Butcher Block vs. Plastic

Is Butcher Block or Plastic Best for a Cutting Surface?

If you've heard that plastic cutting boards are safer than wood, you haven't heard the whole story. Although it has long been believed that wood cutting boards and butcher blocks are more likely to harbor dangerous levels of bacteria, recent research shows that it simply isn't true.

The idea is that wood (because it is porous) can soak up juices from raw meats, allowing bacteria to seep down into the board. The bacteria then pose a risk of contaminating the next food item placed on the cutting board. Plastic, because it is non-porous, is believed to be resistant to this bacterial invasion.

Researchers were surprised, however, to find that when they applied large quantities of disease-causing bacteria (those commonly found in raw meat and seafood) to both wood and plastic cutting boards, in the end the wood boards were actually more sanitary than the plastic boards. One study reported that more than 99 percent of the bacteria applied to the wood cutting board died within three minutes, while the bacteria on the plastic cutting board actually multiplied.

It isn't clear exactly why this is the case. Even after hand washing both the wood and plastic cutting boards with hot soapy water, the plastic boards still had more bacteria present, compared to the wood boards. One problem with plastic cutting boards may lie in the nicks and gouges commonly caused by a knife striking the surface of the cutting board. When high levels of bacteria lodged in these crevices, they were not removed from the plastic board by general hand-washing methods. High quality wood butcher blocks and cutting boards, and butcher block countertops (such as those made with Hard Rock Maple and other premium hardwoods) are more resistant to this type of knife damage. Hand washing effectively removed the bacteria from the surface of the wood cutting board. Wood also appears to have natural germ-killing properties which are not present in plastic.

Whether your cutting surface is made of plastic or wood, what's important is keeping it clean. Here are some tips for cleaning and maintaining your favorite wood butcher blocks, cutting boards, and countertops in the kitchen:

    After every use with food, butcher block cutting boards and countertops should be scrubbed with hot soapy water, rinsed clean, and dried with an absorbent cloth.
    Wood surfaces can be sanitized by applying a mixture of one teaspoon chlorine bleach and one quart of water (it's handy to keep a spray bottle full of this mixture for easy use). Saturate the surface of the wood with the bleach solution, let stand for several minutes, then rinse and pat dry with an absorbent cloth.
    Regularly apply food-safe mineral oil to butcher block cutting boards and countertops to help prevent bacteria from penetrating the surface. (This can be done as often as monthly, or when the wood begins to appear dry.)
    Some solid wood cutting boards can be sanitized in the dishwasher. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions when cleaning your butcher block cutting boards.
    Never allow liquids to remain in contact with wood surfaces for long periods of time (because doing so can cause damage to the wood).

If you're looking for the best natural wood cutting surfaces for your kitchen, Kitchen Island Co. has a terrific selection of premium wood kitchen islands, top-quality wood kitchen carts, versatile wood work tables, and gorgeous wood cutting boards and butcher blocks to choose from.