The short answer
Put a damp cloth or a sheet of damp kitchen paper under it. It takes three seconds and it is the single best knife-safety habit in a home kitchen.
- Wet a cloth and wring it out, so it is damp rather than wet.
- Lay it flat under the board.
- Check the board sits firmly before you start cutting.
Also worth doing: keep the board well away from the edge of the worktop, and cut on the half nearest you rather than reaching over.
What will ruin it
A board that moves while you are cutting is the commonest cause of a serious kitchen cut, because your hand keeps going after the knife has slipped.
Why it works
Friction. A damp cloth grips both the worktop and the underside of the board far better than a dry board grips a smooth surface.
Tipking is general household information, not professional advice. Test anything on a hidden patch first. Full disclaimer.
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