Walk into any modern kitchen, and you’re likely to encounter marble surfaces. Marble countertops are widely preferred in kitchens due to their heat-resistant, easy-to-clean nature.
They are uniquely suited to handle cold and hot utensils. That alone tells you that marble can do much more in the kitchen than furnish countertops and islands.
Whether it’s cutting boards, serving boards, display boards, or even charcuterie boards, marble can replace just about every portable flat surface in your kitchen. What’s more, you’re not limited to the conventional rectangular block that most wooden cutting boards come in. Marble can be fashioned into all sorts of shapes and sizes, the better to match your kitchen décor and suit your desired applications.
Marble Cutting Board
Perhaps the most common use for marble boards in the kitchen is chopping surfaces. Thick slabs are stable and flat, which means they stay still enough to facilitate accurate cuts, whether you’re dicing vegetables or slicing lean cuts of meat.
There are downsides to using marble as a cutting surface. For starters, marble is a porous material, making it susceptible to staining. Blood, oil, juice, and wine can cause permanent spots and blemishes. The only way to prevent this is to adopt rigorous cleaning practices to avoid liquids and fluids from settling long enough to cause color spots.
The second downside is that marble is not impervious to scratching. It scuffs easily, and the scratches are usually permanent until a fresh coat of polish or sealant comes along.
It’s not the most durable rock, but marble makes some fine kitchenware, aesthetically speaking. In other words, they look really good. If you frequently cook (and love your chopping boards), be prepared to reseal your marble board every six months to maintain its polished appearance. Aside from scratches, exposure to acids (like lemon juice) can wear down the polish.
Marble Pastry Board
Anyone that bakes will tell you how important it is to have a work surface that’s easy to clean. Marble makes excellent pastry boards for kneading and mixing various types of dough.
The polished surface allows you to work with softer doughs without worrying about sticking, and once you’re done, you can easily wipe it clean. Pastry boards are also handy when you want to shape your dough. With the help of a rolling pin and some pastry cutters, a marble board allows you to flatten and cut your dough into the precise shapes and sizes you need. The only criteria for a good pastry board are having an even surface and being easy to clean-marble checks all those boxes.
Marble Serving Board
Most people use cutting boards in lieu of serving boards, and there’s nothing particularly wrong with that. Though it may seem like it, serving/cutting boards don’t have to be wooden. Your food may look more appetizing on a marble board.
The best part about marble boards is that they’re effortlessly appealing. Their polished, veined surfaces give them an elegant enough appearance to make fancy serving trays.
However, one should note that marble serving trays may not necessarily be as durable as cutting boards. Their job is to serve food, so their surfaces may be too delicate to use for cutting.
Using marble to serve food, whether a simple sandwich or a platter of meats and cheeses, is a classy way of going about it, especially if the marble is in a bold color.
Marble Charcuterie Tray
A board specially made for serving processed meats and their accompaniments (cheese, fruit, bread, etc.) is known as a charcuterie board. Like your serving board, this can also be marble. Marble lends itself to some magnificent designs that are specifically suited for presentation. For instance, metallic accents can give your marble platter some character. It’s not uncommon to find a marble tray with gold handles or one with silver accents along the edges.
Charcuterie trays have to look elegant. And while you can still present food on a classic chopping board, there’s a measure of elegance to be gained from using marble charcuterie boards.
Marble Board Shapes
Like we said earlier, marble boards don’t have to be square or rectangular. You can get yours custom-made in any shape. That’s handy when you need charcuterie boards for different types of food. A round marble tray gives you slightly different arrangement options than a traditional rectangular one. And marble can be fashioned into just about any shape.
Slim rectangular slabs can be used as serving trays for individuals, whereas you may use a heart-shaped marble board to present food at a love-themed event.
Marble Board Colors
Marble boards are available in all sorts of colors. From primary blues, greens, and reds to neutral blacks and grays to stunning gold-flaked finishes, marble tends to look really good when it’s finished.
If you want a splash of color or uniqueness in your kitchen, marble bodes well for you. You’re spoilt for choice in terms of your board’s color palette, and it’s remarkable how many variations you can make to the final product to produce a unique board.
Are Marble Boards Cheaper?
How much you spend on a marble board depends on the availability of the stone it’s cut from. So, a black marble tray may be pricier if it’s cut from rare rock. For example, the cheapest type of marble is the Carrara, a gray marble with soft veins. It is relatively inexpensive and more affordable than some hardwood professional cutting boards available.
Some types of marble are relatively expensive. Boards made from rarer stones like the Calacatta marble, white marble with dramatic veins, typically cost more.
Marble can also be more expensive if it’s reinforced. Using mega poxy resins can reduce the porosity and fragility of the marble board, making it more durable and better suited for cutting.
Conclusion
Marble is ubiquitous in kitchen decor It is traditionally a kitchen fixture, but its beautiful appearance lends itself to the making of outstanding cutting, serving, and charcuterie boards for all occasions.
When it’s affordable, durable, and aesthetically pleasing, a marble board is an excellent investment, especially if you’re looking to make your presentations more elegant.