Safest Non-Toxic Cutting Boards — Wood, Bamboo, Glass, etc.

Are you looking for the safest cutting boards to prepare food for your family? Your cutting surface matters and Mamavation wants to help you find the safest quality materials for your Sunday dinner. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you investigations like safest olive oils tested for phthalates, best water purifiers that can filter PFAS “forever chemicals, safest premium coffees tested for pesticides, mycotoxins & PFAS, & safest salt tested for heavy metals and microplastics, now join us for our latest consumer study on the safest types of cutting boards.

Disclosure: This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. Donations were provided by Environmental Health News and Mamavation community members. Note that Mamavation has only “spot-checked” the industry and thus we cannot make predictions about brands and products that we have not tested. Products and manufacturing aides can change without notice so buyer beware. This post contains affiliate links, with most to Amazon, which means Mamavation will receive a portion of those sales and we will use that to pay ourselves back for the testing. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Thank you!  Copyright © 2024 Mamavation — All Rights Reserved

Basic Types of Cutting Boards

There are many types of cutting boards available to American consumers. Here are the most popular types you’ll find that we have evaluated.

• Wood: Wood materials like maple, birch, mahogany, acacia, walnut, or cherry are the highest quality. Wood has natural antiseptic properties, and when cared for properly, doesn’t harbor bacteria quite like plastic cutting boards do.  Therefore, wooden cutting boards are far more hygienic in general. The porous nature of wood allows bacteria to seep into the fiber network in the wood where it eventually dies. It’s not recommended to put your wooden cutting board in the dishwasher, and thus it’s not “dishwasher friendly.” The best types of wooden cutting boards are made from a single piece of wood and do not require adhesives to glue separate pieces together. If your cutting board is glued together, you want to make sure it is done with “formaldehyde-free” glues or adhesives. Food-grade glue is not necessarily “formaldehyde-free.”
• Bamboo: Bamboo is technically not a wood, it’s considered a grass. Because bamboo acts essentially like wood, this can be confusing, but technically bamboo cutting boards (and other bamboo-type products) are “tree-free.” Bamboo has similar natural antiseptic properties as wood when cared for properly. However, bamboo is harder than most woods and may make your knives duller quicker.
• Plastic: Plastic boards may be considered dishwasher-safe, but they also may expose you to microplastics over time and use and therefore, you should not put them into the dishwasher because that will allow it’s additives to leach out faster. You’ll find polypropylene and high density polyethylene (HDPE) cutting boards to be the most popular. Many people prefer these types of boards for cutting meats like steak, however, small cuts on a plastic cutting board can also release small pieces of plastic into your food. Most plastic cutting boards will market themselves as BPA-free, but don’t be fooled. It’s still plastic.
• Silicone: Silicone may not be considered “plastic” but it’s still a polymer and all polymers may leach microplastics. Do not put silicone-based cutting boards in the dishwasher because that will break down the polymers faster and they will be more likely to leach additives or microplastics. Silicone also sometimes contains trace amounts of cadmium and antimony.
• Tempered Glass: Tempered glass cutting boards are very safe alternatives and safe to put into the dishwasher because they are resistant to shattering. However, they are also harder on your knives and will make them duller faster, and the noise they make when you are using them may start to bother you like nails on a chalkboard. Most of the time these cutting boards come with anti-slip silicone feet.
• Granite or Marble: These cutting boards are the most beautiful. Granite or marble cutting boards are mostly non-toxic and very easy to clean, however, they may off-gas harmful substances such as radon and other radioactive materials based on where those materials are mined. However, it’s important to understand that if radon emissions are present they would be very low and unlikely to cause a health problem within your home unless you are very chemically sensitive.
• Titanium or Stainless Steel: Titanium cutting boards have become very popular among influencers, but they aren’t necessarily any better than wooden or tempered glass cutting boards. They are indeed easier to clean and completely non-toxic. However, they also have the same issues with knife dulling and sounds that are made when you use them that may start to drive you nuts. People who are sensitive to nickel or chromium are not recommended to use stainless steel cutting boards because trace amounts will be released over time.
• Paper Composite: Paper composite cutting boards are made from paper pressed together with phenol-formaldehyde or other types of similar chemicals. Epicurean is the most well-known brand made from Richlite. This type of cutting board may take weeks to off-gass the formaldehyde used to produce, however, this product would off-gass very low levels of formaldehyde and you’d have to be chemically sensitive to be impacted.

Wood Types — Grains of Wood

When you are purchasing a type of wood cutting board, there are many types of grains of wood to select. Here are the basic differences of what is available to you.

• Face Grain Wooden Cutting Boards: Face grain refers to the most visible part of the wood where you can admire the grooves of the wood. These types of cutting boards can be made with one solid piece of wood. The pros of this type of cutting board are you can create the cutting board in one solid piece and avoid using glues which can involve mystery chemicals. The cons revolve around use.  They are the most temperamental of boards and can warp the most when exposed to water. They also will show the cuts and abuse over time.
• Edge Grain Wooden Cutting Boards: Edge grain cutting boards are designed to have the narrow edge side of planks visible on their wide surface. Edge grain is described as the long narrow side of the wood. Typically, when made into cutting boards they are a way to reuse strips of wood that would otherwise be thrown away. This does not make them a lower quality, it’s more about being sustainable with resources. However, there is always a risk to the chemically sensitive when glues are used. Look for “formaldehyde-free” glues.
• End Grain Wooden Cutting Boards: Last but not least, is the end grain. This is the short narrow ‘top’ (or ‘bottom) very ends of the board. These wooden cutting boards are the most forgiving whereas they do not show the cuts as much over time because of the nature of where the wood fibers are located. You’d be cutting in between the already existing strips of the fibers instead of splitting them like with a face grain. They also are more forgiving of water damage than other types of boards. These boards are also the most difficult to manufacture. However, there is always a risk to the chemically sensitive when glues are used. Look for “formaldehyde-free” glues.

Care & Maintenance of Wood Cutting Boards

Cleaning Your Wood Cutting Boards

Proper care of wooden cutting boards can make them last a lifetime. Wood boards, especially made from sustainable materials, are a great choice for your family. Proper cleaning of your wooden cutting board and regular oiling will make them more sanitary and protect your family from bacteria.

Start by washing your wooden cutting board with safe soap and warm water and scrub off all the debris. However, do not let your cutting board retain moisture for long on the countertop. You want to clean it as quickly as possible. Then cut a lemon in half and take some kosher salt and sprinkle it all over the board. Use that half lemon to scour the surface of the cutting board squeezing slightly to release all the juices as you go. This helps get rid of bacteria that may be on the board from things like raw chicken or other meats. Let the board sit for a couple of minutes before rinsing. This should also help you get rid of stains or discoloration left behind by food. The acid from the lemon will also neutralize smells.

Do not put your wooden cutting board in the dishwasher because the heat and moisture from warm water & other liquids will warp and splinter the wood. Only plastic, composite, or glass boards can go into the dishwasher. Do not use bleach to clean your wood because it will stain the wood and cause it to excessively dry.

Maintenance of Wood Cutting Boards

At least once per week, you should be oiling and caring for your cutting board. Once your cutting board is dry, you’ll want to oil the entire surface of the board with a generous application using a kitchen towel or paint brush. Let the oil soak into the cutting board at least a few hours or overnight if possible sitting on it’s side.

We recommend using professional cutting board oils that are not made from mineral oil. Products similar to the following would be best:

• The Real Milk Paint Cutting Board Oil
• Verdana Cutting Board Oil
• Roostmade Organic Cutting Board Oil

Using a cutting board wax afterward will act as a physical barrier on the surface of the wood protecting it against stains. Waxes also help with sanitation, as it fills in the knife scars and cracks. This is an example of a wax we recommend:

• The Real Milk Pain Wood Wax

Potential Toxic Issues Found in Cutting Boards

Not all cutting boards are non-toxic and “safe” for your family, especially when you are cutting up products that are hot or full of acid like tomatoes.

• Leaching Mystery Additives From Plastics: Any polymer, which includes materials like plastic and silicone, can leach the mystery additives they were created with onto your food through exposure to wear and tear, heat, acid, or fat. It’s a really bad idea to put plastic or silicone cutting boards into the dishwasher because the hot water from the dishwasher will break down the plastics and cause them to leach faster. These leached additives have the potential to get into your food and become part of your meal once they start breaking down out of the cutting board. What are they made of? Who knows and that’s the problem.
• Microplastics From Plastics: When cutting boards are cut upon, small plastic shards are commonly unlodged from the plastic and may later become part of your meal. Microplastics are a threat to the body because our body does not understand what they are and they can be mistaken as other natural hormones, which can cause disruption in our body. Some types of plastics are more dangerous than others, but we do not fully understand yet what happens when the body is disrupted by microplastics.
• Mystery Adhesives & Glues: When wood slats are put together into a wooden cutting board, they need to use adhesives and glues keep the boards together. The problem is there is very little information about what glues are used and what is inside them. What we do know is most of these adhesives can off-gas formaldehyde and could potentially contain phthalates. Luckily, there are some brands that use “formaldehyde-free” glues, but most do not. No brands are making claims to use “phthalate-free” glue. Seems like getting “formaldehyde-free” glues are the best you can find at this point in time.
• Chemical Treatments & Coatings: Some wooden cutting boards are treated with chemicals to protect the wooden cutting board over time. The problem is not all boards are disclosing what they are using. You’ll find some brands disclose a “special resin lacquer” or something similar. It’s best to find boards that are treated with waxes and oils instead. Even “mineral oils” are better than resin lacquers.

Mamavation’s Investigation on Wooden Cutting Boards

Not Our Favorite Cutting Boards

These cutting boards are made from a type of plastic that could expose your family to microplastics over time as it breaks down. Please do not put these products in the dishwasher.

• Faberware Large Cutting Board
• GreenLife Cutting Board Set | Gray
• IKEA LEGITIM Cutting board, set of 2, white
• KitchenAid Classic Plastic Cutting Board
• Material Kitchen The reBoard®
• Misen Plastic Cutting Boards
• OXO Good Grips Utility Cutting Board
• TAP plastics Cutting Boards

Better Cutting Boards

These cutting boards are better than plastic cutting boards, but they still may have some issues for people who are extremely chemically sensitive. Wooden cutting boards are sealed together with glues and adhesives that may be made with formaldehyde, which may be problematic to chemically sensitive people. However, for most people, this category will be fine, so if you do not have the chemically sensitive in your household feel free to shop from this category. Most of what you will find here are wooden cutting boards that are pieced together. Ironically, some of these brands claimed via email to not use any glue, but were clearly glued together by something and in that case, we also put them here. You may also find wooden cutting boards that are one solid piece but use a special resin lacquer instead of oils to treat the cutting board.

• 360 Cookware All Natural Slate Cutting Board (paper pressed together with phenol-formaldehyde)
• BergHOFF Balance Bamboo Cutting Board
• Caraway Cutting Board
• Epicurean Kitchen Series Cutting Board(paper pressed together with phenol-formaldehyde)
• Food52 Five Two Bamboo Double-Sided Cutting Board
• Greener Chef Organic Bamboo Cutting Board
• Grove Collaborative Bamboo Prep Board
• HexClad Medium Walnut Cutting Board
• IKEA LÄMPLIG Bamboo Cutting Board
• JK Adams Cutting Boards
• John Boos Reversible Maple Cutting Boards (glued)
• Lipper International 7215 Teak Wood Edge Grain Kitchen Cutting and Serving Board
• Mevell Store Walnut Wood Cutting Board
• Our Place Walnut Cutting Board
• Royal Craft Wood XL Cutting Board 
• The Boardsmith Cutting Boards
• Totally Bamboo Martinique Bamboo Serving and Cutting Board, 15″ x 11″
• Zwilling Bamboo Cutting Boards

Best Cutting Boards

These cutting boards are the hormonal health of the chemically sensitive. Most wooden cutting boards in this category are made from a solid block of wood OR they use “formaldehyde-free” adhesives. Wooden cutting boards would also be treated with oils or waxes instead of lacquers. You’ll also find tempered glass & titanium cutting boards in this category. Again, for most people, both the better or best category would be just fine for purchase and use. It’s the “not our favorite” category we would avoid.

• Anyerosa Stainless Steel Cutting Board
• Bambu Cutting Boards (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 10% off your order) 
• Boncera Sold Wood Teak Cutting Board
• Brosisincorp Real Solid Sapele Wood Cutting Board One Piece Single Wood Butcher Block (one piece)
• John Boos Walnut Rustic Edge Design Cutting Boards(one piece)
• John Boos Cherry Rustic Edge Design Cutting Boards(one piece)
• Keith Titanium Elite Cutting Board Series
• KYOKU Multi-Function Stainless Steel Cutting Board
• Luban Mahogany Wood Solid Cutting Board
• Murrey Home Glass Cutting Board Set
• Shop A Candle Tempered Glass Cutting Board
• TreeBoard Cutting Boards / Solid Sugar Maple or White Oak