The Common Kitchen Essential To Always Skip At The Thrift Store

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Whether you're on a tight budget or sustainability journey, you can always count on the thrift store for finding kitchen essentials. Many secondhand shops are packed full of kitchen items that are priced much lower than their retail value. However, there is one common kitchen essential you'll want to skip if you spot it while thrifting: wood cutting boards.

Despite their timeless look and functionality, wood cutting boards aren't a very hygienic item to source secondhand. Unlike cutting boards made from nonporous plastic or marble, wood cutting boards are permeable — this is why it's so important to use separate ones when cutting up raw meat or fish. It also means your vintage wood cutting board could be contaminated by any liquids or substances it has soaked up while it was being used by its previous owner. There is simply no way of knowing whether it was used or cleaned properly, and disinfecting it often requires the use of harsh chemicals. To err on the side of caution, avoid wood cutting boards at secondhand stores and buy them new instead.

Though buying a wood cutting board at the thrift store may save you some money, it's not worth the risk of potential contamination — that is, unless you're purchasing it purely for decoration. If functionality is your priority, you're in luck: Wood cutting boards aren't hard to find new. You can shop many options at various price points that typically come in sets of three, such as these Betolean cutting boards for $36 and this Waldwerk cutting board set for $70.

While we're on the topic of wood cutting boards, don't stick yours in the dishwasher. That's a common wood cutting board cleaning mistake. Cleaning yours by hand will prolong its lifespan. And remember to look out for signs of damage over time. Once your wood cutting board starts to look worn out or becomes difficult to clean, it's time to replace it.

Wondering what kitchen essentials you should scoop up at the thrift store? In general, items made from nonporous materials, like Pyrex food storage containers or metal mixing bowls, are safe bets. They're easy to clean thoroughly, which minimizes your risk of coming into contact with harmful bacteria.