The Best Wood for Cutting Boards

When it comes to kitchen tools, a durable wood cutting board is one of our essentials. The only question is, what type of wood is best? There are plenty of choices: acacia, teak, maple, bamboo, walnut — even Japanese cypress!

Use the guide below to decide what type of wood is right for your kitchen. Then follow our tips for expert cutting board care.

What Is the Best Wood for Cutting Boards?

We’ve used every type of wood cutting board on the market. And the winner is clear: maple. Sarah Farmer, who leads the Taste of Home culinary team, says, “We like our cutting boards like we like our syrup — of the maple variety. It’s durable, prevents the growth of bacteria, is easy on the knives and looks nice.”

Maple cutting boards are also easy to clean and sanitize. But keep in mind that no matter which wood you use, all types are porous and likely to absorb juices from raw meat. Instead, only break out your wood cutting board for table-ready foods like herbs, vegetables, fruit, bread and cheese.

End Grain vs. Edge Grain Cutting Boards

Another thing to remember when you’re shopping for a cutting board: The terms “end grain” and “edge grain” refer to which part of the wood is used to construct the board. End grain is the end of the wood (where you can see the rings) and edge grain is the side of the wood (where you see a familiar wood grain pattern).

The two types of cutting boards are easy to tell apart because end grain cutting boards have a distinct checkerboard pattern made from several wood “ends” being fused together. Boards made from edge grain feature the more traditional cutting board look.

So which one is better? It depends on your personal preference. End grain boards are more expensive but easier on your knives. Edge grain boards are more durable, easier to maintain and more affordable, but will cause your knives to dull faster.

Top-Rated Maple Cutting Boards

Now that we’ve revealed maple as the best wood for cutting boards, it’s time to get your hands on one! For a classic board that will last a lifetime, we love this John Boos edge grain cutting board. It has a timeless reversible design, and it’s the perfect size with plenty of chopping space.

We also love this Boos end grain board which features great reviews and comes in ten sizes. For a smaller board with a personal touch, check out this cute handled maple cutting board.

Up next, check out these cutting board hacks every home cook should know.

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