What was your experience the last time you tried cutting meat without a cutting board? It was probably pretty challenging.
Besides the dangers of injuring yourself, there is an all-time risk of contamination. As such, cutting boards are pretty essential. However, they aren’t all the same. So, what kind of cutting board is best for meat?
After extensive research, we have compiled this article to bring you the top five picks. You will also find a buying guide to help you know what to look for when shopping.
Additionally, we have answered in detail the frequently asked questions to enlighten you further regarding these boards.
Our Picks for the Top 5 Cutting Boards for Meat
- OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set: Best Overall
- Bellsal Bamboo Cutting Board Set: Best Bamboo
- HOMWE Kitchen Cutting Board (3-Piece Set): Best Plastic
- Elihome MEDIUM Cutting Board: Best Natural Wood
- Cutting Board Double-Sided, GUANCI Large Size: Best Value
1. OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
Topping this list is the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set, made of high-grade plastic that makes it non-porous and safe. Its double-sided feature helps you prevent cross-contamination when cutting the meat.
This cutting board deserves the “best overall” title due to its dishwasher safety, durability, and ease of handling. These features help you by enabling long service and value for your money.
The OXO also comes with non-slip feet that keep it intact when in use. It also has drip-catchers that ensure you don’t untidy your working surface.
And, to cap it all, this brand comes in two pieces of varying sizes: the bigger one is for big occasions, and the smaller one is suitable for everyday use.
Pros
- Durable
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Sturdy
- Food safe
Cons
- Deep gouges
2. Bellsal Bamboo Cutting Board Set
The Bellsal Bamboo Set makes it to this list of cutting boards best for meat owing to its superb craftsmanship.
The manufacturer goes to great lengths to ensure that the surface of this cutting board is non-porous and free of splinters or cracks, which makes it safe to use.
In addition, the Bellsal cutting board has side handles for better handling and a juice groove that prevents a mess when cutting meat on it.
This cutting board is knife-friendly, which ensures your knives are in good condition when chopping the meat.
On maintenance, the bamboo used in making this board set makes it dishwasher-friendly and easy to clean or maintain. Moreover, it’s sturdy and durable, which guarantees you long service.
Pros
- Safe
- Sturdy
- Cracks free
- Dishwasher friendly
Cons
- Shallow drip edge
3. HOMWE Kitchen Cutting Board (3-Piece Set)
The HOMWE three-piece set features among our top picks of best meat cutting boards due to its variety of features.
This set of cutting boards is made of heavy-duty, non-porous plastic, making it safe for cutting meat and easy to clean.
It’s also grooved to prevent the meat from slipping when you are cutting. In addition, it has non-slip handles that enable easy handling during use and when moving it with meat on top.
This cutting board has an ultra-strong cutting surface that makes it durable. On top of that, the surface is knife friendly, eliminating the need for constant knife maintenance.
This board is versatile; you can use it for carving or sink cover other than cutting meat.
Pros
- Durable
- Non-slip handles
- Versatile
- Full set
Cons
- Slippery
4. Elihome MEDIUM Cutting Board
Elihome is another notable board suitable for cutting meat due to its pressed wood feature. The material is non-porous and cracks or wrapping resistant, which makes it durable.
It also has an inbuilt thumb hole and easy-grip handles for better handling. Heat resistance is another notable feature of the Elihome cutting board, enabling usage as a trivet.
The Elihome is healthy, safe, and NSF certified, which makes it suitable for everyday kitchen use.
This cutting board is available in four different sizes, giving you options to choose from depending on the amount of meat you need to cut on it.
Pros
- Heat resistant
- Thumbhole
- Easy to clean
- Knife friendly
Cons
- Smelly when wet
5. Double-Sided, GUANCI Large Size Cutting Board
Lastly, we have the double-sided GUANCI cutting board. This cutting board is among the best for cutting meat since it is composed of a food-grade stainless steel surface, which is simple to clean and/or disinfect after use.
The GUANCI’s double sides enable you to properly use the same board to cut raw and cooked meat without contamination.
It also has a built-in juice groove that can hold up to 200ml of food juice, giving you a tidy working area. This large cutting board gives you adequate space to cut your meat.
Besides that, it has grip handles for better handling, and you can use the handles to hook it during storage to save space.
Pros
- Thick
- Sturdy
- Easy to clean
- Double-sided
Cons
- Heavy
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Cutting Board for Meat
Like other kitchen items, you need to choose them carefully. Here are the factors you need to consider.
Material
The cutting board’s material determines its durability, dishwasher safety, and ease of maintenance. In addition, the material determines if the cutting board will be porous, which can be risky healthwise.
It would be best if you shun meat cutting boards made of glass and marble. For safety purposes, check the material in the product’s detail before ordering it when shopping online.
Functionality
A cutting board should provide a safe work surface for cutting your meat. For that reason, you need a meat cutting board with additional safety features such as suction cups or rubberized feet.
Besides that, the board should have an efficiently designed handle for portability.
Size of the board
The size of the cutting board is an important consideration when choosing one for your kitchen. A large rectangular board will give you plenty of room to work, but it can be cumbersome to store.
A smaller round or oval board might be a better option if counter space is at a premium in your kitchen.
Knife-friendliness
Knives are susceptible to damage when used on a cutting board. It will be best if you consider if the board you intend to buy is knives friendly.
You will not only save the time you will need to regularly sharpen your knives but also the cost of replacing them altogether.
Frequently Asked Questions About Meat Cutting Boards
1. Should you cut meat on wood cutting board?
When it comes to cutting boards, there are a few different materials to choose from.
Wood, plastic, and glass are all popular options, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
For example, wood is a natural material that is easy on knives, but it can be difficult to clean and is prone to bacteria growth.
Plastic is a durable material that is easy to clean, but it can dull knives over time.
Glass is a non-porous material that is easy to clean and maintain, but it can be hard on knives.
So, which material is the best for cutting meat? While there are pros and cons to each type of cutting board, wooden cutting boards are generally the best option for meat.
Wood is gentle on knives, making it less likely to damage the blade. Additionally, wood is a porous material that allows juices to seep in, preventing cross-contamination.
As a result, wooden cutting boards are the preferred choice for most professional chefs.
2. Can you cut meat and vegetables on the same board?
It is generally safe to cut meat and vegetables on the same cutting board. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind.
First, it is important to clean the board thoroughly after cutting meat.
This will help to prevent cross-contamination. Second, it is important to use separate cutting boards for raw and cooked meat.
Raw meat can contain harmful bacteria that can contaminate cooked food.
Finally, it is important to avoid cutting acid vegetables (such as tomatoes) on wooden cutting boards.
Acidic foods can cause the wood to warp or crack over time. With these guidelines in mind, you can safely cut meat and vegetables on the same board.
3. How can you know if the cutting board is dishwasher safe?
Dishwashers are the best for cleaning cutting boards for meat. However, not all are dishwasher safe.
You can know this through the manufacturer-mention in the product’s details or by checking its material and thickness.
For instance, you shouldn’t clean thin plastic, metallic, or wooden meat cutting boards in a dishwasher.
4. What are the best practices to observe when using a cutting board?
The best practices when using cutting boards go a long way in ensuring safety. These practices include using separate boards for raw and cooked meat to avoid cross-contamination and thoroughly washing the boards after use.
Additionally, you should use a small quantity of fresh, unscented solution of liquid chlorine and water to disinfect the boards before storage.
5. Do cutting boards require FDA approval?
Yes, they do. The FDA categorizes the boards as food contact substances.
It will be best to be cautious when buying your meat cutting boards because of the health risks of some non-compliant cutting boards.
For safety, choose from our picks of cutting boards best for meat since they are all compliant.
Conclusion
Meat cutting boards are essential in your kitchen to prevent injuries and contamination. However, some varieties work best with meat.
This comprehensive roundup has covered the top five picks on the market.
In addition, we have covered the factors you should consider when choosing cutting boards.
It would be best to use the information here to help you make sound decisions when buying your meat cutting board.
