Dexas 4 Pack Heavy Duty Grippmat Set Review

We purchased the Dexas 4 Pack Heavy Duty Grippmat Set so our reviewer could test it in her kitchen. Keep reading for our full product review.

Everyone needs cutting boards, and the Dexas 4 Pack Heavy Duty Grippmat Set provides four. We put them to the test, cutting everything from bread to vegetables, folding them to transfer food to a pot, and washing them by hand and in the dishwasher. Do these deserve a spot in the kitchen? We think we know.

Size: Comfortable for cutting

At 11.5 x 14 inches, these aren’t the largest cutting boards you’ll find, but they’re a reasonable size for most kitchen tasks. Even better, the boards can be placed side-by-side on the counter, so one board can be used for cutting, chopping, or slicing, while vegetable ends and peels can be slid to an adjoining board to be discarded later. We also liked grouping them so we had one board ready for carrots and another for onions, while the third held the discards.

These are thicker than many of the thin plastic boards that can be folded or rolled, which we appreciated, but we could still fold them enough to funnel food into a bowl or pot. They were thick enough to be able to carry food without worrying about the boards collapsing and dropping the food.

This same set is available in two smaller sizes: 8 x 11 inches, and 5.5 x 8 inches. While we prefer the larger size, the smaller boards would be good as bar boards or for very small kitchens with little counter space.

Material: Plastic

These are made from a nonporous, non-absorbent, and BPA-free plastic. 

Design: Colorful

The design of these boards is simple. They’re all a simple rectangle with rounded corners and a hole in one corner that can be used for hanging or as a convenient hand-hold for lifting or carrying. While that hole could be useful, it also takes up space that could be used for cutting or holding food.

The selling point on these boards is the grippy surface on the underside. We used these on a smooth countertop and a wooden table, and the boards remained in place, with no slipping or sliding as we worked. Because of that grippy material, these boards only have one usable surface, so we couldn’t simply flip them over and have a clean cutting surface.

Each set comes with boards in four different colors, so they can be reserved for specific uses, keeping one board for poultry and another for salad ingredients. While that isn’t a bad idea, considering these are nonporous and dishwasher safe, we were perfectly happy with simply cleaning them well between uses. We did like the different colors for cutting foods of contrasting colors—cutting lettuce on the red board and cheese on the gray, for example.

While we liked these for cutting things like lettuce, carrots, bread, cheese, and other relatively dry foods, we would choose a different board for wet foods like tomatoes, pineapple, or juicy citrus, since there’s nothing keeping juices from dripping off the edges. One tomato would be fine, but more than that would require a close watch and a bowl nearby to pour off juices as they accumulated.

Besides being used as cutting boards in the kitchen, they could also be handy for use as fun placemats to protect the table from messy kids’ food spillage, or for an outdoor dining space that isn’t quite as clean as the dining room table.

Maintenance: We prefer hand washing

These boards are dishwasher safe, but when we needed to use them again immediately, they were easy to wash by hand. When we washed them in the dishwasher, the bottom side came out feeling a bit greasy. Also, because they only fit our dishwasher with a little bending, the boards came out a bit curved. When we washed them by hand in hot water, the curve straightened and the greasiness disappeared. We can’t be sure this wasn’t a quirk of our dishwasher, but hand washing was very easy.

Durability: Sturdy enough

Since these are plastic, we expect that over time the knife cuts on the surface will begin to trap food particles, causing the boards to stain and become less sanitary if the food can’t be scrubbed or washed away. We don’t expect that to happen quickly. During our testing, we didn’t notice much damage to the boards, and we’ve had similar boards in our kitchen that have held up well. We expect that these would last for quite a long time as long as they’re not abused.

Price: Worth more than the cost

At around $20, this set of four boards is very affordable, making it great for a new kitchen, a vacation cottage, or just as extra boards in the kitchen for times when there are more helpers that need their own workspace. Once these boards are no longer usable in the kitchen, they could be downgraded for use for crafting or to protect surfaces when the kids are using clay, paint, or glue. 

Dexas 4 Pack Heavy Duty Grippmat Set vs. Better Kitchen Products Flexible Plastic Cutting Board Mats

At about half the price, the Better Kitchen Products Flexible Plastic Cutting Board Mats include six cutting boards rather than the four in the Dexas set we reviewed. Right off the bat that seems like a better bargain, and it might be if funds are very tight and there’s a need for that many cutting surfaces. They also might be great for a rental unit or when the boards don’t need to last long, but for regular kitchen use, we prefer the Dexas boards since they’re sturdy and have the gripping surface on the bottom. And although the price on the Dexas boards is higher, we still think they’re a bargain.

Want to take a look at some more options? Check out our roundup of the best cutting boards available.