This Culinary School Hack Is Only $13 at Amazon

Many moons ago when I was in culinary school, one of the most basic safety tips drilled into me was that a cutting board must be securely in place before any julienning or slicing could commence. A small non-slip mat was included in the kit that held our knives and peelers and whisks, and points were deducted from our final grades if instructors caught us chopping on unstable boards. I carried this little piece of grippy fabric with me from city to city before I finally lost it in the mayhem of one particularly hectic cross-country move. Now that it’s officially time for a replacement, I’m adding this $13 pick to my Amazon cart.  

Non-Adhesive Grip Pads by CatTongue

You might be asking yourself, why can’t I just buy anti-slip cutting boards or use damp paper towels? Well, in my experience boards that claim to have anti-slip features aren’t always reliable. Too often, the feet warp and lose their grippiness. As for using a damp paper towel, it works perfectly well, but it’s wasteful. 

This 8-inch by 12-inch gription pad is the best long-lasting option. It’s compatible with any style of cutting board (be it wood or plastic), it lies flat for storage, and it’s waterproof and dishwasher-safe. There’s also no adhesive — the mat is textured to provide the grip — so you’ll never have to worry about leaving a sticky surface behind. 

Shoppers appreciate its simple but effective design. One wrote that it made their boards “so much more stable,” while another added that there was “no sliding around” after laying this mat down. It’s important to note that just like with a damp paper towel, it won’t work well if your cutting board is warped. This seemed to upset some customers, but my advice as someone who went to culinary school and worked in professional kitchens is to replace the board entirely because it’s a major safety risk to chop on an uneven surface. Fingers, like carrots, are all too easy to slice. 

I’ve forgotten a lot of what I learned in school, but this lesson has never faded. A safer kitchen is certainly worth $13 in my book. 

Shop More Kitchen Tools at Amazon

Magnetic Measuring Spoon Set

KitchenAid Classic Euro Peeler

Ordekcity Stainless Steel Cherry Pitter 

Smartake 200 Parchment Paper Baking Sheets

At the time of publishing, the price was $13.