About

The Lock Block is the safe knife block with its patented locking mechanism

Child proof knife block requires pushing on both sides of the block at the same time while removing the knife

Can be disengaged when preparing foods and need knives continuously

Made of stainless steel and wood

Fits five standard knives

The Lock Block from Starfrit Gourmet is the safest knife block you can buy. The patented block won't let children take knives out easily. The child-proof knife block needs to be unlocked by pushing on both sides of the block at the same time and removing the knife. Knife block can be continuously unlocked if you are preparing food and are frequently using your knives. The green light indicates the Lock Block is disengaged;the red light shows when it is in function. Made of stainless steel and dark wood, the Lock Block fits five standard knives;chef, slicer, parer, bread and utility knife. Knives not included.

  • Color: Dark wood stain, silver, black
  • Weight: 2 lb 1 oz
  • Made In: China
  • Warranty: 1 year
  • Dimensions: 9-3/9" x 8-3/8" x 4-3/8"
  • Composition: Stainless steel, wood, plastic
  • Manufacturer: Starfrit Gourmet
  • Other versions: Natural

Ambitions

Apparent goal: kids gift/registry home kitchens restaurants everywhere
Intended audience: novice advanced beginner good home cook gourmet professional
Diet/nutrition: does not apply scary empty promises helpful essential
Green?: not especially neutral mixed blessing earth friendly green!
Innovative: step back standing still trendy progress genius
Problem solving: no better baby steps solid steps giant steps a revelation
Competition: outclassed follower in the pack strong challenger likely champ

Utility/Quality

Ease of use: impossible frustrating OK simple child's play
Intuitive: Ph.D. required barely logical effortless brilliant
Instructions: missing incomprehensible adequate unnecessary excellent
Quality: cheesy questionable good years of service impressive
Parts to lose: inevitable some/many one-piece self-storing not a problem
Power source: none hands batteries outlet green
Clean-up: nightmare wipe clean soap & water scouring pad dishwasher
Does it work?: not at all adequately well very well perfectly
Availability: airfare required online kitchen store department store supermarket

Packaging

Easy to open?: impossible maddening tolerable good opens itself
Green?: fills a landfill huge waste passable minimal waste impressive

Economy

Time saving: time wasting not really modest substantial huge
Labor saving: less efficient marginal a bit noticeable remarkable
Money saving: money wasted none $ $$ $$$
Beats the old way: worse no change better definitely entirely new
Where will it live?: garage/attic drawer cabinet countertop elsewhere

Summary

Fulfills ambitions: falls short almost there satisfies exceeds home run
How often used: once/twice ≥daily ≥weekly ≥monthly ≥yearly/holidays
Worth the space?: no does not apply w/unlimited space w/limited space absolutely
Need it?: a luxury discretionary basic equipment for serious cooks get it
Value: ouch! a little pricey worth splurging on the money a deal
Overall rating: skip it fair good very good excellent

Comments: Does having a child – or having a child visit – mean that you have to give up cooking? Well, yes, but that's a different matter. Does it mean you have to get rid of your good knives, your trusty friends in the kitchen? No, you just have to lock them up.

This locking knife block does a very good job of keeping your knives safe. We could not pull a knife out when it was in the locked position, and we are stronger than some 7-year-olds. The down side is that, like so many child-proof devices, it is not necessarily a picnic for grown-ups to operate, either.

To remove a knife, you have to firmly press and hold buttons on each side of the block, allowing you to withdraw the knife with your free hand. Grown-ups with small to very-small hands are going to struggle to stretch from thumb to middle finger to depress both buttons. You can use a finger from each hand, but then you have no free hand to pull out the knife. You can unlock the knife block by pressing both buttons on the sides, pressing the button on the front of the block, and letting go of the side buttons while the center button stays in. Your timing has to be pretty good, but you'll probably get the hang of it.

The manufacturer says this unlocked mode is useful when you are cooking up a storm and are using your knives frequently. You'll have to remember to lock it when you're done. (You can put knives into the block when it's locked.)

The block only holds five knives – two with larger blades (chef's knife or Santoku, perhaps), and three with narrower blades. (You provide the knives.) It takes up a fair bit of room for something that only holds five knives, but it's hard to put a price on safety, either in terms of dollars spent or space occupied.