Pro Chefs Say Wooden Cutting Boards Are Ruining Your Knives — Here’s What to Use Instead

If your knife collection is your pride and joy, you probably routinely sharpen them or even take them to an expert for touch-ups. While it’s essential to have a precise and reliable knife sharpener on hand, there are additional ways to keep your knives in tip-top shape. According to the pro chefs that we spoke to, the type of cutting board you use with your knife also has an impact on how long the blades stay sharp. 

That’s why they all recommend this cutting board made of synthetic rubber. The material’s shock absorption keeps your knives sharper for longer and the non-porous surface is safer to use with raw meat. While most synthetic rubber cutting boards can be priced in the hundreds, this one is only $44. 

Rubber Rubber Store Synthetic Rubber Cutting Board

“Synthetic rubber boards tend to be much gentler on the knife's edge. This can help keep your knives sharper for longer, which is a significant advantage in maintaining the efficiency and safety of your kitchen tools,” says Dennis Littley, a professional chef of 40-plus years. As a user of synthetic rubber cutting boards, Littley appreciates that “they offer a good balance of firmness and flexibility, which means they don't wear down the knife blade as quickly as harder surfaces might.” 

Littley adds that because they’re non-porous, they don’t harbor bacteria as a wooden cutting board might. Plus, while wooden cutting boards require upkeep with mineral oil to prevent them from drying and cracking over time, “regular washing with hot, soapy water is usually sufficient” for rubber cutting boards.

Chef Pasquale Frola, executive chef at Spring House in Tenafly, New Jersey, performs daily knife maintenance, but agrees there are always more ways to keep the blade sharper for longer. He uses synthetic rubber cutting boards specifically for cutting meats and fish, noting that the rubber board’s “softness helps to keep the blade sharp and straight and does not shred under the cut.”

Synthetic rubber cutting boards are also easy on the hands if you’re handling extended kitchen tasks. Olivia Roszkowski, a chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education, says that they “create less strain on the wrist and provide a non-slip, safe surface to work on as your knife is put in motion.” So if you’re ready to add another layer of care to your knife maintenance routine, the Rubber Rubber synthetic cutting board is a worthy investment at only $54.

Shop More Rubber Cutting Boards on Amazon:

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