Can You Cut Meat On A Wood Cutting Board?

Wood cutting boards are an important accessory in any home with a kitchen. They can help you cut down on the risk of cross-contamination in your kitchen, especially if you have people with gluten sensitivity or other food allergies in your home. Cutting boards made from wood tend to be more durable than plastic or glass cutting boards, as they’re not as prone to cracking and breaking. Wood also stays cleaner than other materials, so it doesn’t get stained and gross as quickly. For these reasons and more, using a wood cutting board instead of a plastic one is a great idea. But what about when you’re chopping up raw meat? Does that mean that the wood-cutting board isn’t suitable for this task? Let’s take a look at why this might be the case, and whether it is safe to chop meat on a wood-cutting board after all.

Can You Cut Meat On A Wood Cutting Board?

Yes, you can definitely cut meat on a wood-cutting board. In fact, many people believe that using a wooden cutting board is the best way to minimize bacteria growth and reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Wood is a natural material that is known for its antibacterial properties, and it’s also non-porous, so it doesn’t absorb liquids or bacteria like other materials (like plastic) can.

Is It Bad To Chop Meat On A Wood Cutting Board?

1. Cutting Boards Made From Wood Aren’t Safe To Use For Food Prep

Many wood cutting boards are made from unfinished wood, which is sometimes referred to as “unfinished” or “raw” wood. This means that the wood isn’t treated with a stain or varnish, and can contain natural oils that can be harmful to the health of people who handle them on a regular basis. It also means that they aren’t safe to use for food prep.

2. Cutting Boards Made From Unfinished Wood Aren’t Safe To Use For Food Prep

Unfinished wood is not safe to use for food prep. Even though it’s durable, it still has a soft and porous nature that makes it an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. For example, if you cut raw meat on an unfinished board, the juices may leak out and cause the board to splinter or crack. This can be dangerous, as the splinters or cracks can then pose a choking hazard to small children or pets that may come in contact with them.

3. Wood Cutting Boards May Contain Toxic Substances Like Formaldehyde And Toluene

Wood cutting boards are often made from wood that has been treated with resins or varnishes before being put into production. Unfortunately, these materials can contain harmful substances like formaldehyde and toluene. Both of these substances are known carcinogens and toxins that are harmful to human health when ingested in large quantities.

Why You Shouldn’t Chop Meat On A Wood Board

1. Wood Is Porous.

Wood is a good choice for cutting boards because it is strong and durable, but it’s also porous. This means that the wood may absorb some of the juices from your food, which can lead to bacterial growth and contamination of your food. The bacteria include E.coli, salmonella, and staphylococcus aureus (a common skin infection). If you use a wooden cutting board to chop raw meat on a regular basis, you run the risk of getting sick.

2. It Could Get Stained By Raw Meat Juice.

The bacteria mentioned above are often found in raw meat and the juices that come out of it as you cut up the meat. These juices can stain wood, and they’re not easy to get rid of. They can stain your cutting board, and they could even make their way into your food if you don’t clean your cutting board properly.

3. It Could Get Damaged By Bacteria From Raw Meat.

The bacteria mentioned above are often found in raw meat and the juices that come out of it as you cut up the meat. These juices can stain wood, and they’re not easy to get rid of. They can stain your cutting board, and they could even make their way into your food if you don’t clean your cutting board properly.

Can You Rotate A Wood Board Before Chunking Meat?

1. Wood tends to absorb liquids, oils, and juices from meat more easily than plastic or glass boards do. This is because wood is porous, which means that water can get in and start to rot the wood. If you’re chopping up raw meat on a wood cutting board, it’s probably best to rotate the board every few minutes so that it can dry out.
2. The bacteria in raw meat can cause smells and stains on wooden cutting boards. As with any type of cutting board, if you use your wooden one for raw meats regularly, you will need to keep it clean and disinfected regularly as well. You should also wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat on your wood-cutting board so as not to transfer bacteria from one place to another.
3. Wood tends to splinter when you cut it with an axe or knife, which could cause injury if you accidentally hit yourself or someone else with the knife while chopping up a large piece of meat.
4. Wood is a porous material, which means that it can absorb odors and liquids from food, which could make the meat taste bad if you don’t properly clean the board after each use.
5. It’s not recommended to use wooden cutting boards for raw meat because of the chance of it becoming contaminated with bacteria from raw meats or from other sources like pets or people who have poor hygiene practices. If you do decide to use a wooden cutting board for raw meat, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling it, and remember to disinfect and dry it well between uses.

Bottom Line

All in all, you are better off chopping vegetables on a wood cutting board and chopping meat on a plastic one. Wood cutting boards are excellent for several other kitchen tasks, but they aren’t ideal for chopping meat. You’ll want to use a plastic cutting board if you are going to chop raw meat, as it is less likely to retain bacteria than a wood cutting board. That doesn’t mean that you should never use a wood-cutting board again. It just means that you should use it for its intended purpose.