Bacteria

According to research from the University of California at Davis Food Safety Laboratory, since wood cutting boards are porous, bacteria are able to enter the boards, but once they get in, they are unable to reproduce and they die off. Plastic is not porous, and bacteria will sit on the surface. Both boards should be washed thoroughly in hot, soapy water and sanitized after use. You can use a solution of bleach and water or vinegar and water and let it sit on the surface of the cutting board for a few minutes, then rinse.

Cuts

If you cut into a wood cutting board, the slit will close up. When a plastic cutting board gets a nick or slit, it does not close up. In this case, the wood board is better, because it is easier to clean the solid surface than it is to get into all the nicks of a plastic board.

Life Span

Wood cutting boards win here. They last a long time, especially if they are conditioned with mineral oil after cleaning and not soaked in water. Plastic boards will also last a long time, but may be discarded when they accumulate many nicks and scratches and look unattractive.

Value

Plastic cutting boards cost less than wood cutting boards. However, they do have to be replaced more often. Salmonella bacteria is a big concern in food preparation, and it does play a part in considering the costs of your cutting boards. Plastic cutting boards are economical enough that you can purchase one for chicken, one for meat, one for fish and one for fruit or vegetables. Using separate cutting boards prevents cross contamination. They can even be different colors for each food group. The four plastic cutting boards would still be less expensive than one good wood cutting board.

Ease of Care

Plastic cutting boards can go in the dishwasher; wood cutting boards cannot. However, the temperature of the water in the dishwasher is not high enough to kill all germs. You must rinse the plastic cutting board under hotter water afterward. Wood cutting boards would warp or come apart in a dishwasher. The wood cutting board must be scrubbed with hot, soapy water and then sanitized.

Knives

A good set of kitchen knives can be very costly. Plastic is much harder than wood. It is more solid and will not give under pressure, so a knife will dull faster with a plastic cutting board.