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A cutting board is one of the most frequently used pieces of kitchen equipment. So, naturally, you’ll want one that can stand up to attempted death by a thousand cuts. And it’s even better if it’s gentle on knives.
Over the years, I’ve tested and used dozens of cutting boards, including wooden and plastic; end-grain and edge-grain. There are the ones that made the cut (hehe).
THE BEST WOODEN CUTTING BOARD (EVER) – The Boardsmith Maple End-Grain Cutting Board
What we liked: If you ask a Serious Eats editor what their dream cutting board is, it’ll probably be a Boardsmith. I coveted one for longer than I can remember. The maple beauty that now sits on my countertop is spacious and sturdy, and its smooth finish and neat seams speak to the care and craftsmanship put into every board. End-grain maple is durable, but also soft enough to keep knives sharp, even after frequent use. It’s the perfect amalgamation of durability, softness, beauty, and simplicity. I use mine every day, and it’s still in fantastic condition, without any deep gouges or warping. You can get feet and/or a juice groove added if you’d like; the latter won our carving board review, too.
What we didn’t like: Boardsmith butcher block wooden boards are big and heavy, which makes them difficult to clean. They’re also expensive, though they will last a very long time.
Key Specs
- Available sizes: 12 x 18 x 2 inches; 16 x 22 x 2 inches; 18 x 24 x 2 inches; and custom orders
- Customizations: Finger grooves, juice groove, feet
- Weight: 23 pounds (18- x 24- x 2-inch option)
- Wood: Maple
- How to maintain: Wash and dry thoroughly; regularly treat with food-grade mineral oil and/or board butter
A GREAT BUDGET WOODEN CUTTING BOARD – Ironwood Gourmet End-Grain Acacia Wood Cutting Board
What we liked: It’s tough to find a budget-friendly wooden board that won’t warp and crack after a dozen uses. Plus, cheap boards are often made of cheap materials, like bamboo, which dulls knives faster than a hardwood like maple. But our editors have come to love this affordable acacia offering. Sure, it’s no hardwood board, but in my tests, it failed to dull a blade even after 200 strokes. It’s also nice and lightweight at a little over seven pounds, making it easy to clean and stash away.
What we didn’t like: Acacia wood has more naturally occurring silica, which is hard on knives. This model also frequently goes out of stock. It will get some visible scratches, but they aren’t deep.
Key Specs
- Available sizes: 20 x 14 x 1.25 inches
- Customizations available: None
- Weight: 7.2 pounds
- Wood type: Acacia
- How to maintain: Hand-wash and thoroughly dry; coat with food-grade mineral oil every few weeks
A GORGEOUS, MID-PRICED WOODEN CUTTING BOARD – Williams Sonoma Larch Wood Original Board
What we liked: This eye-catching board is a great Goldilocks size at 17 by 13 inches. It’s spacious enough to break down a head of cabbage, but not so big that you can’t wrangle it into the sink. In my tests, any scratches healed over quickly, and it didn’t dull knives. It’s a showstopper of a board, and one that I’d leave out for guests to admire.
What we didn’t like: It stained after cutting up a sweet potato. It’s made of small pieces of end-grain larch wood, meaning there are more points of vulnerability in terms of warping or cracking.
Key Specs
- Available sizes: Large: 21.6 x 13.5 x 1.75 inches; medium: 17.75 x 13.5 x 1.6 inches; small: 17.75 x 11 x 1.5 inches
- Customizations: None
- Weight: 8 pounds (medium size)
- Wood type: Larch wood
- How to maintain: Hand-wash and thoroughly dry; coat with food-grade mineral oil every few weeks
A GREAT EDGE-GRAIN CUTTING BOARD – Made In Butcher Block Cutting Board
What we liked: While end-grain is better for your knives and more durable, edge-grain hardwood is still a fine option. I liked this board from Made In, which has a juice groove on one side and a flat surface on the other side. It’s 18 by 12 inches—spacious, but also compact enough to clean easily. The wood has held up over time without any gouges or splitting.
What we didn’t like: One side of the board had a chunk missing upon arrival. Edge-grain boards generally aren’t as durable as edge-grain cutting boards, and they tend to be harsher on knives.
Key Specs
- Available sizes: 18 x 12 inches
- Customizations: Can add a personalized engraving
- Weight: 8 pounds
- Wood: Maple
- How to maintain: Wash and dry thoroughly; regularly treat with food-grade mineral oil and/or board butter; sand surface as needed
THE BEST PLASTIC CUTTING BOARD SET – OXO 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
What we liked: This petite set of two plastic boards is a great option for tiny prep tasks, like mincing shallots or supreming citrus. Each board has rubber grips on the left and right side, which help them stay put, and the shallow juice groove does a surprisingly good job of containing liquids. They only dulled knives by 4% in my tests.
What we didn’t like: This set was recently redesigned, and the new version isn’t quite as gentle on knives. It’s also slippery, and blades clacked against the surface with each cutting stroke.
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 10.75 x 7.25 inches; 13 x 9 inches
- Other sizes available: Yes
- Weight: 1.2 pounds; 12.1 ounces
- Materials: Plastic
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes