Wood vs. Plastic Cutting Boards: How to Choose the Right One

The Differences

Durability

Winner: Wood

If you take proper care of them, wooden cutting boards will last much longer than plastic ones. A plastic cutting board will attract more scratches and stains while potentially wearing out your knives faster (depending on the specific material). If you encounter scratches on your wooden cutting board, it can be easily sanded down, washed, and treated with food-safe mineral oil back to its original state. The best wood for cutting boards are hardwoods like maple, walnut, beech, and cherry.

Care

Winner: Plastic

To put it simply, wood cutting boards are more challenging to care for since they’re not dishwasher safe and require more overall maintenance. Not only must a wood board be properly cleaned, it usually needs to be occasionally conditioned with mineral oil to keep it from absorbing too much moisture or cracking. Wood cutting boards also have to dry under the right conditions (upright) since they can warp if kept wet for an extended period of time. If you have access to a dishwasher, plastic cutting boards can go straight in without any worry or additional care. 

Aesthetic

Winner: Wood

A beautiful wood cutting board can become a statement piece in your kitchen as well as a useful tool. You can also use them to present cheese, charcuterie, or loaves of bread on the table. Wood cutting boards are also constructed with different design choices in mind, so there are more options for matching the overall aesthetic of your kitchen style.

Likewise, a wood cutting board can act as decor if left out on the countertop while not in use. For example, the Sonder LA Motley Cutting Board doubles as a serving platter and is made from a gorgeous combination of edge-grain black walnut, cherry, and maple.

Price

Winner: Plastic

Wood cutting boards come in varying sizes and qualities, from very high-end to more affordable, but will still typically cost more than plastic (the caveat to this is that wood cutting boards tend to last longer). Since they’re cheaper, plastic cutting boards are also more lightweight and easier to store or move around— and you can often purchase multiple plastic cutting boards for the same price as a single wooden one. Some plastic cutting boards come in assorted colors, making them easier to use for different ingredients and avoid cross-contamination. 

Safety

Winner: Tie

For a long time, plastic was believed to be the more sanitary choice since its non-porous surface makes it harder for bacteria to spread. However, natural hardwood has low porosity and antimicrobial properties that can prevent bacteria growth.

A 2015 study tested this theory and found no significant differences between the microbiological status of maple, beech wood, and plastic cutting boards after being contaminated with raw meat and eggs and subsequently cleaned. Even the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service says that wood and plastic are both safe as long as they're cleaned thoroughly and replaced when they “become excessively worn or develop hard-to-clean grooves."

Should you buy a wood or plastic cutting board?

Plastic may be of higher quality and sometimes less attractive than wood, but it is also easier to clean and more affordable. If you can swing it, it’s a good idea to purchase one wood cutting board and one plastic cutting board to use for different tasks. A high-quality wood cutting board is definitely worth investing in for the long haul, but if you’re on more of a budget or don’t cook as often, a plastic cutting board is a great place to start before adding or upgrading to a wooden one. 

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Katherine Gallagher is an associate commerce editor for The Spruce Eats who loves finding the best products for preparing and serving food and drinks. Apart from editing, Katherine previously wrote for Dotdash Meredith's travel and sustainable lifestyle brands and has 10 years of experience in the restaurant industry.