9 Best Cutting Boards To Keep You Off The Chopping Block posted by Taylor Munsell Pin Share Tweet Email SomethingSwanky is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Cutting boards take more abuse than any other kitchen implement. It’s not because they are badly cared for; it is just that you can’t help putting some serious wear and tear on something literally meant to be cut into—and often hacked into—with a knife over and over and over. That’s why it’s important to have a good-quality chopping board that can stand up to anything you might put it through. In this be-all-end-all chopping board guide, I’ll pinpoint exactly what makes for an outstanding cutting board and even recommend eight of what I believe to be the best chopping boards on the market. Table of ContentsWhat to Look for In a Cutting BoardMaterialSizeSanitationArtistryDesignMaintenance9 Best Chopping Boards1. Wood: John Boos & Co. Reversible Walnut Cutting Board6. Plastic: Polypropylene Cutting Boards2. Glass: A&R Brother Home Glass Cutting Board Set7. Eco-Friendly: The reBoard3. For Meat: Double-Sided Stainless Steel-Rice Husk Cutting Board8. Durable: Epicurean Nonslip Cutting Boards4. Large: Boos Large Rectangular Maple Cutting Board5. Flexible: Modern Flexible Cutting Board Mats9. Small: The (mini) reBoardCutting Board FAQ What to Look for In a Cutting Board When browsing cutting boards, keep an eye out for these aspects: Material The three most commonly-used materials for chopping boards are: Wood – Wood cutting boards are easy to clean, are forgiving on knives, and last a long time. It’s always best to opt for a non-absorbent type of wood like maple, teak, or bamboo. More absorbent woods used in low-end cutting boards will retain bacteria—especially when cutting juicy foods—and that bacteria will grow rancid over time. If a wooden cutting board costs a lot, it’s also worth checking if the construction is edge grain or end grain. Edge grain basically means the board is made using long strips of wood that are stacked horizontally. End grain means that the board is made using a bunch of shorter pieces of vertically-cut wood all stacked next to each other. End grain construction is a bit stronger and resists knife scarring better. It’s also more expensive, though. Plastic (Polypropylene) – Polypropylene plastic does not look as nice as wood, but it’s still a common choice for chopping boards because it is inexpensive, easy to clean, and extremely good at preventing any juices from seeping in. Although one may not last as long as a high-quality wooden cutting board, they’re also quite durable. Glass – Glass cutting boards look great and are easy to clean, but they are very hard on knives. Just using a glass cutting board for a short time, you can dull a knife. You might not mind if you have a good knife sharpener and care a lot about aesthetics, but I personally prefer to stick to wood or plastic cutting boards. Size Even if you’re only cutting something small on the cutting board, it’s nice to have one that’s much larger. One reason is that the juices from whatever you’re cutting will run off, and you don’t want them spilling over the edges of the board. The other reason is that you’ll want enough space to run the entire length of the knife along the food you’re cutting without teetering the knife off the edges of the board. In addition, getting a larger size simply increases versatility. What if one day you want to cut up a large pot roast or something else big? Sanitation Some materials resist bacteria better than others. Antimicrobial plastic is the best in this regard, and certain types of absorbent wood are the worst. It’s also nice if a cutting board is reversible so you don’t have to use the same side for chopping both vegetables and meat. Artistry Some cutting boards are hand-crafted to be absolutely gorgeous, with skillful wooden designs and carvings making the board a work of art. If you’re considering a chopping board of that type, though, make sure the aesthetics of the board do not compromise the functionality. Design Consider the actual functional design features of the chopping board. Some boards are made with inward-slanted sides so they are easier to pick up. Other boards come with handles. These features, which usually make the cutting board easier to transport, are very nice to have. Maintenance The material of the cutting board is the main factor in determining how easy it is to maintain. Glass and plastic are the easiest to hand wash, for example, and can also be put in the dishwasher. Wood is often a bit harder to hand wash, and some woods like bamboo are not dishwasher-safe. Many cutting board designs include an indent around the edge to catch juices and keep them from running off the board. They might also have etching to enhance the board’s aesthetics. Either of these features will make the board a bit more difficult to hand wash. You should make these sorts of considerations before buying a chopping board. 9 Best Chopping Boards Sifting through chopping board options and weighing all the considerations outlined above can be daunting. That’s why I’ve put together this table of nine excellent cutting board models. To help you find the best board for any occasion, I’ve given each of my picks a “best of” label to tell you what it’s really good at. If any of the options in the table interest you, check out the sections below the table where I describe each model in greater detail. “Best of”Model NameMaterialDimensionsWood[amazon link=”B08D9VWXQ5″ link_icon=”none” title=”John Boos & Co. Reversible Walnut Cutting Board” /]Wood21”x17”Glass[amazon link=”B099S6LZDW” link_icon=”none” title=”A&R Brother Home Glass Cutting Board Set” /]Glass16”x12”For Meat[amazon link=”B08CDLZ6Q5″ link_icon=”none” title=”Double-Sided Stainless Steel-Rice Husk Cutting Board” /]Steel16”x11”Large[amazon link=”B07DWNPY77″ link_icon=”none” title=”John Boos Classic End Grain Chopping Block” /]Wood24”x18”Flexible[amazon link=”B07RPWW2Q4″ link_icon=”none” title=”Modern Flexible Cutting Board Mats” /]Rubber15”x11”PlasticPolypropylene Cutting BoardsPlastic13”x15” (Largest)Eco-FriendlyThe reBoardPlastic14.75”x10.75”DurableEpicurean Nonslip Cutting BoardsFiber18”x13” (Largest)SmallThe (mini) reBoardPlastic13.3″x8.5″ 1. Wood: John Boos & Co. Reversible Walnut Cutting Board by [amazon link=”B08D9VWXQ5″ link_icon=”none” title=”John Boos” /] [amazon fields=”B08D9VWXQ5″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”John Boos Reversible Cutting Board with Deep Juice Groove”] This model is the best wood chopping board out there for a few reasons: It’s very thick and sturdy at 1.5”, so you can chop away to your heart’s content on the heavy-duty surface without worrying about the wood cracking. It’s big. You can cut very large foods on this board. It’s reversible. It is coated with the famous Boos cream finish, which looks good and keeps moisture from seeping into the board. The groove around the edges of the board is very wide, so even the juiciest meats or fruits won’t create a mess by dripping off the board. It has deep handles carved into the ends so it’s easy to transport. It looks fantastic with its dark walnut material. It’s expensive, but this chopping board is worth it. It’s functional and beautiful, and I’d recommend it to anyone who can afford it. 2. Glass: A&R Brother Home Glass Cutting Board Set by [amazon link=”B099S6LZDW” link_icon=”none” title=”Nothers” /] [amazon fields=”B099S6LZDW” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”A&R Brother Home Glass Cutting Board Set”] The biggest advantage of glass cutting boards is that they look fantastic, and this set is my favorite in terms of aesthetics. One of the cutting boards is made from clear glass that is shatter-resistant, scratch-resistant, and heat-resistant to 716 degrees Fahrenheit. The other board is not clear, but instead has a beautiful blue-tinged marble design on it. When you stand the clear glass board over the more decorative board, the pair make a gorgeous serving tray or kitchen ornament. There are several color options available to fit various design schemes. Note: Glass cutting boards are great for presentation purposes, but you probably shouldn’t use one as your everyday cutting board because they’re not so good for knives. 3. For Meat: Double-Sided Stainless Steel-Rice Husk Cutting Board by [amazon link=”B08CDLZ6Q5″ link_icon=”none” title=”GUANCI” /] [amazon fields=”B08CDLZ6Q5″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”Double-Sided Stainless Steel-Rice Husk Cutting Board”] Stainless steel is not a common material for cutting boards and honestly I’m not sure if it’s more hygienic than, say, plastic, but I know it feels safer to me since steel is completely non-porous and has no way of absorbing any juices or odors from meat. It’s also extremely easy to wash with a single swipe of a wet paper towel, even if the meat you just cut was very messy. It looks great too: I feel like a culinary ninja when I’m cutting meat on the mirror-like stainless steel surface. I should also mention that this cutting board is reversible, and the other side has a rice husk-based surface for cutting vegetables that includes a juice groove and a garlic grinding indent. 4. Large: Boos Large Rectangular Maple Cutting Board by [amazon link=”B07DWNPY77″ link_icon=”none” title=”John Boos” /] [amazon fields=”B07DWNPY77″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”Boos Large Rectangular Maple Cutting Board”] As far as I’m concerned, this model is the Rolls-Royce of cutting boards. John Boos is known for the skill and care that goes into their cutting boards, and this specific board is the best example of that for a few reasons, such as: It has a massive surface area of 24”x18”. That’s big enough to cut foods like racks of ribs that simply won’t fit on a normal cutting board. It’s very thick—2.25 inches, to be exact. That’s some serious durability. It’s made using the end grain technique, which is more expensive but makes the cutting board harder and more scratch-resistant. It also gives the chopping board a distinct checkerboard exterior. It’s reversible. The board is hand wash-only, although I doubt it could fit into any dishwasher even if it wasn’t. It also needs to be soaked with oil and board cream every now and then to make sure it maintains its optimal performance. The piece really is the centerpiece of the kitchen, though, thanks to its size and aesthetic appeal, so it actually feels kind of good to give it some loving care by hand. 5. Flexible: Modern Flexible Cutting Board Mats by [amazon link=”B07RPWW2Q4″ link_icon=”none” title=”W. INNOVATIONS” /] [amazon fields=”B07RPWW2Q4″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”Modern Flexible Cutting Board Mats”] The three rubber cutting boards in this set are feather-light and can roll up like posters for storage or transport. They don’t dull knives used on them, and they have a waffle-grip bottom so they stay in place during use. And unlike other flexible cutting boards, they do not warp in the dishwasher! I appreciate how the three boards in the set are different shades of gray and are each stamped with a picture of the type of food to be cut on them—vegetables, chicken, or beef. This differentiation helps prevent cross-contamination. For anyone pressed for storage space, this flexible cutting board set is a godsend. 6. Plastic: Polypropylene Cutting Boards by Sur La Table If you’re opting for plastic cutting boards, this set of three boards (small, medium, and large) is the best choice you can make. The three boards are light and easy to store, but they also have a very sturdy-feeling design. They’re all reversible and have a juice groove on one of their sides. The medium and large boards even feature cut out handles to make transporting them easier. The design is nice and simple, but it definitely gets the job done. Considering how useful all three of these are, $32 for the set is a steal. 7. Eco-Friendly: The reBoard by Material Kitchen Material’s reBoard is made from a combination of plastic kitchen scraps and recycled sugarcane, which is why it’s the most ecologically-friendly chopping board I’ve seen. Despite that, though, it’s still a great piece of kitchen equipment. It’s durable, it won’t absorb odors, and it’s dishwasher-safe. It also has a very fun look and is available in six vibrant colors, from bright coral orange to a deep green inexplicably called “reimagine justice.” 8. Durable: Epicurean Nonslip Cutting Boards by Sur La Table The chopping boards in this set of three really impress me with how durable they are. They’re heat-resistant up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can put them in the oven at low temperatures or even use them as trivets. They’re also dishwasher-safe, even though they’re made out of simple wood. Plus, they have rubber non-slip feet that work really well. After using these for a while, I’m surprised that wood fiber is not a more popular material for cutting boards and other kitchen tools. I’d recommend these for anyone who does not yet have any cutting boards and needs a nice sturdy model to get started. 9. Small: The (mini) reBoard by Material Kitchen I already talked about the regular-sized reBoard, and this is just a handy smaller version. It still uses the same sustainable materials—recycled kitchen plastic and sugarcane. But, as the product’s page points out, “most of the time we’re not cutting whole chickens or giant vegetables. We’re slicing an apple or nibbling on cheese or wedging a lemon. Except who wants to use a big old cutting board for tiny things like that?” Cutting Board FAQ Now that we’ve gone through some great cutting board recommendations, let’s preemptively answer any pressing questions you might have about how to make the most out of your chopping board. How to clean a wooden cutting board After using a wooden cutting board, simply wipe it down with a soapy sponge and then rinse off the soap with warm water. Leave the cutting board in an upright position and wait for it to air-dry.That’s it! The process only takes 20 or 30 seconds. Remember to clean the chopping board within 15 minutes of every use, though, to make sure no food particles get the chance to seep into the wood. How to oil a cutting board Wooden cutting boards should be oiled roughly once a month. Oiling them will not only help them to maintain a “like-new” glow, but it will also increase their lifespan.To oil a wooden chopping board, rub a liberal amount of mineral oil or specially-formulated cutting board oil over each of its surfaces. Don’t use any other type of oil, as it will ferment after soaking into the wood.After rubbing the oil on, place the board on a drying rack if you have one so all of the oil-soaked surfaces can air-dry simultaneously. If you don’t have a drying rack, improvise one by propping the cutting board on top of a thin shelf at either end.After 3-4 hours, the wood will have absorbed most of the oil. Wipe off the remaining oil with a paper towel. How to clean other types of cutting boards Most non-wood cutting boards are dishwasher-safe. They can also usually be cleaned using a soapy sponge and then some warm water to rinse off the soap. If a non-wood cutting board has an especially stubborn stain, though, you can clean it with bleach.Simply mix a teaspoon of bleach with a quart of water and then use a sponge to wipe that mixture on the stains. Let sit for 30 seconds, then rinse the bleach solution off with hot water and place the cutting board in an upright position to let it air-dry. How to store a cutting board My preferred method is to actually get a cutting board organizer that sits on the counter—[amazon link=”B0852HVMCM” link_icon=”none” title=”something like this” /]. If you’d rather stash your cutting boards out of sight, though, I recommend setting up a shelf where you can store them standing on end like books on a bookshelf. Doing so is more hygienic, as it makes it harder for any food residue to settle into the chopping boards after use. What type of chopping board is most hygienic? According to research, plastic cutting boards are the most hygienic. Since the hard plastic surface is totally non-porous, it is not possible for food particles to settle into the board and subsequently spawn bacteria. It’s also easy to clean plastic with just a soapy sponge. The Final Chopping Block I find myself cutting up ingredients multiple times for every recipe, and having good-quality cutting boards to do it on is key to a comfortable and fun experience. I hope this guide will help you to enjoy your cooking more, too!
