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The 3 Best Cutting Boards For Meat

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by Kim Quindlen
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
Pre-cooked bacon on white cutting board with woman’s hand holding knife cutting bacon, on wood butch...
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When it comes to preparing meat on your cutting board, there's a lot to worry about. Aside from accidental injuries, you've also got to be extra careful to avoid cross-contaminating your surfaces. Food-borne illnesses are no joke, and the best cutting boards for meat ensure your kitchen remains safe as you cook.

The Best Cutting Boards For Meat: Plastic Versus Wood

Plastic is ideal for handling uncooked meat because it's easy to sanitize and generally dishwasher safe. If you go that route, you want to make sure you're picking one that's non-porous to prevent bacteria from developing in the crevices that form over time. Wood cutting boards, on the other hand, are naturally easier to keep sanitary. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), bamboo cutting boards are particularly great, as their firmer and less porous material "absorbs very little moisture and resists scarring from knives, so they're more resistant to bacteria than other woods." But here's the tricky part: They can't go in the dishwasher. Cleaning them requires hot soapy water or this wooden cutting board cleaning hack.

But there is more to cutting boards that just the material, additional design features can help keep your cook space sanitary. To help you find the perfect one I sifted through hundreds of options to find three of the best meat-friendly cutting boards on the market. Once you've found the one for you, check out these weird but genius kitchen gadgets.

1

The Overall Best Cutting Board For Meat

Made from a durable and non-porous plastic material, this dishwasher-safe cutting board is one of the best you can buy for meat. With more than 1,300 five-star Amazon ratings, this popular board is designed to resist deep scratches and scarring, so you won't have to worry about bacteria developing over time. Plus, the double-sided board has a single handle for easy lifting and has non-slip feet to allow for added safety. This cutting board also has two juice groves to catch any juices from your meats and make clean-up that much easier.

According to one reviewer: "This is an excellent cutting board for the price. I use this cutting board for cutting meat and it's easy to clean. It's thin, so it's easy to store against the wall and keep out of the way. Highly recommended if you're looking for a non-wood cutting board for cutting meat."

  • Dimensions: 14.78 inches by 10.39 inches (length by width)

2

Slightly Bigger & Pricier, With A Few More Features

Like the option above, this plastic cutting board by Neoflam is made from a dishwasher-safe, durable, and non-porous material. The difference is that this one is made with Microban antibacterial protection — but it's a little bit pricier. This one also boasts a double-sided design to ward off cross-contamination, nonslip edges for safe cutting, and a groove to catch excess liquid. No wonder it has a 4.6-star rating with more than 1,000 Amazon reviewers weighing in.

According to one reviewer: "I have three priorities for a cutting board. First, it must remain stationary. Second, it must not dull my knives. Third, it must be easily cleaned in a dishwasher or with a strong detergent to kill bacteria. The Neoflam boards meet all three criteria."

  • Dimensions: 17 inches by 12 inches (length by width)

3

The Best Wood Cutting Board, With 7 Different Protective Mats

In terms of convenience and sanitation, this naturally-antimicrobial and durable bamboo cutting board from Seville Classics gives you the best of both worlds. The 4.7-star board comes with seven BPA-free and dishwasher-safe mats — with predetermined labels and colors for different types of food — that help prevent cross-contamination and make cleanup a breeze. When they're not in use, the mats can be stored right inside the cutting board for a convenient organizing solution. Even better? The cutting board itself, which has more than 3,000 reviews on Amazon, has non-slip silicone feet for added stability and countertop protection.

According to one reviewer: "This cutting board does the trick. Finally someone figured it out, we cross contaminate when using a traditional cutting board. With this product you have a sleeves or mats for each type of food, like one for meat, and another for veggies, etc. This way you don't have to worry about your veggies having salmonella."

  • Dimensions: 16.5 inches by 13.4 inches (length by width)

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