Before buying a knife, we often ask ourselves a reasonable question - how long will it keep sharp for? However, not everyone remembers that it is not only up to him when it will need to be sharpened again. The dullness of a knife is influenced by many factors - steel and its processing, cutting technique, sliced products and the substrate we are discussing - a board. At the outset, we emphasize that there is no such thing as a stone or glass chopping board. Stone slabs in the kitchen can be used for serving, baking pizzas or as boards. In the case of a glass board, its only use is to serve dishes. Stone and glass are much harder than steel, and thus blunt knives at an alarming rate, and constantly harder, we can even lead to the departure.
Excluding the above materials, we have 2 to consider and it's hard to define the favorite - wood and plastic. Plastic boards boast the highest hygiene, do not absorb moisture and are very easy to clean. It is also worth paying attention to their often featherweight and small thickness, they will not take up much space. Their significant disadvantage is wear. The scratches created as a result of use are not removed in any way, so after some time the board does not look its best anymore and we have to replace it. The wooden board, on the other hand, gives us the opportunity to renew it by sanding and re-oiling. This is where another advantage creeps in - a board made of wood can be perfectly matched to the kitchen finish, color or even shape. A wooden board can blunt a knife more slowly than a synthetic one, but a compromise has to be made between the hardness of the board and the frequency of its renewal. Oiled wood is not waterproof and should be borne in mind when using it. The board should not be left unwashed, and the washed board should be wiped with a towel. It is best to store it on the wall or simply on the countertop, the drawer lacks circulation that will protect the board from moisture and dry it.
Both types of cutting boards have advantages and disadvantages, the choice depends only on expectations. If we want to take care of a knife and pay attention to visual details, wood will be the perfect choice, if we focus on occupational hygiene, and we do not want to pay special attention to care, it is worth considering the material.