As you may already know, I really prefer to store my fine cutlery on a magnetic knife holder. However, there are many chefs and cooks out there who prefer storing their knives in a kitchen knife block. If you prefer a kitchen knife block, there are two brands that I recommend. The first is the Wusthof knife block, and the second is the Henckels knife block.

Both Henckels and Wusthof make very good quality knife blocks, and they are both very similar. The one advantage that the Henckels knife block has is that it is usually a little more affordable than the Wusthof.

Henckels makes knife blocks in several different sizes.

This is the Henckels 8-slot steak knife block. If you want to keep your steak knives in their own block then this is the one for you. You can find this block online for well under $20, so it won’t break the bank. This block is made from top quality solid hardwood and will only take up about 3″x6″ on your counter top. If you use a lot of paring knives, you could also use this block to store them.

Henckels also has this 10-slot storage block in several different types of wood. The block has slots for 8 knives, a pair of kitchen shears, and a sharpening steel. Henckels lists one model in this size constructed using “quality hard wood.” I have seen this same block made of solid oak. You can expect to pay at least $10 more for the oak block. There is also a bamboo model available, also about $10 more than the hardwood version. All of the versions of this block are the same size, with a footprint of about 9.5″x4.5″.

This is the best looking Henckels knife block, in my opinion. This block is made of solid cherry and has 16 slots. I’ve always been a big fan of cherry wood. It looks great on any kitchen counter. This block will hold 8 kitchen knives, 6 steak or paring knives, a sharpening steel and a pair of kitchen shears. While this is a great looking knife block, there is one disadvantage. The block will not hold a 10″ chef’s knife. If you don’t have a 10″ chef’s knife, I highly recommend this block. It will take up about 9″x4.5″ of your counter space.

The next step up in Henckels knife blocks is the 19-slot model. This block is made from standard hardwood. What makes this one special is the space for a cleaver or Chinese chef’s knife, and the 2 slots for santoku knives. I love my santoku knives, so if I was going to get a knife storage block, this would be my choice. It has the slots I need and can be purchased online for about $30. This block will hold 9 kitchen knives, 8 steak or paring knives, a sharpening steel and a pair of kitchen shears. This model will take up about 5.5″x10.5″ of counter space.

This is the 22-slot Henckels knife block. This block is made from beechwood. If you have a lot of knives then this is the knife storage block for you. This block will hold 13 kitchen knives including 2 santoku knives and a cleaver or Chinese chef’s knife. It also holds 8 steak knives, kitchen shears and a sharpening steel. The footprint for this block is about 11″x7″.

Henckels also makes a 26-slot swivel knife storage block. This block is ideal for those with a kitchen center island. The block rotates a full 360 degrees on its base for handy access on your kitchen island. This block is made from bamboo and includes slots for santoku knives and cleaver or Chinese chef’s knife, and 8 steak knives.

I saved the best Henckels knife block for last. This is the Miyabi bamboo block with storage drawer. The knife storage has 11 slots including a slot for a pair of kitchen shears. This block is designed for Henckel’s line of Miyabi knives which feature authentic Japanese blade designs. These knives are perfectly balanced and extraordinarily sharp. The drawer on this block is for a sharpening stone.

Henckels makes a couple of other models that you can find in your online shopping. No matter which Henckels storage block you choose for your kitchen, you will get a top-notch, quality product.