Professional kitchens know what they want in cutting boards. If you are going to use a cutting board daily, you don’t want one that splits, swells, cracks, or absorbs odors easily.
The rubber cutting boards check all these boxes and many more and that’s why they are the top choice for professional kitchens.
You may not run a kitchen that caters to hundreds at home. But you need the right type of cutting board anyway.
How else will you cut the raw meat or chop the fruits and vegetables? A rubber cutting board is exactly what you need.
Now, if you will get a rubber cutting board, why not get the best?
Our review of rubber cutting boards will help you make that choice. Let’s dive right in.
Table of Contents
Why Should I Go For Rubber Cutting Boards?
Let us start with a quick review of your other options. Wooden cutting boards are beautiful to look at. If you choose wood, then go for the end grain cutting board. Here, the wood grain is aligned in a way that it runs straight from top to bottom toward the underside. This allows for a soft cutting surface that is friendly to the edges of your knife.
Long-grain cutting boards are the alternative. The grains run horizontally from one edge to another and this makes them harder.
The problem with wooden boards is the way they react to many environmental conditions. When exposed to moisture for too long, they can warp or even split along their seams. The grooves on a wood cutting board are difficult to clean. This increases the potential for bacterial growth and food contamination.
Wood picks up odors easily. Hence, you have to be careful with beets and onions. Moreover, wooden boards tend to be pricier than others. However, they are durable and can last for decades with proper care.
Plastic boards are usually affordable but can warp under excessive heat. They don’t last very long and are hard to clean. Clean them using a dishwasher for proper cleaning.
Glass, marble, and ceramic do not sound quite right when they involved slamming a knife against a surface. Despite the aesthetically pleasing side to them, their hard surfaces can dull knives. Moreover, your hands or knife can slip easily on these surfaces.
This leaves us with one choice. Rubber cutting boards.
What are the Advantages of Using Rubber Cutting Boards?
First off, they don’t dull the edges of knives. With a plastic or stone cutting board, you have to shop for electric knife sharpeners. Wood is kinder on the edges of your knives but rubber is kindest. Anytime a knife meets a solid surface like rubber, the rubber absorbs the knife stroke. This preserves the knife’s edge.
Next, rubber cutting boards do not slip easily. Plastic cutting boards and smooth wood cutting boards are notorious in this area. You cannot guarantee that they won’t slip around on your smooth countertop any moment. Rubber boards are heavier and more slip-resistant. Hence you can rest assured that you are safe when using your sharp knife.
Rubber cutting boards are too easy to clean. All you need to do is clean using your dishwashing liquid and a sponge. Do this and there is little to no risk of cracking, warping, or drying out over time. There is no need for oiling, scrubbing, or conditioning.
Rubber cutting boards last for a very long. It’s even better when you know that you can (resurface them by sanding) if you cut through them. This refinishing trick allows you to maintain the board looking all new.
Lastly, rubber is not porous. Hence, bacteria cannot penetrate the surface. This allows you to prepare food in the best sanitary conditions.
What Factors Should One Consider Before Buying?
When getting a cutting board, one of the most important factors to consider is the type of material used in making the board. We have made a strong case for rubber boards and we have mentioned the best cutting board material. What else should you put in mind?
The shape and size of the cutting board matters too. Rectangular boards are often the best option. Size depends on what you want. You might need to measure the countertop or table you will use the board on for this.
If a cutting board is too large for the countertop, there is a high risk of slipping off and accidents can happen. While chopping vegetables needs a small or moderately-sized cutting board, meat may need a larger size. It is practical to get two different sizes for these purposes.
You can also consider some extra features before buying a cutting board. Handles on a cutting board allow for better portability. If you are buying a large board, handles on them are an added advantage. Boards also have safety features like rubberized feet or suction cups that prevent slippage while cutting.
On the other hand, you can only use one side of these kinds of boards. You could as well improvise for these features using a dish towel under your cutting board.
Some cutting boards have liquid-catching grooves that work great when you’re cutting up plenty of tomatoes. Foldable boards allow you to move them easily although they all fall apart someday.
How to Maintain a Rubber Cutting Board
Maintaining a rubber cutting board is very simple. Unlike wooden boards, you need no special oils or cleaners. You do not need to use dishwashers as you will do for plastic boards –doing that will only cause the rubber to warp at high temperatures.
The only thing that connects rubber boards to dishwashers is the use of dish soap. Top makers of rubber cutting boards, NoTrax, suggest that you should wash your rubber cutting board with dish soap and you are good to go.
If your board’s surface becomes rough, all you need do is sand it down until it looks brand new. If your board has rough edges, try to even it out with steel wool before sanding. Otherwise, start the sanding process with coarse-grit sandpaper and switch to finer grits until you get your desired smoothness.
After sanding, rinse your board and scrub it with steel wool. Rinse it all over again with water after scrubbing it with a sponge and dish soap.
Rubber Cutting Board Review
1. Asahigomu Cooking Cut Synthetic Rubber Cutting Board
Highlighted features
- Food Sanitation Act Approved Synthetic Rubber.
- Color-coded
- Very easy to clean
The Asahi cutting board is made of durable synthetic rubber that is non-porous and non-absorbent. It does not crack or chip and is very easy to clean too. Synthetic rubber satisfies the requirements of the food sanitation act. Hence, you can rest assured that your food is made in very safe conditions.
The boards are color-coded to prevent cross-contamination. You can designate certain colors to food types in your kitchen. They are available in three different sizes.
The board is heat resistant but only up to 130°C and this means it is not safe for dishwashers. Wash with neutral detergent and nylon brush, and then dry completely after wash. If you want to sanitize using hot water, ensure that water is less than 90°C hot. You can remove stains easily by sanding them.
2. Yoshihiro Hi-soft Professional Grade Cutting Board
Highlighted features
- Good cutting surface for high carbon steel knives
- Large surface area
- Made of high-quality Polyvinyl acetate
- Antibacterial
The most remarkable quality about this cutting board is the use of high quality soft polyvinyl acetate. This material is softer than most rubber and is specially designed to reduce stress on your hand and the knife’s blade edge.
The nature of the material is such that it improves the quality of the knife used on it. This board is made for your best knives. It is said to be the best surface possible for high carbon steel knives. In absorbing the force of impact on the blade’s edge, the lifespan of the knife is considerably lengthened.
They come in various sizes for use commercially and in the kitchen. The board is very easy to clean, resistant to odor and bacteria. The highly resilient polyvinyl acetate material resists warping, cracking, and splitting.
3. Teknor Apex Notrax Rubber Cutting Board
Highlighted Features
- Long lasting
- Doesn’t absorb odors
- Reversible
- Approved by the NSF
You’re looking at a top-quality product made from high-density rubber that won’t peel, splinter, or crack. It’s about 2 inches thick so you can be rest assured it won’t slide off on any surface you place it on.
This NSF approved rubber cutting board doesn’t absorb odors. It spans across a width of 12” and is 18” in length. The surface is soft so it won’t dull your knife blades. One exciting feature is that it’s reversible which means you can easily flip to change from cutting one food to another.
It can even be used as a food platter. It is non-toxic and resistant to the growth of microorganisms which makes it safe to use. Maintenance can be carried out manually by washing with soap.
4. San Jamar Allergen Co-Polymer Cutting Board
Highlighted features
- Anti-Slip rubberized corners
- Food safety hook.
- Integrated ruler
- Dishwasher safe
- Color-coding
This board has amazing extra features that you will find at a very affordable price. The corners are rubberized and this guarantees your safety. There’s very little to no risk of sudden board movement causing injury because the board grips your countertop firmly.
The copolymer material can withstand continuous washing even in high-temperature commercial dishwashers without warping. It also has integrated rulers that allow you to cut food into the exact portions you desire and reduces cost.
It has a food safety hook that allows you to transport it under sanitary conditions and store it properly by hanging. Another fantastic feature is the HAACP color-coding system that allows you to designate certain colors to a type of food. This reduces the risk of cross-contamination. It’s also easy to clean.
5. Kitchen Gizmo 2-Sided Anti-Bacterial Cutting Board
Highlighted Features
- Sturdy and flexible thermoplastic
- Juicy grooves on both sides of the board
- Anti-bacterial
- Very affordable
- Flexible
A special type of rubber – TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane), a mixture of hard plastic and soft silicone makes the Kitchen Gizmo Cutting Board a dense, smooth, and durable board. The rubber material is very knife-friendly and scratch-resistant. It comes as 15×12 inches which is a generous working surface for you.
The TPU material also makes the board very flexible. You can bend it and pour your chopped contents straight into a pot or bowl. It also comes with juice grooves on both sides of the board. Chopping your tomatoes on this board is no problem. The juices stay on the board.
The anti-bacterial feature allows you to rest assured that your board is always safe for use after cleaning. You can use both sides alternately for different food items.
The material does not absorb any odor. When you want to clean it, pour boiling water on it to wipe off 99.6% of any grime on it.
6. Thirteen Chefs Thick White Poly Large Cutting Board
Highlighted Features
- Large and thick commercial grade poly
- NSF certified HDPP (High-Density Polypropylene)
- Dishwasher safe
- Durable
This rubber cutting board will last longer than most others. The large thick poly material is very durable and is commercial grade poly for food services. It can withstand cuts, stains, odors, and kitchen environments than typical poly.
The board is NSF certified and the material HDPP is approved by the health department. Hence, you can be sure that the best safety standards for food are met. The board is nonporous and does not pick up odors, smells, or stains.
The board is very easy to clean and dishwasher safe up to 215°F below which it does not warp or crack. Most commercial dishwashers run at 185°F. Home dishwashers usually run less at 165°F.
The 20×15 inches of board space gives you enough room for chopping up your food with plenty of space to spare.
7. Notrax Basic-Tuff Color Rubber Cutting Board
Highlighted features
- Heavy-duty rubber that provides a non-skid surface
- Color-coded
- Easy to resurface by sanding
- Does not retain odors or stain easily
The Notrax Basic-Tuff Board is another wonderful product by top cutting board makers, Notrax. It is made of heavy-duty rubber that provides a non-skid surface and eliminates the wet-towel method. You do not have to worry about accidents while chopping with the board as it stays firm on your counter. The rubber is also very knife-friendly and helps to keep the knife blades sharp.
This product comes with color-coding that allows you to assign a specific color to a kind of food or food group. This reduces the risk of cross-contamination.
The board is very easy to maintain. The rubber resists cracking, warping, and splintering. If you have some cuts related to long term use, you can resurface the board by sanding it. It is also bacteria resistant and does not absorb liquid or odors.
8. Notrax Sani-Tuff Premium Rubber Cutting Board
Highlighted Features
- 100% natural rubber that provides a non-skid surface
- NSF(National Sanitation Foundation) certified and FDA approved
- Reversible
- Easy to clean
- Not easily stained
A rubber cutting board that is NSF-certified and FDA-approved has a lot to tell about its health standards. The 100% high-density all-natural rubber is an antimicrobial rubber composite. This feature is the MicroStop® feature that inhibits bacterial and fungal growth as well as other microbes.
The dense material is very resilient and will not crack or splinter. The rubber material preserves the edges of your knives. You can sand down the surface if you don’t like what you see after some time.
The board is also reversible. This means that you can cut vegetables on one side and flip to cut meat on the other. Cleaning is as simple as scrubbing with a sponge and some dish-washing liquid.
They come in various sizes suitable for commercial and domestic kitchens.
Final Thoughts
Rubber cutting boards used to be available only in restaurant supply stores back then. However, this has changed in recent times and we can all have the best rubber cutting board sitting pretty in our kitchen cabinet.
Your rubber board can help you when you handle raw meat, chicken, vegetables, or baking. Many of them are durable, knife-safe, and easy to clean, a perfect combo for cutting boards.
Our top pick is none other than the Asahigomu Cooking Cut Synthetic Rubber Cutting Board. It is NSF certified. This confers on it the highest sanitary standards of any rubber cutting board. It is made of 100% natural rubber that is dishwasher-safe and doesn’t absorb liquids or odor.
If cost is your concern, look no further than our budget pick. The San-Jamar Co-polymer cutting board has rubberized corners, a food safety hook, integrated rulers, and is color-coded. For its low price, it’s quite the steal.
