Is Bamboo Wood Good for Cutting Boards?[8 Reasons Explained]

A bamboo wood cutting board has many benefits. If you are eco-conscious, this might be the best option for you.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), bamboo cutting boards are considered to be the best due to their harder and a less porous surface. These are very easy to clean and sanitize.

However, this is just one among many other benefits that have significantly increased the popularity of bamboo wood. Read on to discover what else makes bamboo cutting boards popular.

JUMP TO: Bamboo Wood | Reasons Why Bamboo Cutting Boards are Best | Demerits of Bamboo Cutting Wood | Care for Bamboo Board |

Key Takeaways

Bamboo boards are more resistant to scarring from knives.
It resists bacteria caused due to water penetration into the cutting boards.
Bamboo resists staining from meat, tomatoes, and other acidic foods. As such, it’s able to maintain its naturally beautiful color.
Bamboo is harder than walnut and Marple. Consequently, it can hold up for many years,
Cleaning a bamboo cutting board only requires using soapy warm, or hot water to scrub it carefully.

Bamboo wood – explained.

Bamboo wood comes from a woody plant that belongs to the grass family. It has over 1,000 different species and grows widely in regions such as:

East Asia
South Asia
Australia
South Pacific
North America
South America

The usage of the bamboo wood has increased in recent years thanks to its being very eco-friendly. Moreover, it provides you with a beautiful wood aesthetic that blends well with many interior house designs and colors.

Again, bamboo grows into full maturity within a very short time, usually three to six years.

What Makes Bamboo Wood Good for Cutting Boards?

There are several benefits of using a bamboo cutting board. Let’s discuss some of them below.

Low Maintenance

However high-quality they may be, cutting boards require regular maintenance. Beeswax and mineral oil are highly used to prevent warping and cracking in the cutting board.

Bamboo cutting boards have become highly popular among homeowners because they hardly require maintenance.

Whereas other wood-cutting boards tend to retain water, which causes warping, bamboo does not. Consequently, its hard density makes sit almost impossible to warp or crack.

That said, we do not recommend putting a bamboo cutting board in a dishwasher. A thicker plastic cutting board is safe for dishwater since it will hardly crack.

TIP: Wiping your bamboo board dry every time after washing is a sure way of having it for many years.

Resists Water Penetration, thus Preventing the Formation of Bacteria

Many user reviews show that homeowners love bamboo cutting boards since they are non-porous. This property ensures that the bamboo cutting board does not absorb water easily.

Moreover, bamboo cutting boards resist scarring from knives. Consequently, these wood cutting boards are more resistant to bacteria caused due to water penetration into the cutting boards.

Elegant Look

Who doesn’t love elegance?

Bamboo cutting board has become popular among chefs thanks to its fine grain and modern elegance. No wonder you can spot bamboo cutting boards in many designer kitchens.

But there is more; bamboo cutting board resists scarring from knives. As such, it continues to look sleek and stylish in your designer kitchen for a long time.

Additionally, bamboo’s natural color can easily match almost any kitchen décor. It’s, therefore, ideal for giving your kitchen an added touch of style.

The best part, however, is that bamboo cutting boards also resist staining from meat, tomatoes, and other acidic foods. As such, it’s able to maintain its naturally beautiful color.

You can also get some bamboo cutting boards in unique designs or fun shapes. You can have your customized best cutting board just the way you like it so that you don’t need to have a cutting board that looks boring.

Renewable

One other reason why bamboo has become so popular is its fast growth rate. Research has rated bamboo as the fastest-growing plant on earth. It can grow as much as one meter in a day.

Whereas many other trees take about 30 years to mature, bamboo takes three to six years to fully mature. This fast growth and maturity make the bamboo cutting board highly renewable, unlike other woods.

Durable

Are you looking for the most durable cutting board for dicing, chopping, or slicing?

Bamboo cutting boards have a tensile strength comparable to that steel. In fact, research shows that bamboo is stronger than steel when it comes to tensile strength. Whereas steel has a tensile strength of 23,000 pounds per square inch, that of bamboo is 28 000 pounds.

It, therefore, goes without saying that a bamboo cutting board is harder than a hardwood cutting board. Consequently, it can withstand sharp knives, scratches, and nicks for an extended period.

The table below compares bamboo and other woods in terms of hardness.

Wood	Hardness in pounds-force (lbf)
Bamboo	1,410
Maple	1,180
Beech	1,450
Walnut	1,220

With proper care, a bamboo cutting board can hold up for many years, as illustrated in the user review below.

“Cooks Illustrated ranked the Totally Bamboo end grain cutting board as one of their top picks. I bought it 15 years ago, and it has worked flawlessly since.” NorinBlade

However, many users reveal that you often need to oil it to retain its durability.

Cheap

The production of bamboo cutting boards is relatively inexpensive. Additionally, bamboo is more like grass than a tree.

Consequently, despite all the benefits associated with bamboo cutting boards, they are highly pocket-friendly. Depending on the size and design, they can cost as low as $5.00.

Simply put, with bamboo cutting boards, there’s something for everyone, irrespective of your budget.

Lightweight

Bamboo cutting boards are lightweight, unlike other wood cutting boards that are relatively heavy.

Remember that bamboo is more of grass and not Wood. This explains why it’s much lighter than most other cutting boards.

Its lightweight makes it ideal for oversized cutting boards that are easy to move around in your kitchen. Large cutting boards also offer you a large surface area for slicing or dicing.

Environment Friendly

Bamboo is an eco-friendly grass that grows very fast, putting less stress on the natural world.

But what exactly makes bamboo environment-friendly?

It doesn’t require pesticides to grow
No artificial irrigation
It doesn’t use any chemical fertilizers
Once harvested, its root remains on the ground and prevents soil erosion
It regrows immediately after harvest

Using a bamboo cutting board saves your pocket and allows you to conserve the environment.

Also Raed: Acacia Vs. Bamboo Cutting Board [7 Differences Explained]

What are the Demerits of Bamboo Wood?

Can Blunt Knives

Bamboo possesses the highest amount of mineral silica compared to any other plant. This mineral wears down knives and their edges faster.

Consequently, bamboo cutting boards tend to blunt knives more than other woods.

Risk of Splinters Getting into Food

Bamboo is more grass than Wood. As such, it can break down into “fuzzy” splinters, which can get into your food, making it dangerous.

Proper Care of Bamboo Cutting Board

With proper care, a bamboo cutting board can serve you for more than 30 years. Here are crucial tips to help you take proper care of your bamboo cutting board.

Cleaning

It’s important to clean to wash the bamboo cutting board immediately after use. Not cleaning it properly causes it to harbor harmful bacteria that cause food poisoning.

However, this doesn’t mean washing it with other utensils or like other plastic cutting boards. It needs proper care while cleaning.

Although this board doesn’t absorb any water, there are various don’ts when cleaning it. These include;

Avoid soaking it in water.
Avoid leaving it with water from vegetables and meat after using
Don’t wash it in the dishwasher
Avoid exposing it to heat and moisture for long

To clean this board, use soapy warm, or hot water to scrub it carefully. You can alternatively use a diluted bleach solution.

Rinse properly and dry the board thoroughly using a clean and dry dish towel, then stand it upright on a drying rack.

Leave it in there overnight to ensure it’s moisture free.

Store the cutting board for later use once it’s completely dry.

Disinfecting

It’s important to disinfect your cutting board to extend its life and avoid food contamination risks. Although bamboo cutting boards have natural antibacterial properties, extra care is needed, especially after contact with all raw foods.

The recommended disinfectant products are vinegar, lemon, salt, and baking soda. You can sanitize the wooden cutting board by mixing :

Equal parts of water and vinegar or baking soda.

Then, dip a clean cloth or sponge in the mixture and rub the board’s surface.

Alternatively, mix half the fresh lemon, salt, and water to make a natural disinfectant.

Leave the mixture on your board’s surface for at least 15 minutes.

Afterward, rinse it with clean water, and finally, use a dry clean cloth to dry it completely.

Caution: Using a microwave to disinfect your board is not advisable, as exposing it to heat will cause damage.

Oiling

Source: GoSupps.com

Seasoning your bamboo cutting board by oiling it before use protects it from absorbing any water or moisture.

You can use various oiling products such as avocado, vegetables, and olive oil. However, the most effective wood oiling product is mineral oil.

To season, rub a layer of mineral oil on the board surface using a soft and clean cloth. The bamboo cutting board will absorb the oil immediately.

Leave the oil on the surface for a minute, then clean the excess. While wiping off, ensure the wood-cutting board is evenly coated. Also, don’t leave any dry spots.

Important note: You need to apply a generous amount of oil and leave the board for at least 12 hours for proper oil absorption.

After that, add a few layers to make it thick and water-repellent. However, you must be careful not to apply too much oil as it can erode the glue used to affix the wood pieces.