Best Type of Wood for Cutting Board-  The Ultimate Guide

FACTS CHECKED BY  NICOLE PAV 

While every kitchen needs cutting boards, the type of wood used to construct them can impact their efficiency and endurance.

Whether you’re a home cook or a professional chef, choosing the appropriate cutting board can significantly enhance your meal preparation.

In this article, we examine the best type of wood for cutting boards and also explore some factors to consider.

Table of Contents

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Type of Wood for Cutting Board

Size

Larger cutting boards are excellent for preparing vast amounts of food, but they can be cumbersome and challenging to transport.

Small cutting boards are easier to transport and store but might not be appropriate for demanding applications.

Hardness Factor

Hardwoods are more durable than softwoods because they are denser and resistant to scratch, distortion, dents, and bacteria accumulation.

Janka’s hardness rating gauges the wood’s hardness; the higher it is, the harder the wood. 

  • Maple: With a consistent light color, 1450 hardness rating, longevity, and bacteria resistivity, maple is excellent hot and acidic food.
  • Beech: Beech is reddish-brown, has a 1300 hardness rating, smooth texture, is easy to maintain, tight-grained structure, and is suitable for heavy use.
  • Teak: Golden-brown color, a 1000 hardness rating, and natural resistance to decay, making it suitable for cutting boards for moist and acidic foods.
  • Walnut: Its color range from chocolate brown to dark purple, has a 1010 hardness rating, and is resistant to bacteria and warping.

Grain Patterns

It refers to the wood’s fiber arrangements and appearance on the surface. Grain pattern determines the cutting board’s aesthetics, efficiency, and cleaning ease.

  • End Grain Cutting Boards: Cutting boards constructed from wood with prominent tree growth rings. Such boards are aesthetically pleasing, knife-friendly, self-healing, and durable but expensive.
  • Edge-Grain Cutting Boards: Manufactured from wood with the longest side facing up. They are less durable, knife friendly, and have less healing properties than end grain but are less expensive.
  • Face-Grain Boards: These are boards made from wood with the widest side facing up. They are the least durable, with no self-healing or knife-friendly capabilities but the cheapest.
Types of cutting boards

Types of cutting boards

Porosity

Porosity refers to the wood’s ability to absorb and keep moisture. Highly porous woods are like to absorb stains, bacteria, and odors, making them hard to clean.

Toxicity

Some woods may have natural toxins, which can be harmful when ingested, making them unsuitable for cutting boards.

Conditioning

Conditioning refers to oiling, sanding, and cleaning processes used to treat and maintain cutting boards. Always use food-safe products for periodic conditioning to keep your board efficient and safe.

Cost

Choosing a wood that suits your budget is crucial because some woods are costlier than others.

Additional Features

Other features include handles for easy transportation and hanging holes for seamless storage. You may also consider juice grooves if you use your chopping board to slice fruits, vegetables, or meat.

Consider one with legs if you do not fancy a two-sided cutting board.

Woods To Avoid In Cutting Boards

  • Softwoods like pines, Douglas fir, and cider crack and can blunt the knife easily.
  • Porous woods like oak: While oak is sturdy, it absorbs moisture which can keep harmful bacteria and stains.
  • Toxic woods, e.g., red cider: Such woods produce oils that can be harmful when ingested.

Best Cutting Board Review

Virginia Boys Kitchens Walnut Cutting Board

Virginia Boys Kitchens Walnut Cutting Board

The cutting board features an eco-friendly walnut wood construction, conditioned with pure coconut oil for a safe cut surface.

Pros 

  • Pure natural ingredients.
  • With knife-friendly surface
  • It’s thick, sturdy, and reversible
  • Comes with a 100% money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Requires extended maintenance such as oiling
  • May crack with extended use

Customer Review

This board’s surface is knife friendly, and I love how it is preseasoned with coconut oil.

John Boos Block Walnut Wood Cutting Board

John Boos Block Walnut Wood Cutting Board

This butting board is a quality and versatile option, constructed from black walnut wood and featuring an edge-grain reversible design.

Pros

  • Suitable for any  food preparation
  • Both sides are useful
  • Easy to clean, lift, and move

Cons

  • May crack after a prolonged use
  • It’s a bit heavy

Customer review

I recently purchased this product, which is washable and beautiful for my cutting needs.

BILL.F Acacia Wood Cutting Board

BILL.F Acacia Wood Cutting Board

Crafted from robust acacia wood, this cutting board offers reliability and vibrant colorations creating a functional and attractive kitchen addition.

Pros

  • Allows for easy scooping up or sliding off of food
  • With a paddle handle for seamless holding
  • Easy to clean
  • Resistance to mildew
  • You can use both sides

Cons

  • Not suitable for heavy cutting
  • It may scratch 

Customer review

I highly recommend this product to anyone looking for a versatile, easy-to-clean board.

John Boos maple cutting board

John Boos maple cutting board

This thick cutting board is a reversible maple wood craft making it a highly durable and versatile food preparation surface.

Pros

  • With integrated handgrips for easy lifting
  • Easy to clean
  • For home and commercial kitchens
  • With a knife-friendly surface
  • Resist to rotting

Cons

  • May develop mold in humid conditions
  • It might be heavy for some users

Customer review

It is a beautiful block to add to your kitchen. It is also sturdy and durable.

ROYAL CRAFT WOOD Cutting Board Set

This item includes a set of three versatile and efficient cutting boards crafted from made of bamboo wood.

Pros

  • Comes with side handles for easy carrying
  • It’s also useful as serving trays for cheese
  • Smooth knife friendly surface
  • Resistant to scratches and marks
  • With deep juice grooves 
  • It comes with a 1-year warranty

Cons

  • Not suitable for regular commercial use

Customer review

The things I love about this board are its ability to resist scratches and its usage versatility.

How to Clean and Care for Wooden Chopping Boards

  • Use food-grade oil to condition your cutting board occasionally to minimize porosity.
  • You may rub your cutting board with course salt and leave it for several minutes before rinsing to eradicate odor.
  • Avoid leaving your board in a dishwasher or liquid; hang it freely for drying.
  • Use a dilute bleach solution once in a while to disinfect your cutting board.
  • Use sandpaper to resurface scratched cutting boards to prevent them from harboring bacteria.

Conclusion

You may choose the best type of wood for cutting boards from the research list above.

Consider the above factors when buying a cutting board and use the highlighted maintenance practice to enhance its durability.

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