How to Store Cutting Boards: 6 Cutting Board Storage Ideas

Cutting boards are flat pieces of cookware designed to withstand the blade of a knife. Cutting boards come in a variety of materials in all shapes and sizes. A chef might have a large wooden cutting board for cutting raw meat—much like a butcher block—and then a smaller plastic cutting board for dicing veggies. Some even opt for stainless steel cutting boards, as they naturally repel the bacteria that can sometimes collect on a plastic or wood cutting board. The best cutting board for your needs will vary depending on your ambition as a chef and the amount of space in your kitchen.

Use these six kitchen storage ideas for housing cutting boards when they're not in use.

1. 1. On the countertop: The most convenient option may be to store cutting and chopping boards right on your countertop. Store them vertically to take up less space and to prevent water from pooling on their surfaces.
2. 2. In a pull-out drawer: To minimize clutter, designate an entire pull-out drawer as your cutting board storage solution.
3. 3. In a magazine holder: Divided holders designed for magazines also work as a cutting board storage hack. You can either display the holder on a countertop, put it in a kitchen cabinet, sit it on top of open shelving, or bolt it to the inside of a cabinet door.
4. 4. Built-in dividers: You can add simple wooden dividers to an existing cabinet and use them to store flat items like cutting boards and baking sheets in an organized manner. If installing vertical wood panels seems like too much work, use tension rods instead. You can also use metal dividers (typically designed for filed folders) that you buy at an office supply or home furnishing store.
5. 5. Hanging from hooks: If you like the look of kitchens where pots and pans hang from hooks, you can do the same thing with cutting boards. This particularly works for wooden cutting boards that you can drill small holes through. Thread these holes with a cord or twine, and you have a DIY hanging cutting board.
6. 6. In a basket: For this simple organization idea, place a large woven basket on the ground in a corner that doesn't get much foot traffic and fill it with your cutting boards.

To prolong the usefulness of your chopping boards, always take care to clean your cutting boards before storing them.

1. 1. With dish soap: For the regular maintenance of your boards, scrub your cutting boards with a mixture of hot water and dish soap. Let them dry vertically, ideally on a dish rack so that water doesn't pool anywhere.
2. 2. With white vinegar and baking soda: From time to time, you should disinfect wooden cutting boards and plastic cutting boards, which can harbor bacteria colonies. Start by dousing your cutting board with white vinegar, and let it sit for about five minutes. Then add a layer of baking soda, which will cause the vinegar to foam. Scrub the concoction into the board for several minutes and then rinse the board with water. You can also try using hydrogen peroxide for a slightly more intense sterilization process.

You can revive the look of a wood cutting board by wiping it down with a mixture of beeswax and mineral oil. Make sure the board is completely clean and dry before you apply the mixture. Wipe it with an old but clean rag that you don't mind exposing to oil. Avoid using the board for at least forty-eight hours so it can properly absorb the oil. After a few days, wipe it one more time for good measure and then put it back into the rotation.

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