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Mobile phone and smartphone accessories, Wearable devices and smart watchesA wooden cutting board can be a functional and beautiful part of any kitchen. Take the necessary steps for proper maintenance, and one can last longer than a plastic cutting board. It will also treat your knives as gently as possible, since a wooden cutting board offers less resistance to the blade. But there's an abundant number of different manufacturers all using different types of woods to produce cutting boards, so choosing the perfect one can become quite a dilemma.
We've compared 7 bestselling Wooden Cutting Boards available online and put them to the test to recommend the best Wooden Cutting Boards for you.
We tested each product for the following:
Which product ended up being the best of the best? We'll also tell you how to pick the best Wooden Cutting Boards on your own in our buying guide, so read on for more shopping tips.
From cookware to specialty foodstuffs, she is in charge of everything kitchen and food at mybest. She has comprehensively compared products from major appliance makers like Sharp and Pansonic to renowned makers like Balmuda and Bruno. To date, she has tested over 200 products, including rice cookers, microwaves, and toasters, to name a few. She is devoted to making content for readers with the aspiration to enrich their lives by delivering them information that will make their everyday chores and meals more enjoyable.
No one will want to use a wooden cutting board that's frustrating to chop on. We cut carrots into cubes to confirm how satisfying it was to cut and if the board moved while doing so. We rated wooden cutting boards higher the less noise they made and if they stayed in place while in use.
If your wooden cutting board gets damaged, it'll be prone to breeding foodborne bacteria and spoil the overall appearance of it. Picking one that resists damage and doesn't show signs of use is best. After 300 cuts to mince carrots per round, we gave each cutting board a light wash with soap and a sponge, and then repeated this three times. We inspected to see what boards had any visible damage or stains after every wash. We rated a wooden cutting board higher if it had less damage and less discoloration.
A wooden cutting board needs proper care. Make life with your cutting board easier by choosing something easy to maintain. We let water run over both sides of a cutting board for 30 seconds, gave it a quick wipe, and kept it in a well-ventilated room to dry for two hours. Leftover dampness was measured using a moisture analyzer made for wood. We also performed a physical test by checking for wetness by touch. Extra points were given to any wooden cutting board that's advertised as being dishwasher-safe. We gave higher ratings to anything that had five percent or less moisture remaining after two hours of drying, felt relatively dry to the touch, and for anything dishwasher-safe.
All product tests
were conducted in-house at mybest
Table of Contents
Wooden cutting boards can actually last longer than a typical plastic one and absorb more shock during use. We explain these differences using the following two points.
Plastic cutting boards, although cheaper, tend to get dirty and worn out easily, which requires them to be replaced every one to two years if you cook every day. Wooden cutting boards, on the other hand, are resilient enough to be used for five to six years if you use them carefully and take good care of them. They are especially recommended to anyone who wants to use their beloved kitchenware over the long term.
How gentle a wood is on a knife edge will determine the wear and tear it’ll receive. For instance, cutting boards made from maple are known to have less resistance when cutting compared to plastic cutting boards.
That's why we recommend maple to anyone who wants to use not only their cutting board, but their kitchen knives, for a long time. Wooden cutting boards are also heavier than their plastic counterparts, which makes them stable and resistant to moving around while in use.
These are the three things to watch out for when using a wooden cutting board. First, never leave it unwashed. A wooden cutting board can become moldy unless it's cleaned and dried right after use. Wash it as quickly as possible when you're done and leave it somewhere with good airflow to dry.
Secondly, wood isn't dishwasher-safe. It doesn't do well with sudden temperature changes. There's a chance your wooden cutting board may crack or become warped if put inside a dishwasher that washes and dries at high temperatures and in a short amount of time. Be sure to hand wash only.
Finally, don't expose it to direct sunlight. The temperature changes from being in the sun can damage wood the same way it's damaged by heat in a dishwasher.
Wooden cutting board are generally incompatible with dishwashers, but some products are specially made to handle being washed in them. There aren't too many available, but if you absolutely need a dishwasher-friendly one, we advise you to check these out.
Disinfecting your wooden cutting board with hot water is perfectly fine. However, it's best to avoid using anything too hot, so stick to water around 140 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Always wash your wooden cutting board before pouring the hot water over it, because the water may solidify any bits of protein stuck to it otherwise.
Here are the points to keep in mind when choosing the best Wooden Cutting Boards.
The most popular wooden cutting boards used in the US are made with maple, bamboo, or teak. If ease of use is most important to you, we especially recommend anything made with maple. Bamboo cutting boards are antibacterial and have deodorizing properties and ones made of teak are the hardest, which makes them difficult to put wear into even with a serrated blade. However, none compare in ease of use to a maple cutting board. We'll explain the differences in full detail below so you can choose the one that best fits your needs.
A maple wood cutting board is often recommended since this wood is easy on knife blades. Our testing results showed that, compared to other woods and plastic, maple wood cutting boards were the most gentle for any kitchen knife and absorb the most impact when cutting.
You’ll make more noise when chopping on top of anything made of a harder material, but maple is able to absorb shock well and is known to muffle the sound of cutting. This type of wood is most recommended to anyone who enjoys cooking or for anyone who often does a lot of chopping in one go.
Juice grooves are a convenient feature to have on any wooden cutting board. These channels can collect any liquids that leak out of meats and can also catch smaller pieces of food. They're handy when cutting foods with a high water content or for fine mincing.
The maple cutting board with juice grooves by John Boos was the easiest to use among all products reviewed for this article. This board wasn't at all harsh on our knife blade and made a pleasant tapping sound while chopping. The juice grooves prevent spills no matter how much mincing you do. Cooking can be more enjoyable and convenient with this wooden cutting board.
Maple cutting boards are best if you need something easy to use, but if you have a specific need in mind, you can look over other options.
We recommend a cutting board made of bamboo for its antibacterial and deodorizing properties if you’re looking for a more sanitary experience. It's also odor-resistant, so unlikely to hold in smells even if you chop things like fish or meat.
Bamboo is hydrophobic and can naturally repel water, which means it’s a wood that dries easily. But bamboo is harder than maple, and therefore will be less satisfying to use.
Teak, like bamboo, is resistant to both moisture and wear. It's even strong enough to build furniture with, so you know this type of wood is quite hard. If you want something comfortable to cut on, then we recommend you look elsewhere. Teak is perfect, however, if you'll be using a bread knife.
The edge of a bread knife is serrated and therefore carries some risk of damaging any cutting board made of softer materials. Teak is a particularly tough and scratch-resistant type of wood, and would be most suitable if you'll be using your cutting board to slice up bread.
Consider products made in Japan if you are looking for a high-class experience. Cypress or ginkgo, which are popular materials used for cutting boards made in Japan, offer some unique properties, including comfort when cutting.
Cypress is used as a building material for its strong moisture resistance and fantastic durability, and when it comes to cutting boards, it's wonderful to cut on top of. It also contains alpha-cadinol, which has antibacterial and deodorizing properties that resist mold growth and persistent odors.
Ginkgo features abundant elasticity and allows a gentle cutting sensation. It also contains natural oils that let it wick away water. You’ll struggle to put any deep cuts or warp ginkgo wood because of how well it seems to bounce back, which makes it one of the longer-lasting woods used for cutting boards.
Wooden cutting boards are an item that are, more often than not, heavy. So why not pick something that’s easiest to clean?
Most wooden cutting boards are thicker and heavier than their plastic counterparts and can be a burden when you need to move them. Make lifting one up from your countertop easier with handles on both sides for efficient carrying.
A cutting board could end up warped or distorted if left lying on its side, so it's best to keep it in an upright position. If your cutting board includes its own personal stand, you can to store it upright without ever leaning it against a wall. Any that can't stand on their own will need to be leaned up against a wall and can get knocked over.
Although every kitchen has different needs, we recommend this as the perfect size if you only plan to buy one cutting board.
Make it a point to purchase a wooden cutting board that's the perfect size to work with in your kitchen. We recommend a width of about 15 to 17 inches if you're looking for something that's easy to chop on but can also be cleaned efficiently.
Pick one that's too small and you'll constantly find ingredients rolling over the edge. And while a larger cutting board would give you plenty of space for food prep, it would also stick out of the sink and be harder to clean. Consider the size of your kitchen space and sink when choosing the right one for you.
Wooden cutting boards have specific needs for their maintenance. If you want yours to last as long as possible, make sure you're prepared to take care of it.
You'll want to take proper, continuous care of your wooden cutting board if you plan to have it around for long-term use. You can prevent cracks or warping by using creams and oils to keep it looking beautiful.
Not only that, but you can build this habit much easier if you pick something that already comes with maintenance products. If you'll be using an oil sold separately, make sure that it’s food-grade and can be used on kitchenware.
Material | Maple |
---|---|
Juice groove |
The Prestige reversible cutting board with a juice groove is from the long-established kitchenware maker John Boos. This maple wood cutting board has certification from the NSF, the internationally-recognized agency working in public safety and health. It makes a very satisfying sound when chopping and absorbs shock fantastically whenever a kitchen knife strikes down on it. It was also wonderful to see how stable our kitchen knife stayed while cutting.
The heaviness of this cutting board means it didn't budge at all when cutting ingredients. It also benefits from the juice grooves that can trap anything you chop and prevent spills. When we chopped carrots repeatedly, there was no staining and only faint signs of wear on the board surface. Even then, we had to look really carefully to see any signs of use. We believe that this cutting board is resistant to most wear and tear.
It can soak up a good amount of water, but this moisture dries up nicely after leaving it for about two hours to regain its smooth cutting surface again. There are exclusive maintenance oils and creams that claim to prevent cracking if you apply them periodically. Buy them as a set to make doing maintenance much easier on yourself. This is perfect for anyone who doesn't want to compromise on either a satisfying or easily usable cutting board.
Length | 18 in. |
---|---|
Width | 12 in. |
Thickness | 1.25 in. |
Weight | 8 lbs. |
Shape | Rectangular |
Included maintenance items | |
Dishwasher-safe | |
Antibacterial |
Material | Maple |
---|---|
Juice groove |
This reversible cutting board is another by well-known kitchenware manufacturer John Boos. It's made with end-grain maple and bears the NSF mark, which is placed on products recognized for their safety related to public health. Compared to plastic cutting boards, it absorbs shock when struck by a kitchen knife and doesn't feel like you're chopping on a hard surface. It doesn't make any sharp cutting noises and actually produces a pleasant sound when used.
The weight of this cutting board keep it still while in use. Food stains do stick, but can be washed away easily. Orange-colored stains washed away after three rounds of mincing carrots on this cutting board. There were some faint kitchen knife marks, but we had to inspect quite closely to even see them. Besides some signs of use around the juice grooves, we didn't observe any others, and we feel this cutting board has great durability.
Although it retains moisture at first, the entire cutting board quickly returned to a smoother, dry state after two hours. You should give it the proper care it needs with the included Boos Mystery Oil and Board Cream.
Length | 20 in. |
---|---|
Width | 15 in. |
Thickness | 1.5 in. |
Weight | 12 lbs |
Shape | Rectangular |
Included maintenance items | |
Dishwasher-safe | |
Antibacterial |
Material | Teak |
---|---|
Juice groove |
This end-grain cutting board by Ziruma is a mosaic wood cutting board made by assembling end pieces of teak together. It includes the maintenance product made exclusively for this cutting board, Ziruma Marvelous Wax, with purchase. It has a considerably sturdy build so we didn't notice any worrisome wear left on this cutting board. Kitchen knives actually left just a few marks.
We noticed no discoloration right after cutting up our ingredients and believe this is a good sign that it’s resistant to staining. It was mostly dry after leaving it for two hours and exhibited good potential to repel water and resist soaking up moisture.
The sheer weight provides an advantage to help it resist moving around while you're chopping up ingredients, although the solid cutting surface felt a bit unsatisfying to work with. There was a clanging noise that echoed, and it felt pretty similar to cutting on top of a plastic cutting board. Although it isn't the best if you want the most satisfying chopping experience, it'll become your prized possession in the kitchen if you keep up with proper care using the included maintenance products.
Length | 17 in. |
---|---|
Width | 11 in. |
Thickness | 2 in. |
Weight | unknown |
Shape | Rectangular |
Included maintenance items | |
Dishwasher-safe | |
Antibacterial |
Material | Teak |
---|---|
Juice groove |
The edge-grain carving board by Teakhaus, a manufacturer known for making their products from teak wood, is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for being sourced from sustainably and ethically managed forests. This cutting board is so heavy and stable that it won't budge even when pushed, let alone while chopping. Furthermore, it dries quickly and repels water easily. Two hours after wetting its surface, every wet spot was completely gone.
We believe this cutting board is pretty resistant to wear, even though upon close inspection we could see signs of use when it was wet, and some shallow marks after we minced carrots on it. We saw no discoloration or staining after testing, however.
On the other hand, while it does have less shock and impact compared to a plastic cutting board, the surface is so solid that it isn't the kindest to your knife's edge. This cutting board is best suited for someone who values damage-resistance over a satisfying cutting experience.
Length | 24 in. |
---|---|
Width | 18 in. |
Thickness | 1.5 in. |
Weight | 15 lbs. |
Shape | Rectangular |
Included maintenance items | |
Dishwasher-safe | |
Antibacterial |
Material | Bamboo |
---|---|
Juice groove |
This carving board by Bambusi is made of bamboo. This is a reversible cutting board where one side is smooth to chop vegetables and fruits, while the other side has a ridged center to hold poultry or meat in place while you cut.
While the juice grooves stayed a bit moist, overall, the board dried quite quickly over two hours and returned to a proper smooth state. Some light cuts and wear were found when mincing carrots, but each one could only be seen upon close inspection. We noticed some signs of use here and there, but overall observed nothing too concerning. We don't think this cutting board can be easily worn out because we didn't even see any staining prior to washing it.
You can also chop with peace of mind thanks to the weight of this cutting board providing a stable anchoring effect. However, the surface is rather firm, so you'll notice a jarring clacking noise while cutting. It may feel like you're just cutting on a tabletop, so if you're looking for something satisfying to chop on, this may not be the best option for you.
Length | 17 in. |
---|---|
Width | 13 in. |
Thickness | 1.5 in. |
Weight | 7.6 lbs. |
Shape | Rectangular |
Included maintenance items | |
Dishwasher-safe | |
Antibacterial |
Material | Teak |
---|---|
Juice groove |
The large teak wood cutting board by Sonder Los Angeles boasts fantastic moisture resistance. The steps you need to take for proper maintenance are listed on the manufacturer's official website. Water is easily repelled off this board, making moisture struggle to ever penetrate the surface of it. Even if there were some spots that felt a little damp, it became predominantly smooth again after letting it dry for two hours.
You also don't need to worry about this cutting board moving around while you slice up ingredients, given its tremendous weight. There were some faint scratches after we finished mining carrots, but nothing that bothered us too much. Although there was a slight amount of orange staining, it came right off after giving it a good scrub. The surface of this cutting board is slick and feels a bit like plastic. Using a kitchen knife causes a clanking noise that sounds as if you're striking against something a little too solid. It's not meant for anyone that is looking for a satisfying experience with their cutting board.
Length | 18 in. |
---|---|
Width | 14 in. |
Thickness | 1.75 in. |
Weight | 7.5 oz. |
Shape | Rectangular |
Included maintenance items | |
Dishwasher-safe | |
Antibacterial |
Material | Bamboo |
---|---|
Juice groove |
This set by Kikcoin includes three different sized cutting boards that are all made of wood. It includes anti-slip silicone feet that you can attach if you like. Although they have a hard cutting surface, compared to a cutting board made of plastic, they make less noise and will absorb shock pretty well. We were able to cut ingredients without attaching the anti-slip feet, as the weight of these boards already makes it so they won't budge.
The cutting board that has juice grooves also helps to prevent spills. There wasn't the slightest bit of discoloration and only extremely shallow marks left by our kitchen knife. We saw the smallest signs of use, but these boards are highly durable and won't easily display much wear and tear. On the other hand, each board felt damp when wet and the corners and juice grooves remained moist even after we let them dry after two hours. You'll need to dry these cutting boards somewhere well ventilated each time you give them a wash.
Length | 17 in. |
---|---|
Width | 12 in. |
Thickness | 1 in. |
Weight | unknown |
Shape | Rectangular |
Included maintenance items | |
Dishwasher-safe | |
Antibacterial |
We tested for the following three factors.
Products we tested
No one will want to use a wooden cutting board that's frustrating to chop on. We cut carrots into cubes to confirm how satisfying it was to cut and if the board moved while doing so. We rated wooden cutting boards higher the less noise they made and if they stayed in place while in use.
If your wooden cutting board gets damaged, it'll be prone to breeding foodborne bacteria and spoil the overall appearance of it. Picking one that resists damage and doesn't show signs of use is best. After 300 cuts to mince carrots per round, we gave each cutting board a light wash with soap and a sponge, and then repeated this three times. We inspected to see what boards had any visible damage or stains after every wash. We rated a wooden cutting board higher if it had less damage and less discoloration.
A wooden cutting board needs proper care. Make life with your cutting board easier by choosing something easy to maintain. We let water run over both sides of a cutting board for 30 seconds, gave it a quick wipe, and kept it in a well-ventilated room to dry for two hours. Leftover dampness was measured using a moisture analyzer made for wood.
We also performed a physical test by checking for wetness by touch. Extra points were given to any wooden cutting board that's advertised as being dishwasher-safe. We gave higher ratings to anything that had five percent or less moisture remaining after two hours of drying, felt relatively dry to the touch, and for anything dishwasher-safe.
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Apps
Business apps, Cooking apps, Dating appsHome goods
Bath supplies, Ceremonial occasion supplies, Cleaning suppliesHome electronics
Air conditioners and coolers, AV accessories, Blenders and food processorsPC
Computer supplies, Desktop computers, TabletsCamera
Camera bags and backpacks, Camera supplies, Digital single lens camerasBeauty
Blushes, Bronzers, CleansersHealth
Body care products, Health accessories, Health foods and supplementsFood and drinks
Alcohol, Breads and jams, Cocktails and ready-to-drink alcoholic beveragesKitchen
Coffee and tea products, Cooking utensils, CupsFashion
Footwear products, Men's shoes, SandalsShoes
Accessories
Wristwatches, Accessories and jewelry, Umbrellas and parasolsKids and baby
Baby carriers, Baby food, Baby formulaInterior
Beds, Beds and bedding, ChairsHobbies
Aromatherapy products, Art supplies, Arts and collectiblesOutdoor
Barbecue grills and fire pits, Camping beds and cots, Camping gearHome, garden, and tools
Agricultural materials and gardening supplies, Exterior and garden furniture, Materials and repairing agentsSports and fitness
Sports shoes, Surfing supplies, Badminton suppliesPets
Bird and small animal supplies, Cat supplies, Dog suppliesMedia
Books and magazines, CD, Children's books, picture books and illustrated encyclopediasGames
Gaming accessories, Nintendo Switch games, PC gamesAutomotive
Car accessories, Car navigation systemsGifts
Christmas gifts, Father's Day gifts, Gifts for childrenMobile devices
Mobile phone and smartphone accessories, Wearable devices and smart watches