THE BEST CUTTING BOARD
Is there really a “best cutting board"? Well, we're not sure. What we do know is, with so many cutting boards to choose from, trying to select the right one can be an overwhelming task. There are wide variances in material used, board size and price. One big misnomer is that plastic cutting boards are more sanitary than wood. This is simply not true. Plastic is commonly used to make inexpensive cutting boards, but it’s also scarred easily from repeated knife use and those gashes in the plastic are ideal places for bacteria to grow. Even when supposedly sanitized deep cuts in the plastic can still harbor bacteria.
In contrast, wood is a porous material, even the transfer of bacteria from a wood cutting board surface to food is lower as compared to other surfaces like plastic. When compared to smooth surfaces like plastic, glass or metals, woods’ rough or porous surface often generate unfavorable conditions for microorganisms. Wood has the particular characteristic of producing antimicrobial components able to inhibit or limit the growth of bacteria. Wood is good, it’s better than plastic and it’s been used to prepare food for the past 1000 years.
WHICH WOOD SPECIE IS BEST?
Wood is the best way to go when selecting a cutting board, but the specific wood species used is important. Cherry, Walnut and Maple have long been recognized as preferred hardwoods used to make premium cutting boards because each is a closed-grain hardwood. Closed-grain hardwoods have a fine, tightly packed cell structure that absorb liquids far slower than their counterpart open-grain woods. This means less liquid can penetrate the wood surface and into deeper fibers, making it harder for bacteria to thrive.
In essence, the tight cell structure and natural antimicrobial properties of closed-grain hardwoods, coupled with the woods ability to absorb and trap moisture/potential bacteria create a natural barrier against bacteria growth. Furthermore, hard maple with a hardness of *1,450 lbf, cherry with a hardness of *950 lbf and walnut at *1,010 lbf are durable enough to withstand heavy use yet easy on knife edges. *Janka Wood Hardness Scale
BOARD THICKNESS
Cutting board thickness is another key factor to consider when purchasing a wood cutting board because it affects how the board feels to the user and its sturdiness on the counter. Thin wood cutting boards (boards less than 1.25" thick) are too light and tend to slide around on the counter. In contrast, solid wood cutting boards 2" thick or greater weigh more and therefore are more stable on the counter and more comfortable to work on. This explains why most professional chiefs choose thick solid wood cutting boards. Board thickness also affects board life and resistance to warping. A thick solid "hardwood" cutting board lasts longer and will resist warping compared to thinner boards.
CUTTING BOARD SIZE
Cutting Board Dimensions should be considered because if the board is too small or too large it may not work for the task at hand and it may be too cumbersome for the user to maneuver. Board size determines the work surface area so for example, a 12"D X 16"W board used for prepping meal ingredients for a family of three may be a better option than choosing a larger 15"D X 20"W board. Consider the size and weight of the cutting board you’re considering purchasing to get the most out of it.
TYPES OF WOOD CUTTING BOARDS:
Essentially two categories of wood cutting boards exist and they are Solid Single Piece Cutting Boards like what we make, and Wood Cutting Boards constructed of glued up pieces of wood. Both cutting board designs have their place with distinct advantages regarding style, use and longevity. We choose to make our boards from a single thick slab of hardwood because we know that they’ll last a lifetime if they are cared for properly. Additionally, a single piece of wood doesn’t have glue joints, so they have a more natural appearance.
Cutting boards made of glued up pieces of wood with visible glue joints look manufactured. What’s important with glued boards is how they’re manufactured. These boards need to be made using a powerful hydraulic glue press where the glue and pieces of wood are tightly pressed together. The press creates a strong bond between the wood and glue pushing air out helping to minimize the glue joint from failing. While these boards have a manufactured appearance some are beautiful.
Glued boards include (in order as shown) edge-grain, end grain and face-grain. Each of these boards are premium but have distinctive differences in construction and appearance. Edge grain boards are made of narrow strips of wood glued together. Face grain boards are made of a few larger - wider boards that are glued together. End grain boards are made of small wood blocks with their grain positioned vertically – instead of cutting across the grain like with edge and face grain boards you’re cutting into and between the grain. If you use a cleaver for chopping, we suggest you consider an end grain cutting board.
CUTTING BOARD CARE:
Perhaps if there is a “best wood cutting board” it’s likely the one that’s cared for properly. Regardless of which wood cutting board style you choose, they all must be oiled/conditioned regularly to ensure a long life. Wood is alive, it reacts to its surrounding environment (temperature & humidity). Storing a wood cutting board flat on the counter for an extended period of time exposes the board to varying temperature and humidly conditions. These environment variances create an imbalance inside the wood board and can cause warping regardless of the style of board.
Our single piece wood boards are thick and have a wide edge allowing for the board to be stored "on edge" - this creates a balanced environment around the entire board minimizing an imbalance inside the board – minimizing the chance of warping. Oiling/conditioning a wood cutting board regularly nourishes the wood and keeps it from drying out and cracking.
We know how essential a good oil/moisture barrier is on a wood cutting board. Before we ship any of our cutting boards, we are certain that an adequate moisture / oil barrier has been established. This guarantees that the customer receives a board that's protected - they just continue with the routine board care. Mineral oil is good, but a brand name board conditioner is better because of its thicker viscosity and increased penetrating qualities. We use Odies Penetrating Oil but there are also others that include Howards Board Conditioner.
SPACE & USAGE:
If you are restricted with counter space, a smaller cutting board will be more practical than maneuvering around a big 15”D X 20”W board. Consider what you're using the cutting board for. Cutting up a few onions or apples is far less involved compared to preparing meal ingredients for a 10-person dinner party. Our board size recommendations are as follows.
Small Households (2-3 people) 10”D X 14”W & 12”D X 16”W Boards
Medium sized Households (4-6 people) 14"D X 18”W & 15”D X 20”W Boards
Large Households (6-10 people) 15”D X 20”W & 15”D X 22”W Boards
BARBEQUE & MEAT CARVING:
The demands of carving boards can be different from typical flat surface cutting boards because of the juices associated with beef and poultry. Our Slicer and Carver Series Carving/Barbeque Boards are equipped with either juice grooves or spacious juice pockets for collecting all that mouthwatering Au-Jus for guests to enjoy rather than letting it drip off the board and creating a mess on the counter or table.
Board size is also a factor because you'll need a substantially sized board to carve up a 15 lb. smoked beef brisket. A big beef brisket or whole roasted turkey requires space for carving.
The following are a few board size suggestions you may find helpful.
Large Beef Brisket Carver Series 15”D X 22”W & 15”D X 24”W
Whole Turkey Slicer Series 15”D X 22”W & 15”D X 24”W
Whole Chicken Slicer Series 14”D X 18”W & 15"D X 20"W
GOOD LOOKS: Cutting boards are an essential cooking tool and many of our customers purchase one for not only use but also for aesthetics...they want a board that feels good and looks good standing up against the counter backsplash.
Each wood species we use to make our boards has its own unique color and character, giving you wood cutting board options to match your needs and kitchen décor style. We offer both rustic Live Edge Cutting Boards and modern style Flat Edge.
If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Steve at stephen@zimboards.com