If you want a gorgeous countertop centerpiece, you can’t beat a wooden cutting board. If saving money is the priority, plastic is the way to go. But if you’re going for durability, sanitation, and blade preservation, you can’t beat rubber.
While less common in home kitchens, this third option is the cutting board of choice for many professional chefs and several Delish staff members, including Javier Roncero, chef at Mercado Little Spain, and Justin Sullivan, Delish culinary producer. Here’s why you should consider buying one ASAP.
1. Rubber cutting boards are more sanitary.
One of the biggest issues with both wooden and plastic cutting boards is that they’re porous, so they’re susceptible to retaining moisture and bacteria in all those little grooves left by our knives when we cut on them. Rubber cutting boards, on the other hand, are non-porous, so, as Sullivan shares, they can’t “hold onto all that bacteria.”
Of course they still need to be cleaned thoroughly, but according to Roncero, their “smooth, waterproof surface” makes them “easy to clean and disinfect” with soap and hot water. Still stressed about germs? Roncero shares that rubber boards have “antimicrobial properties that prevent bacterial growth.” A cutting board that actively fights against bacteria for you? That's a win in my book.
2. They’re also kinder to knives.
Knives inevitably dull with use—it’s a fact of life—but the material you’re cutting on can massively impact how quickly your knife loses its edge. Rubber is king in this category, too, since it is significantly softer than wood and plastic. According to Roncero, rubber “offers a smooth surface,” helping to “preserve the sharpness of the knife edge by minimizing wear.” If you’re taking your knives to be sharpened every other week, it might be time to invest in a rubber cutting board.
Notrax NoTrax 12" x 18" x 0.5" Sani-Tuff T45 Natural Rubber Cutting Board
3. And they’re more stable.
You know those little rubber grips on the edges of your plastic cutting board? They’re supposed to keep the cutting board from moving while you work– but most of the time they’re not strong enough to actually work, and the cutting board starts sliding around regardless. Rubber cutting boards win here too, since the entire board is basically one giant rubber grip. As Roncero says, they “provide excellent stability...reducing the risk of slipping” while you’re cutting on them. Toss out the wet paper towels—this board’s not going anywhere.
4. They’re easy to maintain.
Wooden cutting boards might be pretty, but they also require regular oiling to prevent them from drying out. They’re also impossible to put in the dishwasher. Rubber cutting boards, on the other hand, require little maintenance beyond just a basic wash and dry. And, while it’s commonly thought that rubber cutting boards should also steer clear of the dishwasher, some brands nowadays are heat-resistant enough to hold up to a machine cycle.
5. And they last forever.
A cheap plastic cutting board will eventually warp, and even a wooden cutting board might crack, but rubber cutting boards are made with heavy-duty materials that will hold up to years of cutting. And while this means they might weigh more than your typical plastic cutting board, it also means they won’t flex and bend, becoming unreliable surfaces that might rock or move under your knife (see #3 above!). As Sullivan says, if you maintain a rubber cutting board “it’ll last forever.” And let’s face it, more than the air fryer, even more than your favorite blender, you’re gonna use that cutting board every day of your life.
