the wood to swell or warp.
⚠️ Important Food-Safety Tip
The image shows raw chicken being prepared on the cutting board, so there’s an important safety point worth mentioning.
Raw chicken can carry harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter.
To reduce cross-contamination:
Use a clean cutting board for raw poultry.
Keep raw chicken away from ready-to-eat foods.
Wash your hands after handling raw chicken.
Clean the cutting board and utensils thoroughly after preparation.
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Don’t place cooked food directly onto a surface that held raw chicken unless it
has been properly cleaned.
It’s also a good idea to use separate boards—or clearly designate one board—for raw meat and another for foods eaten without cooking.
💡 Bonus Tip: Don’t Use Your Knife to Scrape the Board
After chopping, many people turn their knife sideways and scrape ingredients across the board.
Doing this repeatedly can dull the knife edge.
Instead, use a bench scraper, dough scraper, or spatula to move chopped ingredients.
It’s a small change that can help keep your knives sharper for longer.
Reason for the Handle?
The answer is simpler than many viral posts suggest:
The opening is primarily a handle.
It makes the cutting board easier to grip, carry, store, and maneuver. Depending on the board’s design, it can also be convenient when transferring ingredients.
So the next time you see that hole in your cutting board, don’t overlook it—it is a small design feature that can make everyday kitchen tasks much easier.
