Your cutting board sees a lot more than just the underside of a chicken breast—specifically, all the invisible bacteria it may leave behind. If you want to keep germs and at bay, then you need to be doing more than simply rinsing your cutting board, Vanessa Coffman, PhD, alliance director at Stop Foodborne Illness, says. “This can leave behind harmful microbes like salmonella and E. coli. Using the same board for raw meat and other foods without proper cleaning in between invites cross-contamination and can make you sick.”
a cutting board is relatively simple; you just need to use the right method for the material. To find out the safest and most effective ways to disinfect every type of cutting board, we consulted with two food safety experts who shared how to properly care for wooden, bamboo, plastic, and glass boards, plus the signs .
Meet Our Expert
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Vanessa Coffman, PhD, alliance director,
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Bryan Quoc Le, PhD, food scientist and founder and CEO at
How to Disinfect Wooden or Bamboo Cutting Boards
“In general, well-maintained, unsealed wooden cutting boards tend to be less hospitable to dangerous germs,” according to Coffman. “Absorbed bacteria often do not survive long within the fibers.”
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Remove any debris or stuck-on food with a paper towel.
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Thoroughly clean the wooden cutting board with dish soap, a sponge, and hot water. Do not soak or submerge, as wood is porous.
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Add undiluted white vinegar to a clean spray bottle. Spray the entire wooden cutting board.
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Let the white vinegar sit on the board for 2 to 5 minutes.
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Wipe any remaining vinegar off the surface immediately with clean, dry dish towels.
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Stand the board upright to allow it to fully dry.
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Optional: After air drying overnight, apply a coat of food-safe mineral oil to .
When to Replace
Food scientist Bryan Quoc Le, PhD, says deep scratch marks or separated wood pieces signal it’s time to throw your cutting board away. “These are areas where food can become entrapped and continue to harbor harmful bacteria over time, and it can become very difficult to dislodge these pieces of material, making disinfection ineffective.”
How to Disinfect Plastic Cutting Boards
Unlike wooden cutting boards, plastic cutting boards aren’t porous—which means bacteria can remain on the surface longer if the board isn’t cleaned properly. “Plastic boards develop knife grooves that can trap bacteria, making dishwasher cleaning or routine sanitizing essential,” Coffman says.
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Using a paper towel, remove any caked-on food from the plastic cutting board.
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Wash the board thoroughly with hot water, dish soap, and a clean sponge. Pay close attention to knife grooves where bacteria can hide, Coffman says.
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Rinse the board well to remove any soap residue. (Plastic cutting boards can be submerged in water safely.)
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(using a 3 percent solution) directly onto the board.
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Let the hydrogen peroxide sit on the board for at least 2 minutes to sanitize the surface properly.
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Rinse the board thoroughly with clean water.
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Dry the board completely with clean paper towels, or stand it upright to air dry fully before storing.
When to Replace
Boards with deep knife grooves, cracks, or staining should be replaced because damaged areas can continue to trap bacteria even after cleaning.
How to Disinfect Glass Cutting Boards
Our experts say glass cutting boards are among the easiest kinds of cutting boards to disinfect. “Glass boards are fully non-porous and easily disinfected with hot water or a dishwasher, though they are less favored for everyday use due to practicality rather than hygiene,” Coffman says.
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Clear any leftover food debris from the cutting board and wash it thoroughly with hot water, dish soap, and a clean sponge. Pay special attention to the edges and underside where bacteria may linger.
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Rinse the board well to remove any soap residue.
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Dry the board with a clean towel and place it upright to air dry completely.
For deeper sanitizing, place the glass cutting board and run it through a hot cycle, says Coffman. Once clean and dry, store the cutting board in a dry, safe area to help prevent chips or cracks.
When to Replace
Coffman notes that the repeated use of harsh or undiluted chemicals on glass cutting boards can damage the surface over time, creating minuscule cracks or grooves where bacteria may linger. If your glass cutting board becomes chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged, it’s best to bid it goodbye.