What Causes Black Mildew on Plastic Cutting Boards?

September 28, 2017

If you've ever had a beautiful wooden or plastic cutting board sitting in your kitchen you've likely come across the problem of mildew. Mildew can be represented in an unsightly black line of discoloration on your cutting board and the very sight of it can be repulsive. Mildew, after all, is proof positive that your cutting board isn't clean enough. If your cutting board isn't clean enough then how can you safely eat the food that you prepare on it? So, today we are going to introduce you to the causes of black mildew in your kitchen's cutting board and how you can stop it from happening in the future.

What causes black mildew on cutting boards?

As we said above, seeing a line of black mildew on your cutting board can be a shocking discovery. However, don't let that shock overcome you! Black mildew is a completely natural process that can crop up in even the tidiest of kitchens. Black mildew is caused by an array of different things that all come together to create what you see before you. Here are a few of the common reasons that black mildew will appear on your cutting boards, both wood and plastic:

1. Water Absorption: With wooden cutting boards you have to worry about consistent water absorption into the grain of the material. Even when you wash or rinse your board you are introducing an element that can lead to black mildew. This can also impact plastic cutting boards. The key here is to allow your cutting board, plastic and wood, to completely dry before stowing away.

2. Porous Quality: Though you may not notice it at a glance, plastic cutting boards can rack up countless little nicks and scratches that allow for the surface to become more porous. A porous surface allows for juices from meat, fish, veggies and fruit to soak right into the board. Left alone, these juices will help fuel the eventual transformation into black mildew.

3. Improper Cleaning: Plastic cutting boards may seem sturdy but you really need to baby them a little bit. When you clean your plastic cutting board after use in the kitchen you want to use hot water, a little bit of dish soap, and some vinegar if you have it on hand. Scrub this mixture into your cutting board before rinsing thoroughly and drying with an already dry, clean rag or towel.

4. Abrasive Cleaners: You actually DON'T want to use abrasive cleaners when working with your cutting boards. Abrasive cleaners wear away at the surface of your cutting board, thus introducing them to more germs.

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