Do marble chopping boards blunt knives? That’s the question that many people ask themselves when they are considering buying one of these countertop accouterments. If you want to know, then just keep reading!
So do marble chopping boards blunt knives? Yes, marble cutting boards should be avoided as it can dull up the edges of your knife. This is because marble like more other natural stones is very hard and can quickly and dangerously dull a sharp knife. So if you want to preserve your knives edges then avoid marble chopping boards and go for wood or plastic.
Keep reading this article for more information on why marble will blunt your knives and what marble chopping boards are great for, and some of the alternatives to marble chopping boards.
Reasons Why Marble Chopping Boards Will Blunt Knives
Marble Chopping Boards Are Very Hard
The main reason why marble chopping boards are going to blunt your knives as stated earlier is due to the fact that they are a very hard surface to work on. Marble is a natural stone and is very hard in nature.
Marble has a Mohs hardness of anywhere between 6 to 8 on the scale, which means that it’s one of the hardest substances you can work with without busting your knife blade edge.
With a Mohs hardness between 6 to 8 marble chopping boards are as hard as steel and will blunt your knives quickly.
The only reason that marble boards are not as bad as steel is the fact that it’s brittle and doesn’t have tensile strength, which means that they can chip more easily than a blade on a hard surface like tile or granite.
Marble cutting board will both dull and wear down your knife edge quicker than other natural materials such as wood, bamboo, cork or plastic because of how hard they are.
You might think this would be an advantage because you don’t need to sharpen them so often but when these surfaces get too worn out there is no way for polishing them back into shape.
Marble chopping blocks also lack any sort of non-slip properties meaning that if you are cutting something slippery like an onion then it’s likely to slip around and you’ll be left with a mess.
Marble Chopping Boards Will Scratch Easily From Use
A marble chopping board will also lead to blunting your knives because they are going to get scratched up from use over time. This scratching action itself isn’t enough for blunt blades but if these scratches accumulate then this is essentially all that happens when you cut things on it.
This then breaks down your knife edges much faster as those accumulated scratches on the marble chopping boards can also impart a rough feeling to your blade.
The good news is that this damage can be reversed with time and care, so always try to use coarser cutting agents on marble boards like wooden utensils or metal blades when doing prep work.
In general, most people seem to agree that it’s better for the chopping board itself if you don’t cut anything harder than vegetables directly onto it as long as you’re taking normal care of the surface. This means not using any abrasive cleaners or scrubbers but instead wiping down the surface after each use and keeping it dry at all times.”
What Are Marble Chopping Boards Best For?
So now the question remains what are marble chopping boards best for? Well, marble chopping boards are great for anything that you can’t cut on an aluminum or plastic board.
For example, it’s great if you want to slice up some crusty bread without smashing the slices as they fall from your knife.
You can use a marble chopping board to prepare pastry dough without worrying about your dough sticking to the board.
Also, because of their weight and somewhat porous surface, they’re excellent when cutting items like cheese with a substantial rind such as Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheeses.
Marble chopping boards are also great for chopping up semi-hard items like carrots and potatoes, because they’re less likely to dull your knives.
The key is NOT to use them for certain tasks such as chopping chicken or other meats with bones in them.
This type of food can get stuck between the little rifts and crevices that are found on the surface of a marble cutting board which will eventually blunt your knife’s edges over time if you keep using it this way.
It’s also important to dry off any moisture from vegetables before placing them onto a marble board since wet foods tend to stay moist longer than those dried off first.
Finally, marble chopping boards are best for display purposes and should never be used to cut food because the marble itself is somewhat fragile and at the same time, they could destroy the edges of your knife.
This means that marble chopping boards are best used as more of an accessory on display than anything else. The look of marble chopping boards when used for display is reminiscent of a pastry-type counter.
All in all, the main issue with marble chopping boards still remains that they will dull any knife-edge over time from regular use which means it would be wise to keep a separate block around just for displaying items at home rather than actually cooking with them each day when preparing meals.
Another common problem with marble surfaces is that they tend to soak up moisture. So while they’re great for looking nice and clean without much effort, those wet surfaces can be slippery to work with.
Best Alternatives To Marble Chopping Boards
Wood
Wood as a material is one of the best options when it comes to chopping boards. Wood is durable, it doesn’t soak up moisture as easily and these boards are more affordable.
Wooden chopping boards also tend to be a little thicker which means they’re less likely to get damaged or chipped from regular use during the day-to-day process of preparing food.
Another benefit is that wooden surfaces are not very slippery when wet so you won’t have to worry about accidents while using them in the kitchen.
While wood can absorb some water over time, it’s been found that adding mineral oil on top will help slow down this effect substantially meaning your board should last for years without needing an upgrade!
Bamboo
Bamboo is another great alternative when it comes to chopping boards. Some of the qualities that makes bamboo such an awesome material for a chopping board is that it is completely renewable, resistant to water and bacteria, and can be easily cut down into a variety of sizes.
Bamboo boards are great because they will never warp or snap like some other types of wood do over time. So you’ll always get the same quality as when you first bought your board.
Another great thing about bamboo cutting boards is that they are very easy to clean. You can just wipe them off with soap and water, or you could also put them in the dishwasher without any damage occurring!
However, bamboo boards will be more affordable than bamboo cutting mats because they have a higher likelihood of splitting. But this won’t really affect how well your board works as long as it is taken care of properly.
“A quick note on bamboo cutting boards: I love the look of them and have used one for years without any issues so far, but many people say that you should stay away from these because they can harbor bacteria if not properly cared for (wiping down with lemon juice or vinegar).”
Cork
Cork is also a great material for chopping boards and does not affect knife edges so much. Cork cutting boards have the unique quality of being very easy to clean, and less expensive.
Corkboards will also be able to withstand heat better than a cutting mat. This makes them great for cooking purposes because you can use your board as a trivet or pot stand without concern of it melting away!
Another thing I love personally about cork cutting boards is that they are eco-friendly. Meaning they are made of an environmentally safe material.
Corkboards come in a variety of sizes and shapes, but the most popular size is 18×12 inches.
I recommend this size because it can be used for cooking purposes as well as serving dishes! It also has enough room to fit larger items on too like thick roasts or whole chickens which will make your meal prep go faster than if you had just one board that was smaller in length and width.
The only thing I don’t love about cork cutting boards is they tend to be more delicate so we have to watch them closely when cleaning them with metal scrubbers or harsh chemicals (which should never be necessary). But overall these are some of my favorite kinds of chopping boards out there!
Plastic
Last but not least plastic! Plastic chopping boards are not the most eco-friendly cutting surfaces but are a lot more forgiving on knife edges than marble.
Plastic cutting boards are great for tasks that require more abuse from knives. They are also lighter to handle and easier to clean, but they will scratch much easier than a corkboard.
Another one of their best qualities is that they are totally waterproof and can easily be washed with soap and water. They also have a very low odor that will not compete with your cooking aromas.
They are also a great option if you need a surface that is dishwasher safe and can be cleaned easily.
Final Thoughts
I hope that after reading this post, you’ll be ready to make an educated decision about whether or not getting a marble board is right for your home kitchen!
If you’re getting the marble chopping board for display or for cutting very soft foods like cheese, then it’s a great option.
However, if you’re looking for something that will be used every day to cut hard foods like onions and carrots then I would recommend going with the standard wood board or plastic cutting boards from Ikea or any of your favorite shops.