Plastic cutting boards: Potential health hazards or practical kitchen devices? Here's the lowdown.
Everyone probably owns at least one: a battered, stained plastic cutting board that's been hanging around the kitchen for years. Despite our best intentions, we never seem to replace it - but it's long past due. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology, a reputable scientific journal, found that plastic cutting boards release microplastics - tiny pieces of plastic - when you chop on them. These particles can end up in your food.
While you certainly shouldn't panic, it's good to be informed. After chatting with cooking experts and engineers, I can confirm that plastic cutting boards are generally safe to use, but they can lead to microplastics in your meals. To help you reduce your exposure to these potentially harmful particles, I've compiled a list of the best alternatives to plastic cutting boards:
Top Picks
- Best Wood: John Boos Chop-N-Slice Series, Maple Wood Cutting Board - $48.95$58.99 on Amazon Learn more
- Best Composite: Epicurean Kitchen Series Cutting Board - $29.74$33.99 on Amazon Learn more
- Best Silicone: Liflicon Silicone Thick Cutting Board Mats Set - $undefined$42.90 on Amazon Learn more
- Best for Small Spaces: Caraway Small Cutting Board - Not available on Amazon
- Best for Cooking and Serving: Our Place Walnut Cutting Board - $99.00 on Our Place Learn more
- Best Plastic-Like Look and Feel: Material Kitchen The MK Free Board - $45.00 on Material Kitchen Learn more
- Best Hybrid: Steelport Steelcore Cutting Board - $280.00 on Steelport Learn more
When shopping for cutting board alternatives, it's essential to consider the material, care requirements, and lifespan. Rubber, silicone, and composite cutting boards are generally more durable, dishwasher-friendly, and easy to clean compared to wood options. However, wood cutting boards are antibacterial and less likely to go bad over time, requiring only occasional oiling or conditioning to maintain.
Ultimately, the best material for your cutting board depends on your kitchen habits, preferences, and the resources you want to dedicate to cutting board maintenance. Whether you're cooking for a large family or just whipping up a quick meal, there's a safe, durable, and convenient cutting board alternative tailored to your needs.
In the realm of health-and-wellness and medical-conditions, it's worth noting that prolonged use of plastic cutting boards could potentially lead to microplastics in your meals due to small particles released during use. Fortuitously, the science behind food preparation materials offers a variety of alternatives. For example, the top pick in environmental-science is the John Boos Chop-N-Slice Series, Maple Wood Cutting Board, an antibacterial and durable option, while the Epicurean Kitchen Series Cutting Board made of composite material ranks as another viable choice.
