Affiliate Disclosure:This Old House’s Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services. To support this business model, This Old House may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website.
The key to preparing any meal is having a good cutting board. These versatile kitchen tools provide a needed surface for your knives to do their work. To help you cut meats and vegetables, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best cutting boards on Amazon. Here are our top five recommendations.
Most Customizable: Gorilla Grip Cutting Boards
These three plastic and rubber boards measure 11.8 by 8 inches, 13.8 by 9.6 inches, and 16 by 11.2 inches. The rubber border and plastic cutting surface come in different color combinations to choose what you prefer and what matches your other kitchen tools.
Key Features
- Three cutting boards: 11.8 by 8 inches, 13.8 by 9.6 inches, and 16 by 11.2 inches
- Made from plastic and rubber
- Juice grooves
- Reversible
- Dishwasher-safe
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked the dishwasher-safe design and non-slip border of these cutting boards. However, some users gave these cutting boards negative reviews because it was easy for knives to leave marks on their surface. While the boards used rubber around the edges, this didn’t always prevent them from sliding.
Best Wood Set: Greener Chef Bamboo Cutting Boards
The three cutting boards in this set are made from thick, durable, and decorative bamboo. The front side has deep grooves to capture juice before it hits your counter, while the back side is flat to act as a serving plate.
Key Features
- Three cutting boards: 18 by 12.5 inches, 14.5 by 11.5 inches, and 12 by 9 inches
- Made from bamboo
- Juice grooves
- Reversible
- Wash by hand
What Customers Are Saying
Happy customers said that these boards were well-crafted and easy to clean. They also liked that the boards were different sizes. However, negative reviews claimed that they were heavy and difficult to move. Other customers said that the grooves weren’t as wide and deep as they wanted.
Best Plastic Board: KitchenAid Plastic Cutting Board
This cutting board is useful for light use. It is made from BPA-free plastic and measures 11 by 14 inches. Its non-slip edges keep it secure on your counter, and its perimeter trench catches juices to keep your cooking station clean.
Key Features
- 11 by 14 inches
- Made from plastic and rubber
- Juice grooves
- Reversible
- Dishwasher-safe
What Customers Are Saying
This cutting board’s sturdiness and storability stood out for many customers. However, others were upset that it marred easily. They also found the rubber end pieces to be insufficient in keeping it in place.
Most Decorative: John Boos Maple Chopping Block
This wood cutting board is handcrafted in Illinois with a stylish checkerboard pattern that’s sure to turn heads in your kitchen. Though decorative, it’s also functional. It’s 20 by 15 inches, giving you plenty of room to work.
Key Features
- 20 by 15 inches
- Made from maple
- Reversible
- Wash by hand
What Customers Are Saying
Reviewers who were happy with this cutting board said that it had a useful and elegant design. However, other customers were unhappy because it cracked, warped, or sustained other damage after minimal use.
Best Rubber Board: NoTrax Rubber Cutting Board
Made with 100% high-density, all-natural rubber, this non-slip cutting board provides a quality chopping surface that doesn’t crack, splinter, or peel. As it starts to show signs of regular wear and tear, you can resurface it with a sander or sandpaper.
Key Features
- 12 by 18 inches
- Made from rubber
- Reversible
- Wash by hand
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied users liked that this cutting board was made from high-quality rubber that was easy on knives and didn’t allow bacteria growth. On the other hand, unsatisfied customers claimed that it had a strong rubber odor and stained easily.
Buyer’s Guide
Material, size, quantity, maintenance, design, and features are among the factors you should consider before buying a cutting board. This guide explains these elements in more detail.
Material
Cutting boards are typically made from one of the following materials.
Wood
Wood cutting boards are durable and elegant. However, you have to wash them by hand. Depending on the type of wood they’re made from, you may also have to wipe them with oil every so often.
Plastic
Plastic cutting boards are usually the most affordable option, but they have some drawbacks. They’re not decorative, and they can sustain damage fairly easily. Over time, knives leave cut marks on the plastic and maybe even chip off pieces of the plastic.
Rubber
Some cutting boards have rubber edges, while others are made of purely rubber. Rubber is non-slip, so it keeps your cutting board in place. However, like plastic, it’s prone to scratches.
Glass
Glass cutting boards are decorative, but they break easily. They’re best for light use, such as serving cheese and crackers. You can also use them as purely decoration on a table or counter.
Size
Large cutting boards give you tons of space to chop meats, vegetables, fruits, and more as you’re preparing the ingredients for your meal. You sacrifice ease of storage and movement, though, because they can be difficult to wash in sinks or dishwashers or store in cabinets.
Quantity
Some cutting boards, especially affordable plastic ones, are sold in sets. Having multiple boards can be useful for keeping your raw meats separate from your fruits and vegetables. If you like to cook with your partner or children, a set also gives each person a board.
Maintenance
As mentioned above, wooden cutting boards aren’t typically dishwasher-safe. For longevity, some have to be coated in oil to prevent cracking and warping. Like wood, glass also has to be washed by hand. All plastic cutting boards and some rubber ones are dishwasher-safe.
Design
The most important feature of a cutting board is its functionality, but look may be important to you as well. If you have a newly renovated kitchen, getting a cheap cutting board may look out of place. On the flip side, if your smaller kitchen doesn’t have the counter space to store a nicer board, getting a plastic or rubber one may be a better option. For customization, plastic and rubber boards come in different colors, and wood ones are available in multiple finishes.
Features
In addition to a flat surface, some cutting boards have other features that make them easier to use. For example, many options on the market have a channel around the perimeter to catch any juice that runs out of your food as you cut it. Other cutting boards have carrying handles or non-slip edges.
How To Maintain Your Cutting Board
A quality cutting board should last you for years if it’s properly maintained. Here are some easy steps you can take to care for your new purchase.
Wash Your Board Right Away
The longer you let odors and juices penetrate the board, the harder it will be to remove them. After using your cutting board, wash it immediately using the manufacturer’s instructions.
Sanitize Your Board After Prepping Meat
Using either bleach and water or vinegar, sanitize your cutting board after chopping raw meat to avoid bacteria growth.
Avoid Soaking Your Board in Water
Soaking your cutting board in water to remove tough stains may seem like a smart idea. However, if you have a wood board, soaking it for too long can cause the wood to warp.
Use Baking Soda for Tough Stains
Instead of soaking it in water, use baking soda to remove difficult stains from your cutting board. Using a warm, damp cloth, rub the baking soda over the stains. Then, rinse the board under the sink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cutting boards go in the dishwasher?
Most plastic and rubber cutting boards are dishwasher-safe, but wooden and glass boards should be hand-washed. To wash a cutting board by hand, use dish soap, warm water, and a sponge to gently wipe and rinse the surface. You can let the board air-dry on its side, or wipe it dry with a soft microfiber cloth.
What type of oil should I use on a wooden cutting board?
Wooden cutting boards are oiled to prevent premature wear. Use beeswax, mineral oil, fractionated coconut oil, or oil that’s specifically designed for cutting boards. Avoid using olive oil, avocado oil, or other oil that goes bad.
Can I make my own cutting board?
If none of the reviewed items offer what you’re looking for, consider making your own cutting board. We have detailed guides on how to make an end-grain cutting board, a house-shaped cutting board, and a cube cutting board.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.