Quartz countertops are built to handle the hustle and bustle of daily kitchen activities. But one common question homeowners often ask is: Can you cut directly on Quartz countertops? The short answer is: Technically yes, but you definitely shouldn’t.
Cutting directly on stone surfaces might seem convenient, but the long-term risks far outweigh the temporary ease. From dull knives to scratched countertops, hidden bacteria, cracks, and voided warranties, the consequences can be serious and costly.
Let’s dive into what happens if you cut on a stone countertop and how to protect both your countertops and your kitchen tools properly.
Can You Cut on Your Quartz Countertops?
Quartz is an artificial stone created by combining resin with naturally occurring quartz, one of the hardest minerals. This resin blend enhances the inherent strength and durability of raw quartz, resulting in engineered quartz countertops that offer a robust and scratch-resistant surface.
To answer the question, quartz countertops can withstand cutting. However, cutting directly on them always comes with the risk of producing marks, dents, and chips on their surfaces.
You’ve invested in your quartz countertops. Why risk damaging these beautiful surfaces by removing the cutting board? Using your quartz countertops carefully ensures they remain in top condition for years.
How To Protect Both Countertops And Kitchen Tools?
If you are aware of the dangers, the good news is that you can protect your countertops and your knives by following a few easy steps.
Always Use a Cutting Board:
The primary guideline for safeguarding your countertops (as well as your knives) is to make use of cutting boards. These boards serve as a protective barrier between your knives and countertops, preventing damage to both.
Bamboo, wood, and certain high-quality plastic cutting boards are outstanding choices. They offer a gentle surface for knives, preserving their sharpness while fully protecting your countertops from chips and scratches.
Pro Tip:
Keep several boards in your kitchen and use different ones for food items, such as vegetables and bread, to ensure food safety as well as convenience.
Keep Your Knives Sharp
Sharp knives are safe because dull knives need more strength to cut food, which increases the risk of injuries as well as putting more force on surfaces. However, with sharp knives, you can easily cut the fruits, vegetables, or meat without putting much effort.
You can either buy sharp knives or sharpen your knives using some tools. The sharpening stones or honing rods can make knives much stronger. This can reduce the amount of effort required when cutting food and help ensure the safety of your knives as well as your counters.
Avoid Cutting Near Edges and Corners
Edges, overhangs, and sink cutouts represent potential weak points in stone countertops. Even the most durable stone can suffer damage or chipping when subjected to sharp impacts in these vulnerable areas.
It is essential to perform cutting tasks on a flat, stable section of the countertop, ensuring that you are positioned sufficiently away from edges and seams, even when utilizing a cutting board. This practice will help avoid the inadvertent striking of knives against the corners of the countertop.
Clean Up Immediately After Preparing Food
After every cooking session, make sure you clean your kitchen counters promptly. This prevents juices, acids, and oils from staining or etching your stone, particularly on soft Quartz such as marble.
Make use of mild dishwashing soap with warm water to do everyday cleaning. The acids can also affect sealant; therefore, avoid all kinds of harsh chemicals near the countertop surface.
Select The Right Cutting Board
Choosing the right cutting board is just as important as using one. The right board will protect your stone countertops, preserve your knife edges, and make food prep easier and safer.
There are plenty of cutting boards available, among which some are made of wood, others are made of plastic, or stone. You need to pick one that is strong and smooth at the same time. It will not damage your knives. Here are some of the options for you:
Don’t place hot items on the countertops.
Quartz countertops are heat resistant but not heatproof. This means that you might get away with placing hot items directly on the countertops, but when you repeatedly do it, it’s a matter of time before you cause extensive damage.
You shouldn’t place hot items directly on the countertops to avoid this. Instead, have hot mats and trivets in a place where you put the hot items after removing them from the oven. The hot things that shouldn’t come into contact with your quartz kitchen countertops are: frying pans, crock pots, griddles, roaster ovens, and heat lamps.
