Are glass cutting boards heat resistant?-Let’s find out!
Glass cutting boards are treated for thermal shock so they can withstand heat up to 220 degrees C or 428 degrees F. You can freely place hot plates or pans without worrying about damage.
Glass cutting boards are a popular choice for the high level of hygiene and reduced chance of transferring foodborne diseases.
When you’re too lazy to take out the hot pan and pot mat, you can place a hot object on a glass cutting board.
This is because the surface of glass cutting boards is non-porous (unlike wood) and it won’t breed bacteria as easily as it’s possible with natural materials.
Thanks to their surface, they’re also an easier choice for cleaning and rinsing than other models.
However, to be certain that a glass cutting board is heat resistant, it needs to be made of tempered and strong glass.
Putting hot pans and pots on poor-quality glass cutting boards may cause the glass to shatter and increase the risk of incidents and injuries!
Table of Contents
Are Glass Cutting Boards Heat Resistant?
Yes, they are.
Since glass for cutting boards is tempered and made to withstand thermal shock, it can be used with hot pans, plates, and pots, up to 428 degrees F.
What Are the Pros & Cons of Glass Cutting Boards?
Glass cutting boards are a great choice for the following features:
- Suitable for high use
They’re durable for everyday use and less likely to need replacement than boards from wood or plastic.
Scrubbing with steel wool and harsher sponges as well as cutting with knives won’t cause as much damage on this board as on other, more natural materials.
Only an epoxy resin cutting board is said to match the durability of tempered glass, but this option is far more expensive.
- Easy to clean
Tempered glass cutting boards are not very demanding in terms of cleaning preferences and won’t splinter after scrubbing.
No splinters will form on it since it’s not porous, no matter how much you scrub, which isn’t the case with wooden boards.
- Heat resistant
Being tempered, glass cutting boards can withstand temperatures up to 428 degrees F. With this in mind, you needn’t worry about putting any hot pans or pots on top of it.
- Less expensive
Most glass cutting boards are less expensive than hardwood options.
This is partly because of the time necessary for the production of each board. What’s more, glass is also recyclable and eco-friendly.
Glass cutting boards aren’t a great choice for the following features:
- Damaging to the blades
Glass cutting boards won’t get damaged when you cut on them, but your precious knives can get damaged instead.
In this case, you’ll need to sharpen your blades more frequently but also replace them eventually if you regularly use a glass cutting board.
- Shattering is possible
Motion impact can shatter glass cutting boards. There are some ways to lower the risk of this happening.
For example, don’t keep it hanging from a hook because it can fall and shatter, don’t use it very often as a carrying tray because it can fall and crack.
Tiled kitchen floors are also more problematic because glass can shatter if it falls on tiles. You can cover the area with carpets to reduce the risk of this occurring!
- Harboring bacteria?
Although it’s considered that glass is non-porous and less prone to harboring bacteria, tests done by Dean Clifer from the University of California about how cutting boards harbor bacteria show something different.
Namely, the wooden ones had more than 50 percent less likelihood of harboring salmonella whereas the synthetic ones (glass and plastic) had twice the likelihood.
- It contributes to slipping
Glass boards are awesome to cut and knead dough; when it comes to stuff like chicken, things may become more uncomfortable and slippery.
If the knife is only a bit blunt, it will cause the board to move around.
What Is Tempered Glass & Why It’s a Good Choice for Glass Cutting Boards?
Tempered, also known as toughened glass, is a safety glass that’s treated chemically or thermally to make it stronger than normal glass.
It’s commonly used for strength and safety in various applications like refrigerator trays, phone screen protectors, diving masks, vehicle windows, aquariums, cookware, and plates.
One example of tempered glass is glass cutting boards.
Tempered glass is said to be around four times tougher than regular glass and therefore, able to withstand temperatures that go up to 220 degrees C or 430 degrees F.
Other advantages are increased safety (it breaks into tiny granules, rather than sharp pieces), strength (five times less prone to breakages), multipurpose, and resistance to scratches.
Tempered glass isn’t without disadvantages and it may be a risk in certain situations (hard impact) because the glass can shatter under pressure. Sometimes, though in rarer situations, it can even shatter without any pressure- entirely on its own.
Anyway, to be safe, store such boards away from children’s and pets’ reach.
How to Clean a Glass Cutting Board?
Clean your glass cutting boards using warm water, soap, and a sponge.
For disinfection, slowly pour over a pot of boiling water after cleaning and then leave it to dry naturally or pat it dry using a clean cloth or a paper towel.
Similar to plastic cutting boards, glass boards cannot be resurfaced. When it has plenty of scratches and cuts, it’s time for a new one!
Final Thoughts
Glass cutting boards are heat resistant and therefore a suitable choice for many kitchens.
Moreover, being made from tempered glass, these boards are said to be much stronger than natural material cutting boards and easier to maintain.
Anyway, despite the numerous benefits these boards offer, they aren’t perfect.
There’s a risk of the potential shattering of the glass and they may not be the smartest option to use with your most precious knives.
With this in mind, always buy glass cutting boards from trusted sellers! With this in mind, it’s maybe a smart decision to have at least two types of different cutting boards so that you get the most from each!