Wooden vs. plastic
There’s a healthy debate about wood versus plastic cutting boards and strong arguments can be made for both. There’s no doubt that wooden cutting boards look and feel nicer but they’re also heavier and require more diligent cleaning and care. Light and versatile plastic cutting boards are excellent for fast jobs, so I always recommend stocking one or two. But, in truth, when I start a recipe, I often find myself reaching for the wood board. Plus, most wood models double as serving vessels for an assortment of cheese and meats.
It’s nice to have a few plastic cutting boards around since they’re light, versatile and require little maintenance.
Cutting boards are made from all types of wood. While there are some industry standards, some wood boards may make a better fit than others for your budget and cooking style. Popular woods used for cutting boards include sturdy maple, light and sustainable bamboo, acacia, camphor, beech and ash.
While plastic boards are typically softer, neither material should do any significant damage to your knife blades. There are some less popular cutting board materials including tempered glass but for this list, we’ve kept it to wood and plastic only.
Plastic cutting boards may be cheap and light, but wood boards last longer and are nicer to look at.
Cutting board size and weight
Choosing the size or your cutting board — or boards — will depend a bit on how much counter space you have to work with and the types of cooking you normally do. If you’re starting from scratch, one large board — 18 by 12 inches or so — and one smaller board will likely be all you need. There are also extra large boards akin to chopping blocks, which may be a good option if you have the counter space.
Features: Grooves, rubber feet and trays
Depending on the type of cooking you do, there are some features you might want your cutting board to include. Grooves around the edges come in handy when you’re slicing foods that release juice such as tomatoes and cooked meat. Others have built-in trays or receptacles for storage which is nice when you’ve got an assortment of different food items to chop.
Cost and value: How much should you spend on a cutting board?
Cutting boards are one of those kitchen tools that you can definitely get away with a budget buy but you might end up having to replace it sooner. We have a few options on this list under $20, in fact, and they should be more than suitable for your culinary projects. Spend a bit more, particularly on a wood board, and you’ll get an upgrade in areas like wood quality and appearance.
A regular rubdown with mineral oil will help keep your wood cutting board in top form.
