We've long loved the plastic cutting boards from OXO; they're durable but still easy on knives and are dishwasher-safe. They sell smaller boards, as well as a larger option for carving roasts.
While most cooks swoon over a gorgeous end-grain wooden cutting board (at least, I certainly do), a good one can cost a pretty penny. But if you're not up to spending a lot of cash, what's a cook to do? Enter plastic cutting boards, an everyday option that won't break the bank. But not all boards are created equal; some scratch easily, while others will dull your knives. Luckily, we've found options that pass muster: the plastic cutting boards from OXO. We first tested them years ago and have continued to highly recommend them...even after comparing them to any newer, snazzier options. I've also used them extensively throughout my career as a test cook. Let us tell thee all the ways we love them, shall we?
I first encountered OXO cutting boards when I was working in a busy professional test kitchen that had dozens of them in various sizes. I witnessed these boards getting put through their paces by a fleet of chefs every day for years; they were used to butcher whole birds, chop huge volumes of vegetables, and slice baked goods, all without wearing down or dulling knives.
Not all plastic boards can boast this feat—if they’re too soft, they can get deep cuts and scratches—and bits of plastic can even flake off and make it into your food.Ideally, you want a durable board that isn’t prone to massive gouges, but that's also not so indestructible that cutting on it grinds down the blades of your knives. The OXO boards are balanced; they're hard enough to resist deep cuts in the surface (even after years of use) but are still gentle on blades.
They're Easy to Clean
Wooden cutting boards are beautiful, but they require a bit more maintenance than I want to get into on a multiple-uses-per-day basis. When I'm testing a bunch of recipes or just want to cook dinner and clean up quickly on a Tuesday night, it's nice to be able to throw my board in the dishwasher without worrying that it will get damaged or warp. The OXO performed very well in our testing when put through repeated dishwasher cycles, so that's a big win.
They're Well-Designed
While a cutting board may seem like a simple object with little room for bells and whistles, some design elements can make or break it (maybe not literally though!). One such qualm is that some boards are too smooth and slide back and forth as you chop. This is both annoying and potentially dangerous. But the OXO boards have rubberized strips and feet on both ends that keep them still no matter how aggressively you chop or slice, no jerry-rigged solution necessary (e.g. a damp, folded kitchen towel placed underneath the board). Additionally, the OXO boards have a groove on one side of the board for catching liquids from meats, while the other side is fully flat, maximizing surface area.
...And Affordable
Cutting boards run the gamut in terms of price; you could just as easily spend less than $10 as well as hundreds of dollars. While you might want to splurge on a good wooden cutting board, having a set of more affordable everyday workhorse cutting boards is a good idea. OXO sells their smaller plastic cutting boards as a set of two for less than $30, and the larger carving board is just over that amount.
FAQs
Are plastic cutting boards dishwasher-safe?
Not always. While some plastic cutting boards are specifically designed to withstand the high temperatures of a typical dishwasher cycle, others can sustain damage and become warped. We recommend checking the manufacturer’s care instructions to see if your board can handle a trip through the dishwasher.
What are plastic cutting boards made of?
Plastic is plastic is plastic, right? Nope! Plastics cover a range of materials, be it soft, hard, flexible, or rigid. Thermoplastics such as polyethylene are also used to make plastic cutting boards, toys, squeeze bottles, and even garbage bags. The rigidity or hardness of thermoplastics changes with the application of heat, hence the name. There is also bioplastic, like polylactic acid or PLA. Bioplastics generate fewer greenhouse gases in their manufacturing process than traditional thermoplastics.
What's the best size plastic cutting board?
It's a good idea to have a larger board, which is super versatile and can be used for tasks big and small. The larger OXO plastic cutting board is 10.5 by 14.5 inches, providing enough space for cutting up melons or breaking down a chicken. OXO also sells two smaller boards, which are good for prepping small produce.
Why We’re the Experts
Andrea Rivera Wawrzyn is a freelance food writer and recipe developer; she's currently an associate food editor at Apartment Therapy Media.
She was formerly an associate editor at America's Test Kitchen.
She has developed recipes for multiple New York Times bestselling cookbooks, including an IACP award winner.
When she worked at America's Test Kitchen, she used OXO cutting boards daily. We at Serious Eats have also been recommending them for the past five years.
We Tested 10 Plastic Cutting Boards—Here Are Our Two Favorites
We've Recommended OXO's Plastic Cutting Boards for 5 Years—and They're Still Indispensable in Our Kitchens. They're easy on your knives—and wallet. Andrea Rivera Wawrzyn is a freelance food writer, recipe developer, and kitchen witch based in Salem, MA. She has worked in the food industry for over a decade.
According to recent research, the commonly used plastic cutting board may pose a major health hazard. A peer-reviewed study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology found that the boards may, in fact, lead to significant amounts of microplastic in our food.
How Often Should I Replace My Plastic Cutting Board? You should replace your plastic cutting board once deep cuts start appearing. These grooves can harbor bacteria, making it harder to clean thoroughly. Usually, a well-used plastic board lasts about a year.
Yep. Cheap, dishwasher-proof and perceived as being durable, plastic chopping boards are used by the vast majority of commercial kitchens. The organisation believes chefs should be using wooden boards which, when properly maintained, have the potential to be more hygienic than their plastic counterparts.
The healthiest cutting board material is typically glass/stone or wood (hardwood, not softwood). These materials are either nonporous or have antimicrobial properties that make them more resistant to bacterial growth.
Glass cutting boards are nonporous and easy to clean -- you can wash them in the sink or the dishwasher. There's also no need to oil them obviously, so there's no upkeep. However, glass cutting boards are the worst for your knives. For this reason we don't recommend glass cutting boards.
And yes, like I said, it is true as long as the surface is completely smooth. But this non-porous surface creates another issue, mold. When it comes to plastic cutting boards it is vitally important that they be very dry when being put away. Surface moisture has nowhere to go and will cause mold growth.
Are plastic cutting boards safe for knives? The plastic cutting boards are made from is soft enough that it won't dull knives and other kitchen tools too quickly. It's not quite as gentle on an edge as some types of wood cutting boards, but it's suitable for some of the fanciest knives in the world.
You can also avoid microplastics by using alternatives to plastic cutting boards – neither glass, marble, bamboo or wood will cause a microplastic mess. Wooden cutting boards , which have natural antimicrobial properties, are typically the cheapest.
Wood as a material contains natural tannic acids that have antibacterial properties and thus help in killing germs. Especially robust types of wood such as acacia, bamboo, pine, oak, olive, walnut, or teak are durable and hygienic.
An American Story. What do Bobby Flay, Kate Middleton (aka The Princess of Wales) and your Food Network obsessed neighbor have in common? Yes, they are all human, but let's cut it a little finer than that. They all use cutting boards from John Boos & Company, a small manufacturing firm in Effingham, Ill.
While plastic boards are non-porous so are easy to wash, it is possible for bacteria to build up in ridges which could be a problem hygiene-wise. You might also note that while slicing on a plastic chopping board, you are likely to transfer microplastics into your food.
OXO (/ˈɒksoʊ/ OKS-oh) is an American manufacturer of kitchen utensils, office supplies, and housewares, founded in 1990 and based in New York City. Oxo products are made in the USA and China. They provide a non-stick pro-Bakeware line that is completely made in the US.
Kiss cross-contamination worries goodbye with the OXO 3-Piece Everyday Cutting Board Set. Durable construction won't dull sharp knives, while color-coded bands keep you organized in the kitchen. Soft, tapered edges double as a comfortable handle, and the cutting surface goes easy on your knives.
The OXO Good Grips Utility Cutting Board does everything you need, without a lot of fuss. It resists deep knife gouges and is dishwasher-safe for super-easy cleaning.
While plastic boards are non-porous so are easy to wash, it is possible for bacteria to build up in ridges which could be a problem hygiene-wise. You might also note that while slicing on a plastic chopping board, you are likely to transfer microplastics into your food.
According to food scientists, wooden cutting boards are more sanitary than plastic cutting boards. Plastic cutting boards get “microscratches” which are nearly impossible to sanitize and harbor bacteria. So do wooden cutting boards, but the wood draws moisture in, leaving the surface dry enough to kill the bacteria.
But then the notion came around that plastic cutting boards were easier to clean, so they were assumed (you can even put some types in your dishwasher). But, it turns out, research shows that wood cutting boards are actually just as safe — if not safer — to use than plastic.
Using plastic cutting boards can expose you to microplastics and endocrine disruptors like phthalates. Why is this a problem? Microplastics have been shown to contribute to problems such as Alzheimer's, cancer, thyroid conditions, hormone imbalance, gut issues, infertility and many more.
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