Reviews you can trust.

See why.

The Best Wood and Bamboo Cutting Boards

A good wood or bamboo cutting board can serve you well for years to come. Which model is best? 

By

Last Updated Feb. 7, 2024. Appears in America's Test Kitchen TV Season 21: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

The Best Wood and Bamboo Cutting Boards
See Everything We Tested

What You Need To Know

Our longtime favorite wood cutting board is the Teakhaus Edge-Grain Cutting Board (XL). This large, reversible board provides plenty of room to work on. It’s heavy enough to sit securely on the counter but not so heavy that it’s hard to lift or maneuver. And it’s extremely easy to maintain, requiring less oil less frequently than others to keep it waterproof and durable. If you’d like a slightly smaller board, we also recommend the Teakhaus Edge-Grain Cutting Board (L).

If a big wood or bamboo cutting board isn’t quite what you’re looking for, check out our review of large plastic cutting boards, our review of small cutting boards, or our review of bar boards

What You Need to Know

A good knife is nothing without an equally good cutting board on which to use it. While some cooks like lighter-weight boards made from plastic or other materials, for others, the ultimate cutting board is a thick, solid, unbudgeable model made of wood or bamboo. This kind of board is an investment; compared to a lighter board, you’ll have to spend more money, perform regular maintenance, and use more muscle to lift and maneuver it for cleaning. But for that money and effort, you get a board that can potentially last a lifetime—and is a much greater pleasure to cut on, as well. 

What size cutting board should I get? 

It depends. In general, we recommend getting the biggest cutting board that will fit on your counter and in your sink—and that you’re able to comfortably lift. Bigger boards give you more room to work when trimming big roasts or slicing long bunches of leafy greens, though they’re also good for smaller tasks as well. Many of our test cooks also like using a bigger board because they can prep multiple ingredients on it and keep them on the board as they work, simplifying their mise en place. We think a cutting board measuring at least 15 by 20 inches is the best size for most home cooks, and our favorite wood board is actually a bit larger, measuring 18 by 24 inches.

That said, big, heavy wooden cutting boards aren’t for everyone. If portability and ease of use are priorities, you might want to consider a lighter-weight large plastic cutting board offering the same surface area. Or you might prefer a smaller cutting board altogether—though they don’t provide as much work space, small boards are generally easier than large ones to maneuver and wash, though they’re more prone to warping and other damage. And if you just want a tiny board for little tasks, we recommend investing in a wood or plastic bar board.

Are expensive cutting boards worth the money?

They can be. Large wood cutting boards are often expensive to begin with...

Everything We Tested

Good : 3 stars out of 3.Fair : 2 stars out of 3.Poor : 1 stars out of 3.
*All products reviewed by America’s Test Kitchen are independently chosen, researched, and reviewed by our editors. We buy products for testing at retail locations and do not accept unsolicited samples for testing. We list suggested sources for recommended products as a convenience to our readers but do not endorse specific retailers. When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are subject to change.
accolades badge

Reviews you can trust

Reviews you can trust

The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them.

Miye Bromberg

Miye Bromberg

Miye is a senior editor for ATK Reviews. She covers booze, blades, and gadgets of questionable value.

0 Comments