Wood vs. Plastic Cutting Boards

You might be surprised …

Function – Wood cutting boards are easier on knife blades than plastic. If you are buying a cutting board on which to chop fruits and vegetables (which are not likely to carry bacteria such as salmonella), a wood cutting board is a great choice.

Fashion – Some people like the look of wood cutting boards, also called butcher block cutting boards, better than plastic. You can leave a butcher block out on your counter top as a classy work station, while a plastic cutting board might look odd as a permanent addition to a counter top.

Health and safety – After many years of debate, the jury is still out on whether wood or plastic cutting boards are safer when it comes to food borne bacteria. For many years, the common belief was that plastic was safer because it was easier to rinse off, and wood was unsafe because bacteria could easily build up in its pores.

About 10 years ago, a study concluded that wood was in fact safer, and found that most bacteria died within three minutes on a new wood cutting board, and that it actually lasted longer on a plastic cutting board. However, there have been other studies and reports that have since contradicted this, and some studies have found that bacteria lie dormant in a wood cutting board until it is re-wetted and used again.

Conversely, one argument against plastic is that it could chip off gradually and tiny particles of inorganic plastic could lodge themselves in your food. Whether you choose wood or plastic will probably be a personal decision, and you should always keep cutting board safety in mind.

Cutting board safety

Whether you choose a plastic or wood cutting board, keep the following safety tips in mind:

Wash all cutting boards with hot soapy water and a brush after each use.

Sanitize both wood and plastic cutting boards with a bleach based cleaning spray.

Discard excessively worn cutting boards.

Designate one cutting board for meat, poultry, and fish, and another for fruits, vegetables, and breads.

More information on cutting boards