We enjoy a nice meal out as much as the next guy, but we also find comfort in the creation of a meal from scratch in our own kitchen… even though it can be pure chaos at times. You have a quality set of pots and pans, great knives and maybe even a kitchen upgraded exactly how you want it. Now, it’s time to talk about throwing out the cutting boards you’ve had for years and upgrading to something better. Whether you want plastic, wood, or bamboo (all have pros and cons), something smaller or something sturdy, there are a lot of options. Here are our favorites.
Totally Bamboo 3 Piece Cutting Board Set
Frequently lumped into the pile with wood cutting boards, bamboo is technically a grass that’s even harder than maple. It cuts a lot like what you’d expect from a wood board, but the increased hardness and material composition that makes it absorb less water than traditional wooden boards also makes it a little rougher on your knives. The bottom line is that 100% organic and renewable bamboo cutting boards like this three piece set from Totally Bamboo are durable, functional, environmentally friendly and available at a price point so low you won’t worry about replacing them–which is probably why these are the number one best-selling cutting boards on Amazon. $13
OXO Good Grips Cutting Board
Despite the fact that most people prefer wooden cutting boards over their plastic counterparts, plastic has wood beat in quite a few areas. Plastic cutting boards don’t require maintenance. They can be washed in the dishwasher. They’re more odor-resistant. They’re also widely considered more sanitary. If you decide you want to go plastic for convenience and cleaning purposes, there isn’t a better option than the OXO (we’ll settle it for you–it’s pronounced “ox-oh”) Good Grips Cutting Board. Soft, tapered handles and a double-sided design make the board easy to use while also preventing cross contamination with a simple flip if you’re prepping meat and veggies. $25
John Boos Maple Wood Edge Grain Cutting Board
John Boos has been making some of the best wood cuttings boards on the market for more than a century. At just over 8 pounds the John Boos Maple Wood Edge Grain Cutting Board is definitely hefty, but it’s that presence and associated build quality that makes it a trusted piece in the kitchen of professional chefs throughout the USA. Even though you’ll have to hand wash and oil the board regularly, we still find the 12″ x 18″ Boos option to be a great cutting board and more than worthy of the gold standard many bestow upon it. Bonus points because it’s also surprisingly affordable given the quality. $58
Teakhaus Teak Cutting Board
In addition to being a great looking slab of wood on your counter, this teak option from Teakhaus is eco-conscious, durable, moisture resistant, filled with natural oils and less maintenance intensive than other wood options. The larger board (20″ x 15″ x 1.5″ and weighing in at 12 pounds) is also built with hand grips in either end to make it easy to transfer from kitchen to table if you plan on using it for a cheese or charcuterie platter. Like an affordable Japanese sedan or a good piece of cast iron, this teak cutting board is built to last for quite some time. $82
Taunton Green Cutting Board
Jon Aaron of Taunton Green out of Providence, Rhode Island is single-handedly reclaiming the term artisanal for the independent makers of the world, thanks mostly to his individually handmade local and exotic hardwood home accessories. This Taunton Green Cutting Board is on the smaller side at 10″ x 12″ x 1 1/8″, but that also makes it perfect for those of you with smaller kitchens. As durable and well built as this piece is, it’s the gorgeous combination of bloodwood, lacewood, black walnut, flame maple and mahogany that make it a truly extraordinary piece as suited for use as it is for display. If cutting up arrachera for steak tacos on a piece of art isn’t enough, you can even have these cutting boards customized. $94
Brooklyn Butcher Blocks End Grain Cutting Board
The Brooklyn Butcher Blocks (say that five times fast) End Grain Cutting Board uses maple, beech, cherry, oak or walnut in a brickwork pattern inspired by the brick buildings and brownstones in their neighborhood. The wood is sourced from Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio before being milled in their Brooklyn shop. The mineral oil used to treat each board is from Texas. Even the glue used to combined the woods is from the USA (and FDA-approved food safe). Yeah, it’s pricey for a cutting board, but the end grain is superior to both edge grain wood and plastic boards when it comes to knife longevity because you’ll be cutting in between the grains instead of through them. $160
