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If your countertops are slippery and your cutting board doesn’t have nonslip feet, a wet paper towel underneath it will keep it from sliding around.

by: Chris Thomas, BestReviews Staff

If your countertops are slippery and your cutting board doesn’t have nonslip feet, a wet paper towel underneath it will keep it from sliding around.

by: Chris Thomas, BestReviews Staff

Despite wooden cutting boards being the overwhelming favorite of professionals such as butchers, they still get a bad rap. Some people claim that because wood is porous and can absorb liquid, it’s unsafe to cut meat on it.

Surprisingly, the reality is almost the opposite. Both wooden and plastic cutting boards can be and are safe for any kind of food, with wood having a slight lead in terms of food safety and knife wear prevention.

Cross-contamination is the transfer of harmful bacteria from one object to another. Cutting raw chicken and then slicing fresh produce on the unwashed board is the perfect example of cross-contamination.

This can happen between any two foods that might have germs present. Even lettuce, which is a major source of E. coli infections, can lead to cross-contamination when not properly washed.

There are peer-reviewed studies on the bacterial retention and decontamination of both materials. The conclusion is simple. Whether your cutting boards are plastic or wooden, the most important step is thoroughly washing and drying them before switching foods. If you’re careful, both materials are safe.

Plastic equipment is lightweight, space-efficient and easy to clean. It’s also durable and affordable. A plastic cutting board can withstand a huge amount of vigorous hand washing, high-temperature machine washing and chemical sterilization. That’s one of two main reasons you’ll find high-volume kitchens equipped with plastic cutting boards.

Plastic also allows for color coding. Typically, red cutting boards are for red meat, tan for fish, green for fruits and vegetables, blue for cooked food and white for dairy. These sometimes vary between states and cooking establishments. While restaurants use them, most home cooks don’t opt to buy cutting boards in each color. That’s OK as long as you’re thorough with cleaning and sanitizing.

The plastic cutting boards are made from is soft enough that it won’t dull a knife overly quickly. It’s not quite as gentle on an edge as some types of wooden boards, but it’s suitable for some of the fanciest knives in the world.

The main worry about wooden cutting board safety is that it can absorb bacteria and lead to cross-contamination even after it’s washed with soap and water. These fears are unfounded. Wood’s porous nature does allow it to absorb some bacteria. However, instead of letting that bacteria flourish, it traps and dries out the bacteria, leaving it unable to contaminate food.

Another reason wood can be better than plastic is its ability to repair itself. Once there’s a large gauge or groove on the surface of a plastic cutting board, it’s there to stay. This can trap bacteria between washings.

Wood, on the other hand, tends to repair gauges and grooves as time goes on. A gentle hand washing rehydrates the wood slightly, allowing it to return to its original shape and greatly minimize the risk of trapped bacteria.

A wooden cutting board is the best choice for high-end chef’s knives. End grain cutting boards offer a high level of softness that minimizes the regular dulling of a knife. With that said, all cutting gradually dulls a knife. High-quality wood simply slows that process.

Its high-quality wood and end grain construction make it a fine choice for the most demanding home chefs. There’s also a smaller version if the big one doesn’t quite fit on your countertops. 

It’s safe for high-end blades and comes in three sizes to fit your kitchen perfectly. 

It has convenient handles on the sides in addition to nonslip feet and an optional juice groove that keeps meat juices off your counter. 

This affordable edge grain model comes from one of the biggest names in cutting boards. 

Crafted from beautiful walnut, this butcher block looks as good as it performs. 

These no-nonsense cutting boards are simple to sanitize and come in six colors for the careful cook. 

Oxo Good Grips Cutting Board Set

If you typically cook for only a few people at a time, these small and medium-size options are perfect. 

This highly economical four-pack of colored cutting boards comes with nonslip feet and a vertical storage stand for safety and convenience. 

This cutting board has three sizes to choose from and none of them cost very much. 

These are the same cutting boards found in professional kitchens across the country. 

A. While they’re lightweight and affordable, it’s best to avoid bamboo cutting boards. It’s significantly harder than other wood and even has mild antibacterial properties. At first glance, that makes bamboo look like an attractive material. However, it’s not any more hygienic in practice and its hardness wears down a knife edge much faster than traditional wood boards.

A. Glass wears down a knife edge incredibly quickly, no matter what kind of metal the knife is made from. It’s also hard to keep wet foods from sliding around a glass surface. This makes precision cutting difficult and even dangerous. Glass cutting boards should be avoided at all costs.

A. While they are convenient, lightweight and affordable, they don’t offer the cushion of a large piece of plastic. They’re also hard to clean. They work but are best avoided in favor of rigid plastic or wood.

A. Rarely. They tend to be expensive and difficult to sanitize. They are also hard to replace if damaged. Cutting board countertops can be safe and effective if you’re careful, but most homeowners shouldn’t waste their money.

A. The best size is the biggest one that fits on your kitchen counter. Your cutting board should be at least as tall as your biggest knife is long. Using one that’s too small makes it difficult to make consistent, precise cuts.

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Chris Thomas writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.   

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