Today I’m testing out an interesting product I recently stumbled upon online – the Charmlime Smart Cutting Board and Knife Set. This unique item caught my attention with its multi-functional design, including individual cutting boards for different food types, matching knives, and a drying and sanitation feature. The price tag, though, was quite hefty at $180, which made me wonder if it’s worth the high cost? I bought it and tested it out, and here’s my review.
Where to Purchase
I bought my Charmline Smart Cutting Board set from Amazon for about $180. I noticed other models that look quite similar, but Charmline is the brand I tried.
Charmline Smart Cutting Board Review
The set consists of four color-coded cutting boards and corresponding knives, each assigned to a specific type of food. The charm of this product lies in its holder, designed to dry and disinfect the cutting boards and knives. Online reviews rave about the knife quality and the overall concept, though a common complaint was the relatively small size of the boards (measuring about 12.5 x 8.75 inches).
Each cutting board and knife is assigned to one of four food types – fish, cooked foods, meats, and fruits and vegetables. Each cutting board is unique with a specialized texture or design, such as the fish board with a textured center or the vegetable board with a small ginger grater on the side.
Starting with the green cutting board designated for fruits and vegetables, I tested the matching knife on a green apple. The knife was impressively sharp, though slightly small for the size of the apple. I observed similar results with other produce like cucumbers and carrots. Some of my cutting was also done with a larger chef’s knife that wasn’t part of this set. The cutting board held up well, but I noticed some scratch marks, which could be a concern for some users.
Next, I tested the orange board and knife intended for cooked food and bread. The knife proved to be extremely sharp, slicing through a loaf of bread with ease. However, the bread didn’t quite fit on the board due to its small size. I also tried it with cooked chicken breast and was again pleased with the knife’s sharpness.
Moving on to the red meat cutting board and accompanying knife, the knife proved to be sharp yet again when cutting a large raw chicken breast. Again, I noticed some marks appearing on the board, but they weren’t a deal-breaker to me.
Finally, the blue fish cutting board and the corresponding knife came into play. The knife was sharp enough to easily slice through a salmon fillet, but the size of the board was an issue as the fish was hanging over both sides.
With the cutting tests complete, it was time to put the drying and sanitation feature to the test. Even though you still need to clean the boards and knives before putting them in the holder, the drying feature is supposed to remove any residual moisture. After washing and semi-drying the set, I put it in the holder for a 90-minute cycle (60 minutes for drying and 30 minutes for UV sanitizing). The results? Everything was dry, with just a few water spots here and there.
When the holder was empty, I took a look at the UV lights used for sanitizing, and they appeared to be quite dim. I only spotted one dim light on each side of the unit. I couldn’t help but wonder how effective such dim UV lights would be at sanitizing 4 cutting boards.
In the end, I have mixed feelings about the CharmLime Smart Cutting Board and Knife Set. The overall concept is great – the color-coding and matching knives for different types of food add a layer of hygiene and organization that I find appealing. The knife quality was impressive and the boards held up well during my tests.
However, the cutting boards are small for some types of food, and the overall unit is quite large. Plus, the drying and sanitation feature feels a bit redundant if you need to wash and semi-dry the boards and knives before putting them in. For $180, I expected a bit more, especially considering the UV lights seemed too dim to be effective. I do think that those who buy it will like it, despite it’s high price.
If you’ve used this product, tell me what you think in the comments below.
