Wood is one of the most common types of material that is used for making cutting boards. Wood is cheap and light in weight and it is widely considered for making high-quality cutting boards.
Wooden cutting boards come in a wide range of styles and finishes and this gives the consumers many more options to choose from.
The best part about the wooden cutting board is it comes in many designs and styles and you can choose any one of them according to your requirements.
You can easily get a cutting board according to the look of your kitchen and it adds a natural warmth to your kitchen as compared to other types of cutting boards.
However, there are many different types of wood and what is the best wood for cutting boards? This question is asked by a lot of people.
That’s why I have done complete research and made a complete buying guide about it.
So, Which is the best wood for making cutting boards, and what else do you have to consider while getting yourself a wooden cutting board?
So, you have to read this complete article. So this article is going to be very interesting and informative so don’t skip any point.
Let’s start!!
Related Post: Best material for cutting board
What Are Wooden Cutting Boards?
A wooden cutting board is mostly used in the kitchen as a protective surface to cut and slice food and ingredients. Wooden cutting boards are also commonly known as butcher’s blocks.
Wooden cutting boards are mostly made from lumber. However, there are many manufacturers that make different types of cutting boards made from glass, plastic, and vinyl.
How To Choose The Best Cutting Board Wood?
Choosing the right type of cutting board is a tough job as there are many different types of cutting boards and you know that all types of cutting boards are not good.
There are many factors that you have to take into consideration so that you can get a high-quality cutting board.
Food Hygenic
This is one of the most important factors that you have to take into consideration while you are getting yourself a cutting board.
You must know that all types of wood are not good for making a cutting board. Certain types of wood have more porous and therefore you have to clean your cutting board every time you are using it.
If your cutting board has porus then there is a high chance of the food suffering from the cross continuation and it’s really unhealthy.
According to research by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), it is found that 18% of cutting boards suffer from infection by harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E.coli.
Hardwood vs SoftWood
When choosing a wooden cutting board, it has always been recommended to look for hardwood because it’s more durable than softwood.
- Hardwood is durable and resistant to scratches and dents.
- There is always less chance of cross-contamination.
- It’s much easier to use a chef knife on a hardwood cutting board.
- Hardwood cutting boards usually last’s longer
It’s always recommended to get a cutting board having a hardness level of in-between 1,000 to 1,800 lbs, as they are considered to be best for making cutting boards.
Some species of wood such as the Brazilian walnut, are extremely hard having a hardness level greater than 1,800, and they can easily dull your knives.
Easy To Maintain
If you are choosing a cutting board then it must be easy to maintain because a cutting board made from wood requires periodic conditioning with board oil such as mineral oil and danish oil.
So, you must make sure that your cutting board is easy to maintain and it must not require daily oiling.
End Grain vs. Edge Grain
Basically, there are two types of cutting board construction ie: End Grain and Edge Grain. Simply the difference between both of them is the End grain cutting board are much better and are far more expensive.
You’ll find an Edge grain cutting board in most kitchens because they are simple and much cheaper.
If you are getting a cutting board for professional use then it’s always recommended to get an End grain cutting board, as they result in different construction and it can process the food much better.
10 Best Wood For Cutting Boards: Buying Guide
There are many different types of wood for making cutting boards. These are the various type of woods that can be used for making cutting boards.
1. Maple Wood
Maple is considered to be one of the best wood for making a cutting board because it’s hard and light in weight and the wood is widely available.
The wood has a hardness rating of about 1,450 lbf and it’s hard enough to bear the cuts. The wood looks attractive and the best part about the wood is it has tight pores.
This means that the wood will not easily suffer from bacterial infection after cutting raw meat. The maple wood is lighter and fairly neutral in color and goes well with the kitchen color schema.
However, it’s not recommended to use red maple because it’s toxic in nature but the sugar maple and hard maple can be considered for making cutting boards.
2. Ash Wood
The Ashwood is not as hard as Maple, however, it has a hardness rating of about 1,300 lbf which means you can easily use it for cutting without blunting your kitchen knife.
The wood is hard enough and non-toxic which means you can easily use the wood for making high-quality cutting boards.
The Ashwood is tough enough to withstand everyday kitchen use, and I’m sure you will love using the wood in your kitchen. The wood would not easily suffer from scratches easily as it is hard enough.
Ashwood is hard enough and is more resistant to dents than a softer wood. Ashwood can produce high-quality cutting boards for your kitchen.
3. Beech Wood
The third choice of wood is beech wood and it has a hardness rating of about 1,300 lbf. The wood is darker than Ash and Maple wood and the wood becomes red over time.
The wood has tight pores and that prevents bacteria growth after cutting raw food. Beechwood is a good all-rounder choice for making cutting boards.
Beechwood has a high density and the durable wood prevents getting scratches and cutting marks easily. However, you have to apply cutting board oil on weekly basis as a part of maintenance.
In addition, the wood is less expensive than some other varieties of cutting board wood.
4. WalNut Wood
Wall-nuts are also a great choice for making cutting boards because the wood has close pores and due to its attractive rich color, it’s widely used for making cutting boards.
Because of the dark color, the wood does not easily suffer from stains even after regular usage, which is the best part about walnut.
However, walnut wood requires regular treatment and oiling because it’s a softer wood as compared to other categories of wood.
The walnut has a hardness level of about 1,100 lbf. However, the downset of the wood is it suffers from scratches, and water gets soaked easily. So you have to dry the cutting board as soon as possible.
5. Cherry Wood
Cherry wood is one of the most beautiful woods for making cutting boards, but the wood has a hardness rating of about 1,000 lbf.
Cherry wood is a top choice for making cutting boards as it’s a medium-dark color wood and it adds timeless beauty to your kitchen because the wood is very beautiful.
The best part about the wood is it’s easy to care for and it won’t dull your knife, because the wood is not so hard. The wood will easily get scratched so you must be careful while using the cutting board.
The cherry wood gets darker as it gets older and it becomes even more beautiful. If you are getting a cutting board for looks and not for everyday use then the cherry wood cutting board can be a good choice.
6. Acacia
Acacia is a very common wood used for making cutting boards. The hardness level of Acacia wood mostly depends on the age of the wood and it usually varies from tree to tree.
Usually, the Acacia wood has a hardness level between 1,200 and 1,700 lbf, and it’s hard enough to make good quality cutting boards.
Acacia wood is less expensive because the wood does not come in the premium category like Maple and cherry wood.
Acacia wood can vary in a wide range of colors but the dark ones are the most common ones. Acacia also comes in a wide variety of shades and you can treat it to look good.
7. Teak Wood
Teak is another unique wood that is used for making cutting boards. The teak is a softwood and it has a hardness rating of around 1,150 lbf.
The teak wood is good for making outdoor furniture and other household items and the wood can also be used for making kitchen items such as cutting boards and knife handles.
One of the best parts about teak wood is it has a natural oil that prevents the wood from getting dull easily. Also, you don’t have to worry about oiling the cutting board regularly.
You can easily get a teak cutting board for under $50 to $100 and they are relatively good. The only downset of the cutting board is its softwood.
8. Pecan Wood
The pecan is a hardwood and it has a hardness rating of about 1,800 lbf it’s hard enough for making cutting boards.
This means that the wood is resistant to scratches and other insect attacks. However, the pecan wood cutting board can easily dull your knife.
The pores of the pecan wood are not as tight as other wood and there is a high chance of cross-contamination it needs to be cleaned regularly to prevent bacterial growth.
The only downset of pecan wood is, that it’s difficult to find and it’s not widely available, and therefore pecan wood cutting boards are rare and difficult to find.
9. Bamboo
Bamboo is one of the common types of materials used for making cutting boards. Bamboo cutting boards are becoming popular in recent days because it provides a very good cutting experience.
The percentage of the hardness of a bamboo cutting board is relatively higher about 19 which is huge and the cutting boards are premium standards.
A study by the University of Michigan shows that there is less chance of infection on bamboo cutting boards. Because the bamboo cutting board has fewer pores and hence the board stays hygienic for a longer time.
The only downset of a bamboo cutting board is it dulls the knife very easily. The bamboo cutting board is best to use with serrated-edge knives.
10. Olive Wood
There are many different types of olive wood available but not all types of wood are good for making cutting boards.
Certain types of olive wood are very hard and rich in color. They can be used for making high-quality cutting boards. Certain reports claim that olive has a hardness level of 2700 lbf.
When you are using a sharp knife the olive wood cutting board can easily dull your kitchen knife. Hence, you have to sharpen your blades on a regular basis.
Olive lumber is extremely strong but it has a high sensitivity to outside elements and insect attacks, so you have to oil and maintain your cutting board on a regular basis.
Wood That You Must Avoid Using
There are certain types of wood that are not good for making cutting boards. They might be toxic or woods such as softwood are certain types of woods that you must avoid using.
Oak
Oak is a very good wood but the main disadvantage of using oak wood is it has large pores, allowing the risk of bacterial growth after cutting food in the kitchen.
If you are using a cutting board made from oak wood then you must disinfect the cutting board on a regular basis to prevent the possibility of cross-contamination of your food.
Pine or Cedar
Both cedar and pine are softwood and the wood is not suitable for making cutting boards. They are more prone to damage than hardwood cutting boards.
This can lead to a greater risk of cross-contamination and it’s not generally not recommended for making cutting boards.
Advantages of Wooden Cutting Board
These are the four reasons most chefs and butchers prefer to use a wooden cutting board over plastic and glass ones.
- Variety Of Options: The best thing about wooden cutting boards it comes in many designs and styles. When it comes to a wooden cutting board, you can choose the edge grain or the end grain cutting board. Also, you can choose any type of wood finish and type.
- Durable: Wooden cutting is much more durable and solid than glass, plastic, and vinyl cutting boards. The cutting boards can easily last for decades with good maintenance. Also, wooden cutting boards are reliable, safe, and sturdy.
- Looks Goods: Wooden cutting boards look pretty good as compared with other types of cutting boards. You can easily get a wooden cutting board according to the style of your kitchen. Wood adds natural warmth to your kitchen decor.
- Easy To Maintain: Wooden cutting boards require oiling to prevent bacteria penetration. However, you can easily get a pre-treated cutting board to reduce the maintenance requirements in the future.
Conclusion
As there are many different types of wood for making cutting boards and the list of 10 kinds of wood are some of the best wood for making cutting boards.
You can choose any one of them according to your requirements. However, you must know that all types of cutting boards require maintenance such as oiling.
However, Maple and Bamboo cutting boards are one of the most selling cutting boards as they are long-lasting and cheaper than other types of cutting boards.
Also, they are resistant to bacteria and they feature the right amount of hardness.
I hope the guide would have helped you out in figuring out the best wood for cutting boards.
FAQ: Best Wood For Cutting Board DIY
Finding out a good quality wooden cutting board is tough and that is why people ask a lot of questions and are confused about it. I have added some of the questions and provided appropriate answers to them.
1. What Are The Healthiest cutting boards to use?
A healthy cutting board is something that is eco-friendly and non-toxic. The bamboo cutting board is one of the healthiest and most eco-friendly cutting boards that you can find.
2. What Is The Safest Wood For a Cutting Board?
Hardwood is one of the safest and makes the best quality cutting boards. Hardwood requires less maintenance and is also safe to use. There is a certain type of wood that you must avoid using like Oak and Ash.
3. Can You Cut Raw Chicken On a Wooden Cutting Board?
According to experts, you can cut and chop raw meat on a wooden cutting board, but it’s important that the liquids or blood is not coming out of the meat because if it’s left for a long period it gets absorbed by the wood.