Self-healing cutting boards made of wood or cork have a malleable surface that allows it to snap back together after being cut, preventing gouges and dulling knives less. The natural materials used may also have antibacterial and odor-resistant properties. The healing effect is an illusion created by the material’s natural properties. Cork cutting boards are created using a high-pressure process to create a durable surface, while wooden cutting boards have a fine-grained alignment to prevent noticeable damage.
A self-healing cutting board or mat is made of a material that resists cuts. The cut surface can still be cut when the material above it is cut, but the malleable nature of the cut surface allows it to snap back together without any easily visible damage. A key benefit of this is that the self-healing cutting board doesn’t develop gouges or ridges like a harder cutting surface. This should allow for smooth, unhindered cutting even after many uses. The more forgiving surface also dulls the knives less over time than harder surfaces.
An added benefit of the natural materials used in most self-healing cutting boards is that many have antibacterial properties. Some types of wood may also be odor-trapping or odor-resistant. Regardless of the cutting board, it may be best to avoid chopping or chopping flavoring items, such as onions and garlic, on cutting boards used for other foods that aren’t meant to be mixed with the other items.
Unlike most self-healing mats used in crafts, a self-healing cutting board used in food preparation is typically made of wood or cork. The natural properties of the material serve to create the apparent healing effect. Obviously, the board does not cure or repair itself. The “healing” is an illusion created by the natural properties of the material used.
In the case of a self-healing cork board, the property that allows the board to rebound from cuts is the same as that with which a wine cork expands after being removed from a bottle. Due to the heavy use required for cork cutting boards, these are typically created using a high pressure process so the cork does not come loose. This process creates a much harder and more durable surface than that found in other examples of cork, yet retains enough of the elastic nature to hide cuts.
In the case of a self-healing wooden cutting board, the grain is typically aligned vertically to create the self-healing effect. These are referred to as “fine-grained” cutting boards. As the knife makes contact with the board, it passes between the ends of the grains. This prevents the board from being noticeably damaged when the resilient fibers come together. Typical examples of this type of chopping board are those made from cedar. Some other types of wood can self-heal naturally regardless of grain orientation.
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