Not all cutting boards are created equal, aside from the difference in material (wood, plastic, rubber, bamboo), there are more subcategories under that. Woodcutting boards are by far more superior than the alternative since they are incredibly durable, can “self-heal” and preserves your knife’s edge and sharpness for longer-lasting and precise cuts. Cutting boards are an essential part of any kitchen, from prepping to storing to the actual cooking. Let’s take a look at the best wood for cutting boards.
View The Best Woods for Cutting Boards Below
1. Maple
John Boos Maple Wood Edge Grain Reversible Cutting Board
We have defined maple wood as the best for cutting boards – John Boos maple cutting board, to be exact. The board is made from durable and sustainably sourced maple wood. Professionals know that maple wood is widely recognized as the finest and the most durable cutting surface for cooking and prepping. The maple cutting board is hard and double-sided, meaning you can use both sides to prepare your food. The natural maple wood has antimicrobial properties that will naturally kill lingering bacteria.
Pros:
+ Hard, durable and fine
+ Sustainably sourced wood
+ Antimicrobial properties
+ Comes with a 1-year warranty
Why We Like It – Your cutting board is where most of the raw ingredients are prepared, and lingering bacteria can fester. The antimicrobial properties are a definite plus for eliminating these micro-organisms.
2. Walnut
John Boos Walnut Wood Edge Grain Reversible Cutting Board
This next option is also from John Boos. The walnut edge grain wooden cutting boards are also reversible and sustainably sourced. The large cutting board can also have antimicrobial properties when covered with a layer of Boos cream to give a protective barrier. Enjoy a 1-year warranty similar to other John Boos cutting boards.
Pros:
+ Reversible design
+ Sustainably sourced
+ 1-year warranty
+ Thick and durable
Why We Like It – We love the integrated grips on the side of the thick cutting boards for a comfortable grip without you having to touch the surface.
3. Bamboo
Royal Craft Wood Organic Bamboo Cutting Board
You get three boards in one for all of your kitchen needs in one purchase. They can even double as a serving tray with the handles, and the juice grooves (the indent around the perimeter) will collect the liquids from your ingredients, so there is no run-off. The bamboo is durable and easy on your knife’s edge, not dulling the utensil with the cutting surface. The best cutting boards are hard but gentle on your knife.
Pros:
+ Juice grooves
+ Can double as a serving tray
+ Durable
+ Gentle on your knife
Why We Like It – We love that the bamboo cutting board can double as a serving tray as well and comes in a pack of 3 different sizes.
4. Beechwood
Architec Gripperwood Cutting Boards
The beechwood cutting boards also come in a pack of different sizes with rubber stoppers on one side to prevent the wood board from sliding on the counter. The non-slip feet are secured onto the woods without any glue, making it safe to prepare food on a non-toxic cutting surface. All beechwood sourced for these best woods for a cutting board is from sustainable and controlled forests.
Pros:
+ 2-in-1 deal
+ Rubber feet
+ Sourced sustainably
+ Durable
Why We Like It – We enjoy the non-slip feet that keep the cutting board secure while you work to minimize accidents.
5. Teak
Sonder Los Angeles Reversible Teak Wood Cutting Board
End grain cutting boards are known to be extra tough and also resist moisture, which is why this reversible wood cutting board is so durable. It comes with juice grooves on one side for the wetter ingredients, and the cutting boards from Sonder Los Angeles can also double as a serving tray when turned on the other side. The handles make the lightweight tray easy to carry as you ferry food to and from your kitchen to your dining table.
Pros:
+ Double-sided
+ Extra tough and durable
+ Moisture resistant
+ Juice grooves
Why We Like It – A wooden cutting board that can double as a serving tray is a multifunctional tool we definitely want in our kitchen.
6. Cherry
John Boos Block Cherry Wood Cutting Board
Extra-thick butcher blocks and cutting boards can handle the toughest cuts and sharpest knives. The double-sided reversible board is made from edge grain wood and Cherry wood, which is also a contender for best wood. It can also have antimicrobial properties with the administration of mineral oil from John Boos.
Pros:
+ Comes with a 1-year warranty
+ Made from tough cherry wood
+ Extra thick
+ Edge grain wood
Why We Like It – It’s important for woods used for cutting boards to be sustainably sourced to protect the environment while ensuring the quality of your board.
7. Oak
TPA Wood Wood Chopping Block
These wood butcher blocks are made of Oak, a hardwood that is tough and robust. Only FDA-approved materials went into the construction of your cutting board to make sure there is no threat to your health. Edge grain wood for cutting boards has the unique ability to protect your knives and prevent them from dulling over time. It also comes with convenient handles that make it easy to move the wooden butcher blocks around your kitchen.
Pros:
+ Only FDA-approved materials were used
+ Edge grain wood
+ Protects knife
+ Convenient handles
Why We Like It – This wood chopping block also comes with protective non-slip feet to make sure it sits still as you cut through the toughest ingredients.
Wood for Cutting Boards Buyer’s Guide
When it comes to choosing types of wood for cutting boards, there are many things to consider. A hard surface doesn’t ensure it will be the best wood for cutting. Whether you want a cutting board, butcher block, or both, you need to familiarize yourself with the types of wood you can choose from. To save you from a lot of hard work, you can just follow our guide below.
The Type of Wood
Maple is considered the top choice, but other hard woods such as Oak is not far behind. In nature, maple trees are sturdy and can adapt to harsh temperatures and weather changes. It is denser than other woods, which is why they are popular with carpenters for other things such as furniture, flooring, and more.
Maple wood is undeniably beautiful and is also sanitary and clean. They also have antimicrobial properties that make them the best wood for cutting boards.
Hardness Rating
The harder these woods are, the more resistant they are to scratches, dents, and other surface damages. Choose a hard option such as maple over softer woods such as pine any day of the week. This will guarantee you will have a durable cutting board that will last for a long time.
Edge Grain VS End Grain
There are two grains to choose from: edge grain and end grain. End grain boards have a checked pattern and more expensive than edge grain boards. The end grain cutting boards are softer and gentler on your knife but just as durable as the edge grain.
Edge grain surfaces are harder and are comprised of strips of wood. The harder surface will dull your knife edge more quickly over time.
Grain Pores
Certain woods are more porous, while others have closed pores. Choose close-pored woods, so they don’t easily soak up the juices and breed bacteria more easily. Close-pored woods are ones where you cannot see the pores with your naked eye.
Safety
Sustainable woods are our top recommendation. It should also be constructed of non-toxic FDA approved material. Wood that is considered to be safe is generally the ones that bear fruit. That is a neat trick to keep in mind when identifying your next wooden cutting board. If your cutting board also has rubber feet, make sure that the rubber and adhesive are non-toxic.
Extras
Factors such as reversibility, handle grooves, and juice grooves are great extra features to look for. This makes your new cutting board more versatile and contributes to the ease of use.
What Wood makes the Best Cutting Boards?
Maple has been widely considered to be the top choice for wooden chopping boards. They are sturdy and durable and are very sanitary and clean. It has small pores that also work well to block bacteria from making a home and is more scratch and impact-resistant than other options.
What Woods are Food Safe?
Food safe woods are the ones we often see domestically; these include Maple, Oak, and Walnut. Another neat trick is that most wood that comes from fruit-bearing trees are more often food-safe than not.
What Kind of Wood Should You Not Use on a Cutting Board?
Open-grained wood (as we mentioned above) is a poor choice for cutting boards. They offer a nice and secure home for bacteria to take shelter and fester. Not only that, but they will also absorb moisture and stain more easily. If you use pine, you might notice a lingering taste in your food. In general, close-grained wood that is hard, like maple, make the best choice.
Conclusion
Maple is widely agreed to be the top wood choice for cutting boards, but all of the wood and bamboo options we mentioned above have advantages. You want the one you end up with to be hard, preserves your knife’s edge, easy to clean, close-grained, made from end grain if possible, and hopefully has other features. If you follow our carefully curated guide, we are sure you will be able to find one that fits the profile and your needs quite well.
Did You Know?
In general, thicker cutting boards are better. They may be heavier, but they are much sturdier and can withstand more forceful chops than a thinner counterpart. You should be looking at models that are two or more inches thick.
Expert Tip
You may not want a super heavy chopping board if you intend to use it as a serving tray as well. However, heavier boards are more secure and stable. If you choose a thick one, the weight should increase as well. If you don’t want the extra burden, finding one with anti-slip feet can also keep it stable.
