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Can You Cut on Granite Countertops? (Answered)

Granite countertops are now so hyped, whether it’s for the dining area or the kitchen. Countertops made of granite stones give any place a premium feel. Moreover, they blend well with almost every kind of décor style, from mid-century modern to minimalist.

Apart from the beauty, granite countertops are preferable to people as they are really hard on the surface and easy for doing quick jobs. So many people use their granite countertops for chopping or cutting.

But is it acceptable to cut on this stone surface, or is it better to avoid it? Let’s know in brief everything about using granite surfaces for cutting, the after-effects, and other facts related to this!

Can you cut on granite countertops?

It would be best if you did not use granite countertops directly for cutting. Granite can dull knives too soon. Also, acidic fruits like lemon and citrus can damage granite’s base when cut on it. Besides, the granite surface absorbs bacteria from raw meats or vegetables and makes it unhygienic.

Granites create a luxury environment when used as countertops. Top over that, granite countertops are really hard and long-lasting; thus, people use the surface to cut some salad or make lemonade quickly.

Cutting directly on granite countertops seems harmless, but it isn’t. Granite is a hard stone that can quickly dull your knives when you cut with a knife directly on the surface. 

Not only this, cutting acidic fruits directly on granite tops is harmful as acid dissolves the sealers of a granite surface and takes away its shine.

Even if you butcher raw meats or cut vegetables on your granite countertop, you better avoid them. To know why to read below:

Veggies:

Granite is a natural stone that’s penetrable. It can absorb and hold particles. Raw vegetables carry a lot of germs and bacteria. When you’re cutting directly on a granite top every other day, the seal wears down, and the bacteria get absorbed by the granite stone.

Also, the vegetables, when frequently cut on a granite top, can stain the surface with pigment.

Meat:

Granite countertops are easy for users since they are hard and smooth. So people use the surface to prepare meat often. Raw meat is full of bacteria and other microorganisms that can make you sick if consumed.

When you cut meat every other day on your granite countertop with sharp knives, seals break down. And since granite stone is absorbent, it absorbs the bacteria from the meat and makes the surface unhygienic and smelly.

Is it okay to cut on granite?

It’s better not to cut on a granite surface without any barrier between the food and your countertop.

When you cut on a granite countertop directly with a knife daily, the knife blade touched the stone every time and again. Thus the edge of the knife loses its sharpness too soon, even after a few usages.

Also, cutting directly on a granite countertop makes it look unappealing as the pigment and tannin of vegetables, fruits stain the stone. Acidic fruits also cause granite harm as acid discolors and damages granite too quickly.

Moreover, granite absorbs the bacteria from raw foods; thus, the surface becomes unhealthy. Sometimes after cleaning, the residue is still there. It’s naturally porous, so even the sealed surface wears off, holding all the particles within the minor cracks.

So it’s wise to avoid putting on a granite top directly without a board.

Can you cut on granite without scratching it? Can a knife scratch granite?

Granite is one of the hardest and durable stones in the world. That’s another reason people love to install granite countertops at their homes because it has a super-tolerance ability against sharp cuts or scratches.

So when you cut on a granite countertop without using any chopping board, there’s barely any chance of scratches. Because it’s way harder than a knife, however, frequent use of granite countertops as a cutting surface can damage its seals over time.

Granites are popular as countertops for their timeless beauty and longevity. It is so resistant to scratches that even the sharpest knives will have to work a lot to give it a mark.

So when used normally for cutting, knives can’t scratch granite. Instead, knives lose their sharpness when you use them directly on countertops on a regular basis.

What happens when you cut on granite countertop?

There is no issue as long as you use your granite countertop with a cutting board. But when you’re directly using the surface for chopping and preparing food, you’re going in the wrong way.

To know what happens when you cut on granite countertop, read further:

The sealers get damaged:

Though your sharp knives or metal kitchen tools won’t make a crack on the granite, frequent use of granite surfaces for cutting or prepping acidic food can harm the seals on your countertop. Thus they wear off too soon.

Knives become dull:

Granite is so strong and hard than any metal. It can take away the sharpness of your knives when used too often across the countertop.

The surface gets discolored:

The stones can get discolored when you’re cutting acidic items directly on them or using cleansers that contain much acid, ammonia, or bleach. When gets into contact with these, granite countertops lose their shine.

The countertop becomes unhealthy:

Granite is an absorbent by nature. Even if your granite top is sealed, it can penetrate fluids, food molecules along with the bacteria raw meat and vegetable comes with. 

Thus the surface gets unhygienic and spreads a bad odor.

The countertop gets stained:

Vegetables, fruits, and many foods contain tannin and pigments. When you cut these directly on the granite countertop all the time, they leave spots and stains. 

Sometimes these stains don’t go away fully and ruin the looks of the countertop.

How to cut on granite countertop?

There’s no hard rule that you cannot use your granite countertop at all for preparing or chopping food. But you must follow a process that doesn’t harm your precious countertop or health, also make your task easier.

To know how can you cut on a granite countertop correctly, you can follow these steps:

Gather your tools:

You must use a cutting board for cutting on your granite countertop. So take any wooden or plastic chopping board and sharp knife according to your need for slicing. You can use the top directly as well, but that’s not encouraged.

Clear the countertop:

Keeping the area free where you work is good. So before you start cutting the veggies or butchering the meat, make the space clear by keeping unnecessary things aside.

Please make sure the countertop is dry:

Granite might be strong, but it can be slippery too. Before placing your cutting board, check if the surface has any fluid or slippery essences over it. 

Otherwise, your board can slip off, or you might not be able to cut properly.

Place the cutting board and start cutting:

Place the cutting board on the countertop, hold whatever you are going to chop in one hand, and cut with the other using a sharp knife.

Clean the countertop:

After using, clean the surface with mild detergent so avoid any residue to clog the minor cracks of the granite countertop. Always avoid acidic or abrasive detergents for cleaning granite.

Can you use cookie cutters on granite countertops?

Granite is scratch-proof. It’s one of the hardest and strongest stones on the earth. It’s so strong that even metals fail to give cuts on this stone.

Cookie-cutters are usually made of stainless steel, copper, aluminum, or plastic. They come in different shapes with sharp edges for cutting. To cut a cookie, the cutter is needed to press the dough against a hard surface.

Since cookie cutter has metal teeth, you may be afraid to use it on your granite countertop. But gladly, you can use it since granite won’t get scratched due to its high-resistant nature.

Even sharper knives can’t make cuts or scratches on a granite surface unless you have an intention to give some scratch. Comparatively, cookie cutters are less sharp, so they can be used on granites. However, if used regularly on granite, your cutter can get dull.

Final Thoughts:

Granite countertops should not be used directly for cutting, even if it’s technically possible. Granite is hard, so it can make knives dull. Also, foods containing acidic properties can ruin the surface. Moreover, granite countertops can hold bacteria for long, which is not healthy at all.