Bamboo vs Traditional Cutting Boards: What's the Best Choice for Your Kitchen?

When it comes to one of the most used items in your kitchen, it makes sense to search for the top option. Sustainable, durable, and attractive, bamboo just might be it.

Cutting boards are an essential tool for cooking and entertaining. And, they often play a big role in styling your kitchen, too. If you’re like us, your cutting board is most likely out on the counter for easy access and has become a crucial kitchen accessory. But having a stylish board is only one benefit of owning a bamboo cutting board. With a lightweight, sleek design, bamboo cutting boards offer many reasons to make the switch. So, let’s dive in.

Is bamboo good for cutting boards?

Yes! In fact, there are few materials better suited for the job than bamboo.     This natural material is a favorite of home cooks and professional chefs alike due to its sustainability, durability, and neutral, classic coloring.

Pros and Cons of Bamboo Cutting Boards:

Pros:

· Durable and long-lasting

· Renewable and sustainable

· Lightweight

· Good looking and stylish finish

· Sanitary & anti-microbial

· Natural moisture-resistant and warp-resistant properties

· Affordable

Cons:

· Harder on knives than a softwood

· Not dishwasher safe

Durability

Having a board you can trust for years is essential. It’s also one of the areas where bamboo shines the most. In fact, you’ll find that a well-made bamboo board can last decades. Here’s why:

Bamboo is a hard grass, making it hardier than other types of materials, like wood.While softwoods are easily scarred by knife marks and accidental bumps in your countertop, bamboo isn’t. This means that you’ll enjoy a clean, even surface for longer.

Bamboo also offers a great benefit that boards made with synthetic materials can’t; it can be refinished. So, if your board does begin to show marks or discoloration, simply sand the surface lightly with fine-grain sandpaper. You’ll be left with a surface that looks and feels brand new.

Bamboo Cutting Board Care Tip

Hand wash and towel or rack dry. Also, use Bamboo Finishing Oil to keep your bamboo cutting board beautiful for years. Because bamboo is a denser material, make sure to sharpen knives regularly if you are primarily using your board for chopping and cutting.

Sustainability

Bamboo is a grass that grows at a fast pace, making it a renewable and sustainable resource. It also has the benefit of being a naturally pest-resistant plant. This makes it easier to grow bamboo without chemicals or pesticides of any kind (that’s what you’ll find at Bambu). This plant-based, natural material is also more environmentally friendly in the long run. Bamboo is a naturally biodegradable material, leaving a clean end to its life cycle.

Cleanliness

When it comes to food prep, we can bet that keeping things sanitary is a top priority. And cutting boards, especially if you’re cutting raw meat or fish, play a big part.

For many years, plastic has been touted as the most sanitary cutting board, thanks to its dishwasher-safe capabilities. However, a study conducted back in 1996 actually proves the opposite. Wood boards were shown to cause bacteria (in this study, it was Salmonella), to die off in less than five minutes. On plastic, the bacteria stay on the surface indefinitely.

While bamboo wasn’t tested in this particular study, the FDA states that it’s even more resistant to bacteria than wood. That’s thanks to the density of bamboo fiber, which resists bacteria and moisture.   Another benefit? Because bamboo is moisture-resistant, it’s less likely to warp or crack.

What is the healthiest cutting board to use?

Bamboo is denser and less likely to absorb bacteria than even high-quality hardwood, and its surface fights off bacteria (while plastic is a haven for microbes). So it’s clear: bamboo is the healthiest cutting board to use.

Is it safe to cut meat on a bamboo cutting board?

Yes, it’s perfectly safe to cut meat on a bamboo cutting board. Bamboo is a dense, moisture-resistant surface that is well suited for use with fruits, vegetables as well as meat and fish.   Just make sure to wash it with warm water and soap in between uses!

Plastic vs. Bamboo

Regardless of the research, many still choose to use plastic cutting boards in their homes. However, when it comes to safety and sustainability, bamboo offers a clearly superior choice. While plastic offers ease of cleaning in the dishwasher, it’s still less sanitary than bamboo. In the long run, plastic cutting boards show signs of wear more quickly.   And, they aren’t biodegradable, nor can they be recycled.

Bamboo Cutting Board vs. Wood

The closest match to bamboo is a wooden cutting board.   While picking a bamboo cutting board vs wood options is a common question, bamboo greatly outweighs the latter. Bamboo is harder than most woods, making it more resistant to knife scarring and dents. While hardwood boards are more comparable when it comes to hardiness, they offer an environmental concern. Bamboo can grow to maturity in a few short years. But hardwoods like maple can take up to 30 years to mature. So, while wood may appear to be a green choice, hardwood is far less renewable than fast-growing bamboo.

Why purchase a bamboo Cutting Board?

From unmatched sustainability to decade-long durability, bamboo offers a clear upgrade from wood or plastic boards. Not only will it look great on your countertop, but it’ll also work harder, too.