How to Store Cutting Boards: Easy Storage and Organization Ideas

Learn the best ways to store and organize your cutting boards with this collection of easy and practical kitchen storage ideas.

We all use cutting boards in the kitchen. However, unlike cookie sheets, these tools are used more often. Therefore, one doesn’t necessarily want to stash them in cabinet you have to dig through or in the drawer under your oven.
 
Instead, we came up with some great ideas to store a cutting board for easy access.

Cutting Board Storage Ideas

There are lots of great ways to store cutting boards in your kitchen. The awesome thing about this is that there’s no right or wrong way to store your boards! Whether you display them on a counter or tuck them away in a drawer, these cutting board storage ideas fit every lifestyle, space, or need.

Where to Store Cutting Boards in the Kitchen

At the end of the day, the best way to store cutting boards is up to you! Following are the top ways to store and organize cutting boards in your kitchen.

How to Store Cutting Boards on the Counter

If interior drawer or cabinet space isn’t an option, keeping your cutting boards on your countertop is a simple solution when can’t just hide them. Here are some easy ways to store cutting boards on the counter to reserve your cabinet space for other needs.
 

• Lean them against a wall.
• Store your cutting boards flat on the countertop.

• Keep them inside a decorative basket or wooden crate on a counter or shelf.
• Use your wood cutting board as home décor by placing it on a display stand.
• Make a cutting board rack with this easy tutorial to store your boards on the counter, upright and out of the way, while still providing quick and easy access.

Organize Them Inside Drawers or Cabinets

If you have adequate space inside your kitchen drawers or cabinets, you can utilize these easy solutions to keep your cutting boards organized and accessible.
 

• Tuck them inside a drawer.
• Stash them in a cabinet using a slide out cutting board storage rack for easy access and more storage space in your cabinets.
• Install towel rods under the shelves to keep them neatly in place in an upright position.
• Tuck them inside your buffet.

• Turn a lower cabinet into a pull-out drawer with dividers for upright storage and organization of cutting boards and cookie sheets.
• Attach an inexpensive magazine holder to the interior of your cabinet door using 3M hooks for additional storage space.
• Take advantage of vertical storage on your kitchen island.
• Use an extension for your island for extra storage space for cutting boards and knives. Or use a bar block with cubbies.

Display Them on the Wall

If you like to keep your countertops free of clutter and are limited on storage space, you can display your cutting boards on the wall. This provides easy access without taking up existing space you need for other kitchen tools.
 

• Use a hook to hang your boards on the wall or on the side of a cabinet or kitchen island.
• Display and organize your boards and other kitchen tools with a wall-mounted pegboard system.

Best Way to Store Cutting Boards

The best way to store cutting boards is vertically, rather than horizontally. This is especially important if you have wooden cutting boards rather than plastic ones. Of course, if you are using your boards on a daily basis, this is less of a concern. So don’t stress if you store your boards flat on your countertop or in a closed drawer.

Why Should You Store Cutting Boards Vertically?

While it’s not imperative that you store your kitchen cutting boards vertically, it is advisable for wood cutting boards. By keeping your boards in an upright position, it helps to prevent moisture from getting trapped underneath and possibly warping the boards. It also helps to keep your cutting boards clean as it’s more difficult for dust to accumulate on the surface when stored vertically.

When Should You Replace Your Cutting Board?

While you can store your cutting boards into eternity, that doesn’t mean that you should use them. Cutting boards don’t last forever. And the less expensive they are, the more frequently they need to be replaced.

How Long Do Plastic Cutting Boards Last?

Typically, plastic cutting boards need to be replaced every year, though in some cases they may last up to 5 years. If you don’t cook from scratch often, then you may get extra life from your boards. However, in general, they should be replaced when they start to look worn or have noticeable damage from use, such as scratches or deep grooves.
 
Plastic cutting boards can harbor unsafe bacteria once they become damaged. They also scar more readily than wood cutting boards, which contributes to their need for more frequent replacement over their wood counterparts.

When Should You Throw Out a Wooden Cutting Board?

Wood cutting boards greatly outlast their plastic brethren. On average, you can use a wooden board for a span of 4 to 7 years before it needs to be replaced. However, a quality cutting board that is well cared for and regularly maintained can last ever longer.
 
Unlike plastic, wood is self-healing and therefore more resistant to developing scars or grooves. Studies also show that wood has natural antibacterial properties. The combination of these properties, in addition to the board you choose, can result in a much longer life for this vital kitchen tool.
 
As with plastic, wooden cutting boards should be thrown out when they become cracked, look excessively worn or are marred with deep grooves that make cleaning them a challenge. (This is assuming the surface can’t be refurbished by sanding it down.)

How to Choose the Perfect Cutting Board

Looking for the perfect cutting boards for your kitchen? Be sure to check out our post on how to choose a wood cutting board. In addition to the properties you should look for when making a selection, we also share information on how to properly care for your chopping boards to extend their life. Plus get ideas for giving wooden cutting boards as personalized gifts.

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