Every cook needs a solid cutting board in their kitchen toolbox. A top-quality cutting board will not only protect your countertop from being damaged by sharp kitchen knives, but it will keep the countertop’s surface clear of food, liquid, and bacteria and it gives you a secure surface on which you can cut, dice, and slice all types of food.
A cutting board also makes the post-food preparation clean-up so much easier as you can just pick up the board and scrape off the leftover scraps into the trash or your compost heap. A quality knife set is an investment, and you will ensure their longevity by always using a cutting board.
The 6 Best Cutting Boards
- WELLSTAR Double-Sided Cutting Board
- Vettore Non-Slip Cutting Board
- K BASIX Bamboo Cutting Board (Our Top Pick)
- Cooler Kitchen Extra Thick Cutting Board Mats
- John Boos Reversible Cutting Board
- Sonder Los Angeles Cutting Board
Our Top Pick for the Best Cutting Board
Our top pick for the best cutting board is the K BASIX Bamboo Cutting Board.
We highly recommend this stylish and functional cutting board collection for the organically minded cook. With 3 different sizes in this pack, you can use them to prepare a 3-course meal: slice up fish for a sushi entree, chop up small pieces of lamb or chicken for the main course, and slice and also dice fresh fruit and a variety of cheeses for dessert.
Check the price on AmazonA Cutting Board: An Essential Kitchen Tool
A cutting board is an essential but very versatile kitchen tool. You can also use it when you are backpacking and staying in a hostel. Or when you are camping in the great outdoors.
Depending on what you want to use it for and where you want to use it, you need to consider the different materials that a cutting board can be made out of such as wood, plastic, rubber, glass, or bamboo, which will make all the difference to your food preparation tasks.
How to Choose the Best Cutting Board
You might be a cook who likes to have one cutting board that you use for all your food preparation tasks or you might prefer one board for fruit and vegetables and another for meat. Maybe even a spare board for serving your favorite cheeses. You might like to have different colored boards to match specific food types. Whatever your preference is there is a cutting board that is tailor-made for you.
Cutting boards can be made out of all different types of materials such as glass, stone, wood, bamboo, and also plastic.
Glass
Glass is not recommended as it can dull your kitchen knives very quickly. The glass can chip and break easily. It can also be very noisy when you are cutting your food with a steel knife.
Stone
Like glass, stone is not the best type of material for a cutting board as it can also dull a steel kitchen knife, it can chip and break easily.
So when it comes to choosing a cutting board, the top 3 materials are wood, bamboo, and also plastic.
Naturally Sourced Wood
Wood is naturally sourced and a renewable resource, so it is an environmentally friendly choice for your kitchen. Wooden boards can be made from end-grain wood or edge-grain wood.
End grain cutting boards are very thick such as the type of boards a butcher uses. They have a tight wood-grained texture. While this type of wood is kinder to knives and will not dull them as much as an edge-grain cutting board, an end-grain board can be very heavy.
An edge-grain cutting board is another good choice as it is made from a solid piece of wood that gives you a secure place to cut or chop all types of food, especially thick meat. An edge-grain board is made from a high level of craftsmanship but it can be very expensive.
Wooden boards can come in a variety of wood types and sizes such as John Boos Reversible Cutting Board, which can be made out of Maple Wood, Walnut Wood, and Cherry Wood and there are 3 sizes: small, medium, and large.
The downside of using a wooden cutting board is that you cannot put it into the dishwasher. So you have to wash and scrub it by hand and it may require special maintenance. If you do not treat it regularly with special oil or wax, the wood can crack and split. However, if you take good care of your wooden board, it will last for years.
Organic Bamboo
Like wood, bamboo is a natural, sustainable material. Bamboo is a resilient type of grass and it is very tough and requires no chemicals to grow. So it is a good choice for the organically minded cook or chef.
Bamboo cutting boards have very good anti-warping, anti-cracking, and anti-splitting properties, such as the K BASIX Bamboo Cutting Board. They are more lightweight than wooden boards, plus they have natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Bamboo is kinder to kitchen knives and will not dull the blade as much as a wooden board.
The downside of bamboo is that it is not as solid as wood. And the board can break if you drop it. Depending on its construction, your knife can catch in the grooves of the bamboo, which means it may not provide you with a smooth cutting action.
Plastic
While many people are starting to move away from plastic due to the fear of the plastic material containing toxic chemicals, harboring harmful bacteria, and also that plastic can become stained after a few uses, manufacturers are improving their manufacturing standards.
Many plastic cutting boards such as the Cooler Kitchen Extra Thick Cutting Board Mats are made out of thicker plastic, which has special anti-bacterial properties and is BPA-free and FDA-approved for safe food preparation purposes. This type of plastic can resist deep scratches from sharp knives and also food staining.
Plastic boards are also very lightweight and provide you with a lot of portability, which makes them a great choice when you are traveling. They can also offer you a range of attractive colors.
One of the most annoying aspects of food preparation, especially when you are cutting meat or fruit, is that the juices can run all over the board and onto your kitchen counter. Plastic boards such as the Vettore Non-Slip Cutting Board have either one or two juice grooves that can catch any liquid from the food before it leaks onto your kitchen counter.
For even greater food safety, some manufacturers make their boards out of recyclable plastic which lasts much longer than bamboo or wood. It has a special MICROBAN antimicrobial protection that inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria and can resist unsightly stains.
Some plastic cutting boards have extra innovative features such as the WELLSTAR Double-Sided Cutting Board which has a stainless steel side that is ideal for cutting meat and the plastic side that is infused with wheat straw fiber can be used for fruit or vegetables. This board also has rubber non-slip feet to keep it firmly in place while you cut your food.
Even though plastic boards can be put into the dishwasher for easy cleaning and they are more flexible and give you more color choices and more portability than wood or bamboo, they are not as long-lasting and will show stains after a lot of food preparation. Depending on how thick the plastic is, they can still warp or bend out of shape if you wash them in high temperatures. Their surface can also get easily scared by sharp knives.
6 Best Cutting Boards – Reviews
1. WELLSTAR Double-Sided Cutting Board
If you are looking for a durable plastic cutting board that is safe to use and offers you a lot of flexibility and will not damage your expensive knives, the WELLSTAR Double-Sided Cutting Board is a great choice. This large double-sided cutting board has one side made from food-grade stainless steel and the other side is made from BPA-free polypropylene plastic that is infused with strong wheat straw fiber.
For health and safety, the board is anti-bacterial. So you can use the board without having to worry about any microbes that may try to set up home and start to breed in the board’s material.
The WELLSTAR cutting board has a revolutionary design that includes a soft rubber trim that surrounds the board and 4 non-slip feet stop it from slipping around on a kitchen benchtop during your food preparation tasks.
As the cutting board is double-sided, you can complete a wide range of cutting food preparation tasks. You can use the stainless steel side for cutting up meat or kneading dough and the plastic/wheat straw fiber side for slicing and dicing fruit and vegetables. The plastic side also has built-in PP teeth that are perfect for grating garlic and ginger.
Cleaning up a lot of messy juices is so easy due to the surrounding juice grooves that work really well at catching juices from chicken or fruit. Once you have finished cutting up meat, vegetables, or fruit, you can pour out the juices into the bin and stop any liquid from spilling onto your kitchen counter.
Beveled border edges and the handy integrated hanging hole make the cutting board safer to grip and carry around your kitchen.
The stainless steel side does not retain any odors and unlike bamboo or wooden cutting boards, the PP/wheat valley fiber will not crack or warp after a long time of use. You can even pour hot water onto the board to kill up to 99.6% of bacteria that may have been left behind on the surface.
Although this cutting board is very easy to clean under running water, it is not designed to be cleaned in the dishwasher, as the plastic side can become warped in a dishwasher.
WELLSTAR offers you a full refund or replacement if you are not satisfied with the double-sided cutting board for any reason.
Pros
- Very good value for money
- Double-sided functionality
- Sturdy and durable
- Food-grade stainless steel
- BPA-free polypropylene plastic is infused with wheat straw fiber
- Anti-bacterial and easy to clean
- Soft rubber trim
- Four anti-slip feet
- Built-in PP teeth for grating garlic and ginger
- Juice grooves on both sides of the board
- Beveled border edges
- Integrated hanging hole
- Full refund or replacement
Cons
- Expensive
- Not ideal for serrated knives
- Cannot use it in the dishwasher
- Plastic side can stain easily
2. Vettore Non-Slip Cutting Board
When you have some carving, mincing, dicing, or chopping to do, the Vettore Non-Slip Cutting Board will help you get all those food preparation tasks done quickly. The non-slip cutting board is made from durable, non-porous polypropylene that can resist deep scratches from sharp knives and staining, and as they are BPA-free and FDA-approved, they are safe to use.
The board comes in 2 sizes, large 15.8 x 11.8-inches and small 11 x 8-inches, both of which have a textured surface and special black rubber non-slip feet that are located at either end of the board help to keep the board firmly in place while you cut your vegetables, fruit or meat. The juice groove on one side catches any liquid from the food before it leaks onto your kitchen counter.
The high-quality, non-porous polyethylene can resist deep cuts from the sharpest of knives and the tough surface will not dull the knife. You can place it in the dishwasher for easy cleaning and it has handles for easy maneuvering and storage.
Vettore offers a 90-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year warranty. It comes in a range of colors.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Available in a small and large size
- Durable, non-porous polypropylene
- Hard textured surface
- Rubber non-slip feet
- BPA-free and FDA-approved
- Will not dull knives
- Resists deep scratches and staining
- Will not warp or degrade over time
- Juice groove
- Dishwasher safe
- Non-staining
Cons
- Surface is very hard
- Juice groove is very shallow
- Not ideal for heavy-duty food preparation
3. K BASIX Bamboo Cutting Board
Looking for a high-quality cutting board that is also environmentally sustainable and friendly, and looks fabulous? Then look no further than the K BASIX Bamboo Cutting Board. These cutting boards are made out of the highest grade environmentally friendly organic bamboo, which is a rapidly renewable resource with natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
As well as being the ideal choice for most food preparation tasks, these boards will make a very stylish addition to your kitchen with a natural two-tone design and rounded smooth edges. You can also use the cutting boards for serving fruit, cheese, and also biscuits to your dinner guests.
As the pack contains 3 cutting boards: small 6.1 x 8-inches, medium 8.7 x 11.2-inches, and large 9.6 x 13.2-inches, you will have all the cutting space you need for cutting, slicing, dicing, or shredding small or large food items. The strong bamboo surface will not dull your kitchen knives but it is sturdy enough to resist warping, cracking, and also splitting.
If you need to cut messy food items such as fruit, fish, or chicken, you can safely cut your items as the board are BPA-free and have a perfectly non-slip/non-stick cutting surface.
They can be easily stacked up in a corner of your kitchen or use the handles to hang them up above your kitchen counter to save storage space. The bamboo surface is easy to care for, just wash the boards with soap and water. To maintain and also enhance the look and grain of the beautiful bamboo, rub some mineral oil into the wood.
Although the bamboo is strong, the boards can get damaged if you drop them onto a hard surface. K BASIX offers a 100% money-back refund on its 3-piece cutting board set.
Pros
- Great quality
- Excellent value for money
- Three-pack with small, medium, and large-sized boards
- Made from high quality, environmentally friendly, and sustainable bamboo
- Natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties
- Kind to most kitchen knives
- Stylish design
- Durable construction
- Lightweight
- Very good anti-warping, cracking, and splitting
- Non-slip and non-stick surface
- 100% money-back guarantee
Cons
- Bamboo can crack if you drop it
- Not dishwasher safe
- No juice groove
4. Cooler Kitchen Extra Thick Cutting Board Mats
These brightly colored Cooler Kitchen Extra Thick Cutting Board Mats are so versatile, you can use them at home, in the college dorm, in a backpackers’ communal kitchen, or even when you are camping.
They are made out of durable, non-stick 1mm thick plastic that resists any warping or bending and they are so easy to clean and maintain. You do not have to worry about bacteria due to the special non-porous design and the built-in antimicrobial defense protection that inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria, mold, mildew, and food stains.
So you can use these cutting boards safely without the fear of cross-contamination or food poisoning.
As well as being BPA-free, these professional 15 x 12-inches cutting boards are well known for their reliability and they are pretty sturdy with just the right amount of flex and preparation space. To prevent any slipping on most countertops, the cutting board mats have an EZ-GRip crosshatch textured back, which ensures that the mats stay securely in place as you chop, dice, and also slice food.
These pretty boards come in 4 eye-catching colors; red, yellow, blue, and green, so as well as looking great in your kitchen, you can color-code the boards to match particular types of food. The boards also have food icons on the corner of the mats for different food types: beef, chicken, fish, and vegetables, or fruit.
Storing the Cooler Kitchen cutting boards is super easy as they can be stacked together or put in a drawer. They are the perfect choice for traveling as they are very lightweight and will not weigh you down.
Taking care of your new cutting boards is very easy too as they are simple to maintain. Although the boards are dishwasher safe, it is best to hand wash them with a damp, soapy cloth as the corners can curl up if the boards are put into a dishwasher with high temperatures. Cooler Kitchen offers a 2-year lifetime warranty on the cutting board 4-pack.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Very good price
- Ideal for home use, college dorms, backpacking, and also camping
- Large preparation surface
- Set of 4 cutting boards
- Sturdy and durable thick BPA-free plastic
- Special built-in antimicrobial protection
- Good amount of flexibility
- EZ-GRip crosshatch textured back
- Four bright colors for color-coding
- Food icons for beef, chicken, fish, and fruit or vegetables
- Very good anti-warping or bending
- Stain-resistant
- Lightweight and portable
- Very easy to clean
- Can put it into the dishwasher
- Two-year warranty
Cons
- Not thick enough for heavy-duty food prep
- Not ideal for washing in dishwashers with high temperatures
- Can slide around on a granite countertop
5. John Boos Reversible Cutting Board
For the organically minded chef, choose a cutting board that is made from naturally sourced material such as John Boos Reversible Cutting Board.
You can rely on this cutting board to deliver the best performance in the most rigorous food preparation tasks as John Boos & Co. an American-based company, has been the number one supplier of butcher blocks and cutting boards to restaurants, butchers, and even the White House since 1887.
The John Boos cutting board is FDA-approved and made from solid, reversible maple wood with a cream finish and the special John Boos insignia is engraved on the side. The 2 smooth flat sides and slightly rounded edges can resist the sharpest of knives, which makes it the perfect board for cutting, chopping, and also slicing the thickest of steaks.
The cutting board is 1.5-inches thick and 24 x 18-inches, and the integrated handle gives you a good, secure grip for the most demanding of food preparation tasks. The board is reversible so you can use both sides as a cutting surface. There also are 3 sizes: small, medium, and also large, and you can choose from Maple Wood, Walnut Wood, or Cherry Wood.
As this cutting board boasts a beautiful wood grain finish, you need to wash your John Boos cutting board with hot soapy water after each use and dry with a clean towel or let it air dry. For further sanitation, the board can be rinsed with a vinegar or chlorine bleach solution (1 teaspoon bleach to 1-quart of water/5-to-1 ratio of vinegar to water). Do not soak the board in water as this will damage the wood.
To further maintain the integrity of the wood, John Boos recommends that you oil or beeswax on all surfaces every 3-4 weeks, to stop the wood from cracking. John Boos recommends using John Boos Mystery Oil and/or John Boos Block Cream (sold separately). It is covered by a 1-year guarantee against defects in workmanship and material.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Solid cutting board
- Beautiful maple wood edge-grain construction with a cream finish
- Made from naturally sourced material
- Hand grips on the ends for easy transport
- Very good preparation surface
- Maple wood is easier on knives
- Reversible surface
- Food safe
- Also available in walnut wood, and cherry wood
Cons
- Expensive
- Needs maintenance to keep the quality of the wood
- Not dishwasher safe
- Heavy
6. Sonder Los Angeles Cutting Board
For a top-quality cutting board that is made out of naturally sourced end-grain wood and one that offers you a lot of functionality and durability, the Sonder Los Angeles Cutting Board is an excellent choice.
This solid board is beautifully hand-crafted out of rich American Black Walnut with vibrant Cherry and Maple wood accents and has been finished with 100% food-grade mineral oil. Its unique wood grain pattern will add a special touch of stylish charm to your kitchen as well as being the ideal wedding gift.
The Sonder Los Angeles cutting board can withstand heavy-duty food preparation such as slicing and chopping meat and the wood is oriented horizontally for maximum resistance to stains, water, and also warping. As it has an extra-large 17 x 13-inches size and an extra thickness of 1.1-inches, the cutting board is very durable, and it protects kitchen knives.
Extremely versatile, it can be used to cut meat, fruit, and bread and also for serving an array of cheeses at your next dinner party.
One of the highlights of the Sonder Los Angeles cutting board is its perfectly sized built-in well on the reverse side which can be used to catch any juices or chopped veggies and can also hold crackers or sliced baguettes for entertainment use.
For easy carrying, there are easy-gripping 2 handles on either end of the board. The cutting board block is very easy to clean with just mild soap and water and then leave it to dry. Although the wood will show some knife marks, regular oiling will brilliantly preserve the rich color and stop it from drying out.
Pros
- Beautifully hand-crafted rich American Black Walnut with vibrant Cherry and Maple wood accents
- Finished with 100% food-grade mineral oil
- Affordable price
- Extra-large preparation surface
- Versatile cutting board
- Beautiful rustic charm
- Finished with a 100% food-grade mineral oil
- Durable and solid design
- Maximum resistance to stains, water, and also warping
- Ideal for heavy-duty food preparation and protects kitchen knives
- Easy-gripping handles
- Easy to clean and maintain
Cons
- Heavy
Our Top Pick for the Best Cutting Board
Our top pick for the best cutting board is the K BASIX Bamboo Cutting Board.
We highly recommend this stylish and functional cutting board collection for the organically minded cook. With 3 different sizes in this pack, you can use them to prepare a 3-course meal: slice up fish for a sushi entree, chop up small pieces of lamb or chicken for the main course, and slice and also dice fresh fruit and a variety of cheeses for dessert.
Check the price on Amazon
