Why Are Wooden Chopping Boards Better Than Plastic?

A chopping board is one of the essential tools that one cannot resist having in the kitchen. Your chopping board is made of a material that is an important factor in the preparation of your food, especially when you are slicing vegetables, chopping meat, and cutting fruit. 

Although plastic chopping boards have been widely used for several years, wooden chopping boards are gradually gaining in favor among both the owners of household kitchens and professional chefs. In this blog post, we will share why wooden chopping boards are healthier than plastic, focusing on durability, hygiene, sustainability, smell, and feel.

1. Strength and Long Lasting

The major benefit of a wooden chopping board as compared to a plastic chopping board is that the wooden one will last longer. Well-crafted wooden boards that are made up of  maple, oak, or walnut have the potential to last several years, at least up to many decades, depending on how well they are looked after. They are durable and can handle frequent use and retain their shape.

Conversely, plastic chopping boards are more likely to wear out and display wear very soon. If knife initials and harsh grooves accumulate over time, a knife would not only be ugly but also more difficult to clean efficiently. Plastic boards should be replaced once they are scratched or cracked, and additional expenses and wastes would lead to increased number of expenses.

2. Less Hard on Knives

Plastic chopping boards are quite harsh to your knives as compared to wood chopping boards. Soft and fibrous, the structure of wood in turn enables knives to slide easily over the surface, which helps to keep your blades sharp. Plastic boards, on the other hand, are more rigid and may cause your knife to become dull very fast.

The wooden chopping board will be useful to you if you are a person who buys quality kitchen knives; a wooden chopping board will contribute to the preservation of your knives and maintain them in good condition longer. This, by extension, can save you some money on diamond stone, knife sharpening, or replacements.

3. Cleanliness and resistance to bacteria

An old wives' tale has it that wooden chopping boards are more likely to harbor bacteria than plastic chopping boards. But it was found out that wooden boards are naturally antibacterial. The presence of pores in the wood enables the bacteria to sink into the surface, where they are trapped and killed. Moreover, bacteria will be reduced given proper maintenance and cleaning of wooden boards.

4. Environmentally Friendly

The other reason why one should consider using a wooden chopping board is that it is environmentally friendly. Wood is a renewable product, and most of the wooden chopping boards are made of sustainably grown timber. Also, wood boards are biodegradable, which causes them not to stay in landfills for up to a few centuries, unlike their plastic alternatives.

5. Aesthetically Pleasing

Chopping wood boards not only serve their purpose, but also are beautiful. The beige color with the natural grain structure of your kitchen makes it a bit warm and elegant. Wooden chopping boards are also popular because they allow most individuals to use them as decoration on their countertop, knowing that they may be used as serving trays for cheeses, fruits, or charcuterie. Although plastic boards are practical, they do not have that beauty that is calmed by the use of a wooden board. 

6. Less Difficult to Maintain

Caring about a wooden chopping board can become a burden, but it is not that difficult. To avoid drying and cracking, the wood should also be regularly oiled (with any food-safe mineral oil or beeswax). A wooden board can last several years in good form and shape.

Plastic chopping boards, however, cannot be cleaned after getting damaged or scratched. Although they are dishwasher washable, deep grooves that develop on them as they grow old make it difficult to clean them effectively. The plastic also tends to turn colour, and with long-term use, one can easily acquire an old and ugly appearance.

7. More Suitable to Cut Raw Meat

Plastic boards are regularly believed to be a more secure alternative as far as cutting raw meat is concerned. This is because the natural fibres in the wood can essentially heal themselves after every cut, thereby preventing bacteria from having an easy time on the surface. Plastic boards, on the contrary, have a higher chance of sticking with the remains of raw meat in their crannies, and this can be contaminated.

Wrap Up

To conclude, although it can be considered convenient to use plastic chopping boards, wooden ones are best as far as many aspects are concerned. They are durable, more knife protective, naturally antibacterial, and they are environment friendly.