Aldi's $8 Bamboo Find Will Make Your Stovetop Look So Much Sleeker

Smaller kitchens can quickly feel a bit cramped, and that's when making more clever purchasing choices can make all the difference. Aldi's latest Special Buy might just be the tiny upgrade that makes all the difference and priced at just $7.99, it's a bit of a steal. The Crofton bamboo cutting board with a knife sharpening edge is actually large enough to cover your stovetop burners, and doing so will instantly give you extra prep space while also making your kitchen look cleaner and more intentional.

The sleek board tricks the eye by extending the countertop which can make even the smallest kitchen feel roomier. And there's another reason design pros love a continuous line, whether that's color or texture, and that is because it signals order and symmetry. This chopping board, with its soft natural finish, will also work to warm up colder metal stovetops without clashing with the rest of your setup. And if you don't love the idea of keeping it on top of the stove all the time, you could place it there for function then lean it up against the backsplash when it's not in use for an easy, minimalist, Scandinavian-style accent.

Some classic cutting board mistakes include choosing the wrong material in the first place, but bamboo is actually one recommended by the USDA. It is an undeniably great surface for a chopping board: It's durable, and it's resistant to moisture so it won't warp like a cheaper wood board. And because it's lightweight, it's easy to lift off the stovetop when you're ready to cook again.

Outside of the aesthetic improvement it'll bring, adding the bamboo board to your stovetop may actually change the rhythm of your cooking by giving you more room to spread out — and since the corner of the board features a built-in sharpener, you can give your knives a quick tune-up before prepping vegetables or after cutting proteins. So if your current board is looking worse for wear, this may be another sign to get rid of your plastic cutting board and upgrade to something much more functional and hygienic.

Because bamboo is naturally antibacterial, you'll already be at an advantage, but cleanliness still matters. Sanitizing your cutting board, especially after cutting meat, will be an essential move before you return it back to its spot over your stovetop. Keeping it in good shape like this will mean it lasts for years, giving that $8 price tag even more bang for its buck. Between the added counter space, the hygiene, the improved knife safety, and the seamless look, this small Aldi find punches way above its weight, an instant little kitchen upgrade that looks — and functions — like it costs a lot more than it does.