A cutting board is a cutting board, right? In truth, the answer to that question is a resounding no. Making sure you buy and use the right cutting board is important for preparing the best and safest foods. In addition, cutting boards are available in different materials, different sizes, and even different colors, so how do you know which one is best for your cooking needs? For most of your chopping needs, silicone cutting boards are your top choice.
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What are Cutting Boards Made of?
The main materials from which cutting boards are made, besides silicone, include wood and bamboo, glass, and plastic. Will any of these materials work well for anything you need to slice, dice, and cut? Ponder: would it be a good idea to cut raw meat on a bamboo or wood cutting board? So, before you decide on a specific cutting board material, make a mental list of all the things you want to use it for.
Here is a brief breakdown of the best uses and drawbacks of these materials.
Wooden and Bamboo Cutting Boards
If you have one of these in your home, you know that they are on the bulky side and somewhat hard to handle, especially for the larger cutting boards. Also, they need plenty of tender loving care to hold up for the long haul.
Glass Cutting Boards
The hard surface of this material quickly dulls your knife blades. In addition, should one of these cutting boards crack, there is the scary possibility that shards of glass could end up in the food you are preparing.
Plastic Cutting Boards
These are the most affordable, and they are easy to clean. However, they don’t do at all well in your dishwasher or when you use them while preparing hot foods. They are also known to harbor bacteria after continued use.
Why Silicone Cutting Boards?
There are many reasons to select silicone cutting boards. Here’s the shortlist on why a cutting board made of silicone is a wise choice for your kitchen. The overall advantages include:
- They can be easily bent.
- They are not slippery.
- They can be cleaned and sanitized easily.
- They are the safest option.
All About Silicone Cutting Boards
Cutting boards made of silicone are relatively new in the kitchen, but they are taking the cutting board market by storm. What is it about them, in more detail, that has made them so popular?
Easy on Knives
Good knives are expensive, so you want yours to last as long as possible, and of the other cutting board materials, silicone is the one that does this job the best. The cutting mat on a silicone cutting board has built-in cushioning, which makes knives remain in good condition for a longer period of time.
Bendable
Silicone is a flexible and easily bent material, so anything you cut up on these cutting boards is easily transferable to a pot, other cooking appliance, or the trash can. In other words, this flexibility makes your cooking life much simpler.
Resistant to Bacteria
Since the surfaces of silicone cutting boards are non-porous, the chances of contaminating food with bacteria are highly unlikely. Some of the other cutting board materials have porous surfaces which can collect this contaminant. Also, you can place the silicone boards into your dishwasher, resulting in complete sanitizing.
Ease of Maintenance
With the silicone material, there is no need to season and constantly sanitize like you must do with wooden and bamboo boards. If you don’t have a dishwasher, you can also sanitize your silicone cutting board with boiling hot water. Another way to ensure safe hygiene is to place the board in your microwave one high for one minute.
Surfaces Are Not Slippery
Another mark in the plus column for silicone cutting boards is that even on a wet countertop, they won’t slip around, making your chopping life difficult by potentially spilling food.
Attractive
The boards made from silicone come in a variety of colors, so you can have your choice of one that will match and brighten up your kitchen. You could even use a different color for each type of food you prepare to always ensure there will be no cross-contamination.
Easy to Store
Because they are so flexible and can be easily bent, they can be conveniently stored even in the smallest of kitchens. Most silicone cutting boards come with a hole drilled in for easy hanging. Likewise, their pliability allows you to roll them up to take with you on a picnic or when you travel or store them in a small space in your kitchen.
Abuse Proof
These boards are strong, sturdy, and won’t crack or bend even under the most difficult abuse in the kitchen. They always stay in shape and resist showing the wear and tear of some of the other materials.
What Are Some Disadvantages of Silicone Cutting Boards?
Although these boards are the clear-cut winner when it comes to their advantages, like with anything, there are disadvantages to them, as well. These disadvantages are listed below.
Scarring
The biggest disadvantage is that, since the surface of these cutting boards is very soft, it gives under the pressure of the knife, which leaves scars and damage. However, there are some silicone boards available that are made of a thicker silicone that prevents or minimizes damage.
Smell
Perhaps you’ve had other items that are made of silicone. If so, you are probably familiar with the initial odor of products when they are first opened. The smell is harmless, and you may find you need to wash your new board several times before the smell completely goes away. Also, do be sure to thoroughly wash your silicone cutting boards before you use them.
Flexibility
Although flexibility is an advantage for many people, others may find it inconvenient or downright annoying. In fact, some people will always prefer a more solid surface when cutting food.
Staining
Another potential disadvantage for some is that silicone cutting boards are more prone to staining than boards made of other materials. Specifically, tomato juice, grape juice, and some spices may leave stains on the silicone boards.
Smells
Yes, smells do linger on the silicone boards, particularly when cutting foods like onions and garlic. This is why it makes sense for you to have several silicone cutting boards that you only use when chopping specific foods.
Should You Buy A Silicone Cutting Board?
Now that you have reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of silicone cutting boards, as well as taken a brief look at cutting boards made from some other materials, the next task is to consider whether a silicone board is for you.
As mentioned, the advantages of these boards certainly make them a strong contender to reside in your kitchen. Their convenience, versatility, preservation of your knives, and safe food preparation make them a valuable kitchen tool.
Consider also, your ability to choose among colors to keep each board food specific. You can select colors that enhance the look of your kitchen, too.
Besides the advantages and disadvantages of silicone cutting boards, there are some other things to consider that you need to think about. These include the following:
Your Needs
Everyone has their own cooking and kitchen style, so in deciding what cutting board material to use, you need to think about your needs and what you do in your kitchen.
Your Kitchen
Big? Small? Dishwasher? Colors? There is truly a silicone cutting board for everyone and every kitchen.
Liflicon Video
Liflicon is my favorite brand of silicone cutting boards! While this video has no sound, it doesn’t need any. This video is all about “show, don’t tell” and you will see for yourself the benefits of silicone cutting boards and how they differ from traditional boards.
Conclusion: It’s All About Your Preferences
You have color choices, storage options, cleaning and sanitizing ease. And if you don’t decide to purchase a silicone board, there are the other cutting board material options that were discussed here.
Despite all the facts about silicone cutting boards, there is the ultimate fact that, like anything else, they won’t last forever and eventually need to be replaced.
An overall option is to purchase a wooden cutting board for big cutting projects (being sure to maintain it properly) and add several color-coded silicone boards for specific foods.
