Marble is a beautiful and durable stone that can be used for quite a few different things. Have you ever considered using marble as a cutting board? If so, this article will tell you about the pros and cons of doing so, how to maintain your marble cutting boards, and when they are best suited for use.
So can you use marble as a cutting board?
| The Pros | The Cons |
| 1. Marble Is Very Durable and Strong | 1. Marble Cutting Boards Are Expensive |
| 2. Marble Is Easy To Clean | 2. Marble Cutting Boards Are Slippery When Wet |
| 3. Marble Cutting Boards Can Be A Beautiful Addition To Your Kitchen Countertop | 3. Marble Cutting Board Are Susceptible To Cracks, Scratches, or Chips |
| 4. Marbles Will NOT Absorb Liquids As Wooden Boards Do | 4. Marble Cutting Boards Will Require Regular Maintenance |
| 5. Marble Cutting Boards Dry Quickly | 5. Marble Cutting Board Has A Learning Curve To Its Use |
| 6. Marble Can Help To Keep Knives Sharp | – |
So essentially, the answer to this question really depends on what type of cooking surface you are looking for. But the fact remains that marble is durable and can be used as a cutting board. However, it also has some downsides to its use.
To learn the details on the pros and cons of using marble as a cutting board, tips on how to maintain a marble cutting board, and tips on how to prevent marble cutting boards from dulling your knives, keep reading this article.
The Pros And Cons Of Using Marble As Cutting Board
1. Marble Is Very Durable and Strong
One thing that is true and obvious when it comes to using marble as a cutting board is that marble is a very strong and durable stone.
If you do not mind a few scratches on them, marble will not only be a good cutting board for you but also, will be able to withstand high temperatures from hot pots or pans.
This makes it perfect for cooking with as well since no matter how much heat there is, the surface of a marble cutting board won’t crack or peel!
Marble can also be used for countertops, so it’s not a big deal if you have to use your cutting board on the side.
The best thing about marble cutting boards is that they are very steady. This means that after being seasoned properly it will stay put while you’re chopping things up on top of it rather than sliding around all over the place making things difficult for you.
“Marble has natural non-slip properties which means less risk of slippery accidents while you’re chopping!”
2. Marble Is Easy To Clean
One of the best things about marble cutting boards is that they are very easy to clean. Using hot water and a stiff brush or sponge will get all the dirt off easily without leaving any scratches on your beautiful new board!
Unlike wooden cutting boards and other materials used for cutting boards that trap dirt and stains, marble cutting boards are much easier to keep clean.
“This means a greater chance for foodborne illnesses such as salmonella or E Coli being transferred during use because bacteria will not build up on the surface as wood boards do over time.”
Marble is also more resistant to stains than wooden cutting boards. This means that if you do happen to cut something like dark green cabbage, it won’t stain the board as much as other materials would – which means less scrubbing needed in general!
And if somehow you do end up with some stains, it’s not hard at all to find something online that can help remove them.
3. Marble Cutting Boards Can Be A Beautiful Addition To Your Kitchen Countertop
Marble cutting boards can be a beautiful addition to your kitchen countertop. Depending on the type of marble you choose, you may have the option of adding some color or pattern (such as veins) to make it match with other items in your kitchen.
“Though some people prefer them for their aesthetic value others find them more useful for being lighter weight and less expensive than granite countertops while still being durable and easy to clean.”
Marble generally comes with unique qualities that make it a great material for cutting boards for their functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Marble is more durable than glass or wood and in many cases will not be easily scratched by knives, unlike some other materials that are commonly used as kitchen countertops.
4. Marbles Will NOT Absorb Liquids As Wooden Boards Do
Not only will they not absorb odors but they won’t soak up any liquid or stains that would be absorbed by other materials such as wood.
Marble is generally porous but it wouldn’t allow too many liquids like those from mean, fish, and certain fruit juice to seep in and ruin it.
This means if you decide to use marble as a cutting board, it will not absorb liquids so much that the marble becomes waterlogged over time with frequent use as wooden boards do.
5. Marble Cutting Boards Dry Quickly
Not only is marble cutting board easy to clean but also they dry quickly. Marble has the ability to dry quickly because of its porous quality.
Unlike wood boards, marble does not absorb liquids like water or juice from the food easily when you are cutting – making it easy to clean and dry.
One important benefit of this is that it creates less of an odor and it doesn’t require constant maintenance as wooden boards do.
Wood can be difficult to maintain in terms of its varying oil content and can become slippery if not cared for properly – this isn’t something you need to worry about with marble!
Marble, especially, polished marble is fairly nonporous when compared to wooden boards so dirt will actually stay on top instead of absorbing into them. So this makes cleaning even easier than with other types of surface materials.
6. Marble Can Help To Keep Knives Sharp
Most people will tell you the opposite but if your knife is properly prepared for cutting, you might find that using the right type of marble can actually help to keep knives sharp.
Many who use marble counters have found their own tricks for getting around the problem of marble dulling their knives.
A good hack I found for this problem is putting one hand on the backside where there’s no danger of cutting oneself and using the other hand to cut.
With the right skill, your marble cutting board will rather keep your knife blade sharper because there’s no potential to dull from contact with liquid – just remember to wash after every use before putting away to maintain sharpness!
The Cons Of Using Marble As Cutting Board
1. Marble Cutting Boards Are Expensive
One of the first downsides to using marble as a cutting board is the cost. A good marble cutting board can easily run for $100 or more, depending on where you purchase it from and the size of your kitchen space.
This means that for a lot of people this will not be an option, but if you like the idea and are willing to spend the money there is no doubt that it’ll last longer than other cutting boards.
2. Marble Cutting Boards Are Slippery When Wet
The other downside to using marble as a cutting board is that it will get slippery when wet. This means you’ll have to be very careful and use the best of your agility if you need quick access from one side of the kitchen counter-top or table, for example.
An even bigger problem arises when someone with arthritis has difficulty gripping knives because they can’t hold onto them properly due to how slick the surface becomes!
Ultimately this might not be an issue depending on what type of food prep you do in your kitchen. However, some people won’t want any part of having their hands slip around while trying to cut vegetables.
3. Marble Cutting Board Are Susceptible To Cracks, Scratches, or Chips
Marble cutting boards are susceptible to cracks, scratches, or chips if not taken care of properly. This is because the marble can be damaged by pressure from a knife, for instance.
If the marble board is not carefully taken care of, it can also show signs of wear and tear like chips and cracks on its surface. This will make your cutting board look ugly!
A lot of people think that this issue with marble as a cutting board arises because they use too much force when slicing food on their marbled countertop but actually it’s because these types of materials aren’t suited for items where sharp knives are being utilized repeatedly close to the surface.
4. Marble Cutting Boards Will Require Regular Maintenance
One of the things to remember when using marble for cutting boards is that you will need to take care of them properly.
This means cleaning and maintaining your countertop as well as keeping any knives sharp so they aren’t damaging the surface of your board.
The first thing a lot of people do is buy one or two good quality knife sets, these are often more expensive than buying just one inexpensive set but if taken care of correctly this can be a good option and worth it in the long run.
Once bought though, invest some time into researching how to maintain those knives too!
“Most marble cutting boards are meant for display and not really intended to be used as an everyday kitchen surface.”
Dull blades won’t work on marble either because they’ll scrape at its surface which will cause wear and tear over time – not what we want with our beautiful new marble cutting boards.
Marble boards will always require regular maintenance such as sealing and polishing to help protect against stains, watermarks, scratches, and chips too! This is particularly necessary if the marble cutting board is used often.
This is because food residues will collect over time which creates stains over time. Be sure to follow the care instructions provided by the manufacturer!
“To maintain your marble cutting board you’ll need a few more supplies than usual, such as dish soap, water, and a clean cloth or sponge! Marble is also not the best material for keeping bacteria at bay so we recommend that after each use you wash with soap and water before reusing again.”
5. Marble Cutting Board Has A Learning Curve To Its Use
Marble cutting boards are not ideal for beginners and, in fact, have a learning curve to their use. This means that it may take some skill to use a marble chopping surface due to its lack of tactile feedback compared with other materials like wood boards or plastic ones.
The small pieces of marble can be hard to grasp when chopping vegetables or meat on the board. it is also difficult because there is no friction between the surface of the board and the food.
This makes chopping more frustrating than usual. It’s important that you only place one food item at a time on the cutting board so your hands don’t slip while trying to chop them up!
Don’t worry though – with practice things get easier and this becomes second nature over time. If all else fails just grab that other old trusty wooden plank instead! You certainly won’t regret it.
How To Prevent Marble Cutting Board From Dulling Your Knives
One of the biggest concerns most people have when it comes to using marble as the cutting board is how it dull knives and how it scratches the surface of the marble board. Below are a few tips on how to prevent marble cutting boards from dulling your knives.
- Use honing steel to sharpen the blade on your knife before starting to cut anything. Not only will this keep knives sharper, but it’ll also help prevent unnecessary wear and tear from dull blades!
- Make sure you’re using sharpened knives that are fresh so they won’t need as much pressure when slicing through food which can cause marble chips in areas without padding underneath.
- The surface of the marble is not as hard as other cutting boards which means it will dull knives much quicker. The best way to
- To keep your blades sharp without constantly having to replace them simply use a steel wool pad on your marble cutting board once every few months!
Tips For Maintaining Your Marble Cutting Board
The following steps should help you ensure your stone board lasts as long as possible.
- Clean with hot water and soap at least once a week by hand or put them in the dishwasher (low setting).
- Dry right away if washed by hand.
- Don’t let wet boards sit out for too long or you risk staining it permanently.
- To clean stubborn stains like cheese or tomato sauce.
- If you’ve just purchased a new one and haven’t put it in use yet, clean it with soap and water before first use.
- Do Dry thoroughly after washing.
- Don’t leave marble wet on the counter-top surface or floor as it will attract moisture again, leading to mold growth!
- Also make sure that when using knives or other sharp objects against the cutting board surface they’re contacting ONLY the natural side of the material (the flatter side). Be very careful and use the knife with caution to not break through the more fragile material.
- Marble is best for cutting soft and semi-soft vegetables or fruit, as well as raw meat when chopping it into small pieces.
- It’s not suitable for hard foods such as raw carrots because they’ll leave a sticky residue on your marble board which can be difficult to clean off later!
- With proper care, marble will last years before needing replacement.