knives (bread knives, etc.) and other tools like boning or filleting knives can have their own section, as they’re used less frequently.
3. Create Custom Divisions: Use the bamboo separators to create compartments for each knife or group of knives. For larger knives, make the sections deep enough to hold them securely without risk of the blade touching the drawer itself. Consider making a few smaller sections for smaller knives (paring, utility), or even for other sharp objects like kitchen shears, which are often found in knife drawers.
4. Protect the Blades: If the bamboo dividers have gaps between them, consider adding a piece of non-slip material or felt at the base of the drawer to prevent the knives from sliding around and dulling. I put fabric grippy shelf liner down first and then the bamboo separators. Make sure there is enough space between knives so that they don’t touch and risk dulling each other. I don’t have that much space for this luxury.
5. Arrange for Easy Access: Position the knives with the most frequently used ones towards the front of the drawer, so they are easy to grab. For less frequently used knives, place them towards the back or in smaller, less accessible sections.
6. Secure the Handles: If the dividers are adjustable, ensure the knife handles don’t get crowded. Knife handles can stick out too far and make it tricky to close the drawer. Consider keeping the knives with handles facing the same direction to make them easier to pull out quickly.
7. Periodically Recheck: After using the drawer for a while, check to make sure the dividers still hold the knives securely and that nothing is slipping around. Periodically clean the bamboo and sharpen the knives as needed.
This method keeps everything organized and maximizes your available drawer space.
[a d] Bameos bamboo drawer dividers, 4-pack.
Amazon creator ad link https://amzn.to/3X8Vker
Thank you for reading my blog and clicking my product links. Have a great day!
