Wood vs. Bamboo vs. Plastic vs. Glass/Ceramic
There are a variety of cutting board materials out there, and we frequently get asked about what is the best option. Here are a few details about each, and why it’s pretty clear that wood is the best long term option.
Plastic cutting boards are easy to rinse, and can be tossed in the dishwasher. Plastic tends to dull knives quickly. But more than any other type of substrate, plastic boards tend to harness bacteria long term, and aren’t very durable. Most of these have an expected shelf life of 1-3 years.
Glass and ceramic cutting boards may look nice, but have poor durability, can chip, and will dull your knives faster than any other cutting boards. They are generally the worst option, and we would avoid at all costs.
Bamboo cutting boards are cheaper than wood, due to the plentiful and quick growing nature of bamboo. While they look nice initially, they are not nearly as durable, and bamboo boards tend to split after a couple of years, and because of the nature of the fibers also harbor bacteria more than solid hardwood. The expected lifespan of a bamboo cutting board is about 3-5 years.
Hardwood cutting boards are the most durable cutting boards, but they are not all created equally. Depending on the wood type, construction, and more, they can either be a short term solution, or can be a long lasting part of your home and hearth. With proper care and maintenance a good hardwood cutting board can last generations. In general, look for boards made from hardwood species with a closed grain structure (such as walnut, cherry, maple, paduak, etc.), as these are less likely to harbor bacteria long term than woods with open grain structures (such as oak, or many of the random wood species you’ll find boards made from at TJ Maxx or on Amazon).
Cutting Boards vs. Charcuterie Serving Boards
You may often see products listed as cutting boards, or charcuterie or serving boards. Cutting boards are usually meant to be cut on, and serve as a workhorse in your kitchen or prep station. Charcuterie or serving boards may be made out of similar materials, but are generally created and designed in order to be used as a serving and display piece. In our case, the maintenance and upkeep of either is the same, as we finish all of ours with our Bespoke Board Butter for easy at home maintenance and upkeep. Our step by step guide to Cutting & Serving Board Maintenance can be found here.
Types of Cutting Boards
There are generally three main types of hardwood cutting boards: face grain, edge grain, and end grain. Face grain refers to the wide and broad show face of wood, or most visible part. Edge grain refers to the edge, if you were to take a board and turn it on its side (the long narrow edge, for example). End grain refers to the end of the board (think the smallest side of a brick). These all have their own benefits, so let’s dig into them briefly.
Face Grain Cutting Boards
Face Grain boards are generally the cheapest to produce, but they also have the unique ability to show off many of the unique features, patterns, and grains in the wood that Edge Grain and End Grain boards do not highlight. They are fairly durable, but tend to show more knife and cutting marks over time than their counterparts.
Edge Grain Cutting Boards
Edge Grain boards are made by joining together a number of the edges of pieces of wood, and this generally results in the most durable long term construction. They do not show as many knife marks and damage over time, and can often be constructed in very nice patterns and layouts. They also tend to dry faster than End Grain boards, and not require quite as much babying or regular maintenance. Because of the cost to value ratio, Edge Grain boards are usually our personal preferred daily workhorses.
End Grain Cutting Boards
End Grain boards are made by joining together the ends of a large number of pieces of wood, allowing for very nice and sometimes spectacular patterns and layouts. They require the most wood, time, and precision to create, so are generally the most expensive type of board. Some consider End Grain boards the best for knives, and most self healing, because of the nature of how the grain structure interacts with knives.
Cutting & Serving Board Maintenance
Unlike ceramic or plastic cutting boards, wooden cutting boards do require maintenance over time. Washing any cutting board after each use with simple soap and hot water is always needed regardless of material, but wood requires oiling to stay protected and supple. Thankfully this only takes a few minutes of time, and our step by step guide to Cutting & Serving Board Maintenance can be found here.