Microplastics concerned or not-- this one gets a '5' from me
This cutting board gets a 5 star review from me. That's not because it's necessarily a "5" for me. But because it can be a "5" for many if you know and are comfortable with what you are getting. Titanium (according to the seller) on one side. PP, which those of us who have the board believe to be polypropylene (plastic) on the other.How deep do you want to go on this? Titanium is one of the best cutting board surfaces for food safety/safe food handling. Hypoallergenic. Titanium is used in many surgical appliances and inserts for this reason. NO metallic taste. Titanium is Non-reactive, meaning it won't react with acid foods such as tomatoes, citrus...meaning no issues with flavor contamination. Titanium's hardness prevents grooves from forming in the board's surface, which is where germs and bacteria can grow and why titanium makes for such a food safe cutting board. That's all non-debatable. Despite what you read from the seller here, 100% titanium WILL dull your knives because it is is harder than good cutting knives. That's not necessarily bad. As anyone with good knives knows, high quality lives will last you a lifetime. So a lifetime of sharpening awaits you if you own quality knives. Get a good sharpener and a titanium cutting board will be no problem and is probably the best choice for a kitchen cutting board. Finally, titanium is a smooth surface which makes it quicker and easier to thoroughly clean compare to the porosity of wood or texture of plastic.Why I like THIS titanium cutting board. I already own a titanium cutting board. Other than for size differences, why would you need two? Because they are thin... liquids run off them easily--think slicing a tomato or grapefruit. This one comes mounted on a polypropylene base. I'm not a fan of plastics (more later). In this case, the poly elevates the board above countertop level AND it has a modest border/edge around it... both of which help to stabilize the board on the countertop and make your cutting easier. All of this is important when you've got a sharp knife in one hand and your other hand is on or near the cutting board. All of this is a plus. If you are worried about juices building up under the border/edge and future bacteria, just wash it promptly with warm soapy water immediately after use--either by hand or dishwasher. Personally, I do not cut meat on a cutting board. I cut meat on a platter or a dinner plate because the plate has a juice containing rim and the glazing prevents contaminating the plate and a plate is easy to clean/rinse.Re the polypropylene side for cutting. Microplastics are a concern to many of us who like to cook. That is why--despite their many great qualities-- I don't use plastic cutting boards any more. I have replaced all of my favorite (along with the annoying) plastic cutting boards with a variety of surfaces-- bamboo, silicone, and titanium. Each has a specific advantage/use in my kitchen. If you don't care about microplastics--and cutting boards are proven to be a leading source of them entering into the bloodstream and human brain-- you will love this board. If you are concerned, then view the poly as I do.... it's a great base for holding your titanium cutting board. If not cutting on the PP surface, then it's really not much of a concern for those of us concerned about microplastics. The PP base makes using a titanium cutting board a joy, whereas for anyone who enjoys cooking, a thin piece of titanium leaves much to be desired for use as a kitchen cutting board.I wouldn't hesitate to use this to serve crackers, veggies, cheese, etc. either for myself or when entertaining friends. Looks nice. It's food safe. User friendly. Big and stable enough to slice cheese without worrying about it falling off the table.One reviewer didn't care for the handle. I, on the other hand, appreciate it. Makes it easy to pick up and carry. Once I find a nail from which to hang it, I will. And when it is easy to grab, that will elevate it to 'favorite' status and lead me to use it more often.It is disappointing that the seller does not identify what "PP" is and you need to find that out when it arrives. It is polypropylene -- plastic. And equally disappointing to read seller's claim that this titanium board will not dull knives. It will and it does. Assuming it is pure titanium. If it's an alloy, then seller is not being truthful.Aside from the above paragraph, this is why I rate this five stars.