THE BEST WOOD CUTTING BOARD
It’s our opinion that there may not be one “best wood cutting board". Perhaps we should focus on which board is best suited for the task at hand. Size should always be a consideration when selecting a board because it must be easy for the user to maneuver around the kitchen or table. But board size also determines surface area for dicing or slicing so we must also consider surface area / working space.
Board thickness is another key factor and affects how the board feels to the user, its sturdiness on the counter. Most professional chiefs will agree that a thicker cutting board is better. Board thickness also has a lot to do with board life. Additionally, the thicker the cutting board the less chance there is of the board warping and cracking.
Cutting Board type and the wood used to make it are also important factors especially when considering food safety, hardness/durability and aesthetics. We’ve put the following information together to help you determine which wood cutting boards are the right choice for you.
WOOD CUTTING BOARD TYPES: When evaluating wood cutting boards there are essentially two types – boards constructed of glued pieces of wood and a board that’s one solid piece of wood. Either type of board has its own merits and drawbacks. Glued boards include (in order as shown) edge-grain, end grain, single-plank and face-grain. Each of these boards are premium but have distinctive differences in construction and appearance.
Edge grain boards are made of narrow strips of wood glued together. Face grain boards are made of a few wide boards glued together. End grain boards are made of small wood blocks with their grain positioned vertically – instead of cutting across the grain like with edge and face grain boards you’re cutting into the grain with end grain boards. If you use a cleaver for chopping, we suggest you consider an end grain cutting board.
Our single plank wood cutting boards are very different from edge, face and end grain boards because they are made of one single piece of wood, and they do not have a manufactured appearance.
What distinguishes our single plank wood cutting boards from the others is our woods natural tones and uniform character. Our single plank boards are typically thicker and heavier than edge or face grain wood cutting boards and that makes them sturdier on the counter and more resistant to cracking and warping.
CUTTING BOARD CARE: Wood is alive, so it reacts to its surrounding environment. Setting a wood cutting board flat on the counter for a prolonged period of time exposes the board to varying temperature and humidly conditions. These environment variances create an imbalance inside the wood board and can cause warping...in any type of cutting board. This is why we strongly encourage of customers to store our boards on edge.
Perhaps the most common cause of wood cutting board failure is a lack of conditioning. Before we ship any of our cutting boards, we are certain that an adequate moisture / oil barrier has been established. This ensures the customer receives a board that's protected requiring on-going routine maintenance. Mineral oil is good, but a brand name board conditioner is better because of its increased penetrating qualities. We use Odies Penetrating Oil but there are also others that include Howards Board Conditioner.
BOARD THICKNESS: Regardless of the type of wood cutting board, board thickness establishes the weight of a cutting board. We go out of our way to make a thicker wood cutting board because we know it minimizes the chance of the board warping. Additionally, a thick wood cutting board (greater than 1.75” thick) is sturdier on the counter and more comfortable to work on compared to a thin (1.5” and less) cutting board. Our 2.25” board thickness also increases durability and life.
PREFERRED WOOD: The established woods for making premium cutting boards are closed-grain hardwoods that include hard maple, cherry and walnut. These 3 hardwood species are closed grain / non-porous woods which mean they don’t absorb liquids into their wood fibers. This helps to stop bacteria growth and minimizes food contamination.
Wood hardness is a factor that establishes board durability and effect on knife sharpness. Based on the Janka Wood Hardness Scale, Cherry wood’s hardness is 950 lbf, black walnut 1,050 and hard maple at 1,450 lbf. – all 3 hardwoods are hard enough to last a lifetime but not too tough on knife edges.
It’s important to note that hard maple is about 20% heavier than cherry and walnut – it’s a denser wood, it’s also harder. Hard Maples denseness and hardness make it the best choice out of the three woods for durability. So, if you’re using a cutting board frequently (daily) hard maple may be for you. Hard Maple is always the preferred wood for durability.
SPACE & USAGE: If your restricted with counter space a smaller cutting board will be more practical than maneuvering around a 15”D X 20”W board. What are you using the cutting board to do? Cutting up a few onions or apples is far less involved compared to prepping a 10-person dinner party…both tasks require different surface areas. Our board size recommendations are as follows.
Small Households (2-3 people) 10”D X 14”W & 12”D X 16”W Boards
Medium sized Households (4-6 people) 14"D X 18”W & 15”D X 20”W Boards
Large Households (6-10 people) 15”D X 20”W & 15”D X 22”W Boards
BARBEQUE & MEAT CARVING: We make solid wood carving boards with juice grooves and pockets that keep mouthwatering Au-Ju on the board where guests can enjoy it. A big beef brisket needs a stable wood carving board with the space for slicing and a juice pocket to collect and hold all that Ah-Ju. Our Carver Carving Boards feature a scalloped juice pocket while our Slicer Series Carving Board feature a routed juice groove.
For juicy cuts of beef like brisket or standing rib roasts, our Carver Series board with its scalloped juice pocket stands to get the job done with ease. Whole chicken, turkey, beef roasts or pork ribs are all served easily on one of our Slicer Series boards with a routed juice groove. The following are a few board size suggestions you may find helpful.
Large Beef Brisket Carver Series 15”D X 22”W & 15”D X 24”W
Whole Turkey Slicer Series 15”D X 22”W & 15”D X 24”W
Whole Chicken Slicer Series 14”D X 18”W & 15"D X 20"W
GOOD LOOKS: Many of our customers purchase a ZimBoards Custom Cutting Board for its hefty form and beautiful wood character. But we make our solid wood cutting boards to be used and to last a lifetime.
Each wood species we use to make our boards has its own unique color and character giving you wood cutting board options to match your needs and kitchen décor style. We offer both rustic Live Edge Cutting Boards and modern style Flat Edge.
If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Steve at stephen@zimboards.com