Chefs Love Their Boos Block—We Tested It Out Alongside 20 Other Wooden Cutting Boards (2024)

Our Top Picks

John Boos is an iconic name in the wooden cutting board category, with a presence in nearly every professional kitchen around the country. One look at this durable (and, dare we say, beautiful) cutting board, and it’s not hard to see why. Made of end-grain maple and weighing a whopping 10 pounds, this hefty cutting board offers a firm yet gentle surface for any number of kitchen prep tasks — and it looks good on your counter.

In testing, this cutting board quickly gained an edge over the competition thanks to its substantial size. The large surface made it easy to dice up bigger items, like watermelon, while allowing users to create a mini mise en place around the board with smaller ingredients like herbs and aromatics. This piece can be a bit cumbersome to wash due to its size, but the quality and functionality outweigh any wrestling required to get it into your kitchen sink. To keep your Boos board in tip-top shape, the brand recommends oiling it regularly with a food-safe mineral oil.

Materials: Maple | Size: 20 x 15 inches | Weight: 10 pounds

For a quality cutting board that won’t break the bank, we like this thoughtful design from Farberware. Sized to an approachable 14 inches long, it’s tipped in silicone corners to prevent slipping and sliding during use. The lightweight bamboo design also has a shallow trench around the perimeter to catch any water or juices (in the case of cutting proteins) before they roll off onto your countertops.

While testing this cutting board, we were immediately impressed with how sturdy it was. It barely budged as we were slicing and dicing ingredients, with the silicone corners offering the stability that its weight would not. The thin design makes it mobile and easy to store, making it a great option for cooks who don’t want to keep their cutting board out in the open permanently. The durable bamboo material was gentle on our chef’s knives and didn’t nick easily, though stains from red sauces and pigmented foods did hang around through a few washes before dissipating.

Materials: Bamboo | Size: 14 x 11 inches | Weight: 2.2 pounds

All eyes will be on this cutting board from The Boardsmith the second you break it out to carve up a rack of lamb or julienne carrots. It’s handcrafted from sustainably sourced premium-grade maple and built to last decades with the proper care so, although it’s a hefty investment, it’s a worthy one. You can personalize some elements of this board, including adding a juice groove around the perimeter or finger grooves to make picking up the substantial piece easier.

During testing, we were wowed by its overall beauty and quality. Every detail is considered with the utmost care, from the protective layer of board butter each piece is treated with to the subtly integrated feet at the base which allow the board to dry thoroughly and keep it from sliding around on your countertop. Because this design is a few inches smaller than the John Boos board on our list, it more easily fits into the sink for cleaning, and the finger grips make it simple to move around the kitchen or tote it to the table for serving.

Materials: Maple | Size: 18 x 12 inches | Weight: 10 pounds

There’s no getting around the fact that cleaning off your cutting board in between prep tasks can be a pain, which is why many home cooks prefer to have two or three surfaces at their disposal. This comprehensive trio from Caraway Home will set you up for success, with three durable wood boards in useful sizes. Each piece is made from lightweight birch wood that is never treated with harmful chemicals.

As we were testing this trio, we were impressed by how helpful it was to have three quality cutting boards to carry us through meal prep. The sizes of the boards were useful for different chopping tasks, and they were thick enough to be sturdy without feeling cumbersome or bulky. We also appreciated the thoughtful addition of grooves on two boards. While they don’t work as well as a perimeter juice trench, they are a helpful place to section off ingredients or corral runaway items, like rolling berries or dried spices. The light birch wood material was aesthetically beautiful, but we did find that it showed stains more easily than some of the other wood options on our list. Ultimately, it took a bit more scrubbing and some lemon juice to get them out.

Materials: Birch | Size: 17 x 12 inches (large); 14 x 10 inches (medium);10 x 7 inches (small); | Weight: 3.55 pounds (large); 2.67 pounds (medium); 0.85 pounds (small)

Unlike most wooden cutting boards, which must be washed by hand, this Epicurean surface is made of paper composite and thus can be put in the dishwasher for a hassle-free clean. The unique makeup of this board also means it requires less maintenance care than true wood cutting boards — no oiling or waxing here. At 20 inches long, it’s big enough to allow for prepping multiple ingredients at once, but not so large that you’ll struggle to fit it into your sink (or dishwasher) or find a spot to store it in your cabinets.

During our tests, we loved how straightforward this cutting board was in design. The rectangular shape touts a hole in one end, which makes it easy to pick up the board or store it by hanging it. The wide juice groove around the edge catches any liquid your ingredients create and the composite material was impervious to food stains and visible nicks from our knives (though we could still feel them slightly). We noticed a slight odor when the board was washed, but it dissipated over time as it dried.

Materials: Paper composite | Size: 17.5 x 13 inches | Weight: 3.09 pounds

This mid-sized surface from FiveTwo harnesses bamboo’s antimicrobial and water-resistant properties to craft a wood cutting board that is as functional and durable as it is beautiful. The double-sided design fulfills every need with a perimeter juice groove, a pour spout on one side, and a phone slot on the other where you can prop up your device to follow your favorite roast chicken recipe.

This board quickly became a favorite during testing thanks to its lightweight design and user-friendly features. We loved the mid-range thickness of this surface, which was weighty enough to feel sturdy and substantial but not so heavy that it became cumbersome. Because this wooden cutting board is designed to be dual-sided, there are no silicone or rubber grips to keep it from slipping. While this didn’t bother us when using a smaller paring knife, it did slide a bit when using a larger chef’s knife; putting a towel beneath the board seemed to help with this issue.

Materials: Bamboo | Size: 11.25 x 14.5 inches | Weight: 3.75 pounds

Any good groupie knows: a John Boos cutting board isn’t just a John Boos cutting board. It’s also a spot to style up your favorite cookware accessories (like that vintage salt cellar and collection of wooden spoons), an impressive place to serve a seasonal dish, and even a surface to keep you organized during lunch prep for the week. It’s one of the most versatile additions to your kitchen — not to mention one of the most beautiful.

The brand’s maple edge grain cutting board earned high praise in our testing for its versatility. Its hefty construction and oversized profile make it suitable for prep tasks. Like the other Boos model that made our list, this version was gentle on our knives and didn’t hold on to too many stains or food smells, though garlic did linger for about a day. While this piece doesn’t have a juice groove around the perimeter, it does have integrated handles, so if you want to use it to serve up an impressive roast or array of veggies, you absolutely can.

Materials: Maple | Size: 20 x 15 inches | Weight: 12 pounds

If you’re a self-proclaimed pit master or love to whip up your signature chicken in your smoker, this Made In cutting board is a must for your kitchen. Uniquely designed to cater to butchering and carving meat, it has two slightly different sides to help with everything from recipe prep to food presentation. The first side has a deep juice groove around the edge to catch the runoff from your steak carving before it hits your countertop; the flip side is flat, providing a seamless surface for chopping up herbs for a chimichurri or whipping up a charcuterie board pre-dinner. Both sides are gentle on steak knives, butcher knives, and brisket knives.

As our top pick for the best carving board, we weren't surprised that it rose to the top of the pack in our testing of the best wooden cutting boards. The grooves caught every drip and the board felt sturdy and secure, even given the absence of any nonslip feet (since it’s dual-sided). We used both sides equally, and cleaning the board was a breeze thanks to its modest size. We did notice the wood seemed a bit drier than other models post-wash, so you may need to oil or moisturize this piece more frequently than the brand suggests.

Materials: Maple | Size: 17.75 x 11.75 inches | Weight: 8 pounds

Looking to make a bold statement? There’s no better way than with this rich, luxe-looking walnut wood cutting board from Our Place. The deep brown hue offers something different in style, while the solid hardwood construction and user-friendly features like a curved edge, concave sides, and juice trench keep things functional in your kitchen.We're fans of Our Place's drinking glasses and non-toxic cookware, so we weren't surprised that this was one of the best wooden cutting boards we tested.

During testing, we were immediately taken by this board’s high-end appeal — and pleased to realize shortly after that it functions well, too. Like other picks on our list, the hardwood makeup of this board is gentle on knives, without allowing for too many visible nicks or food stains in the process. The unique curved front of this piece makes it easy to brush chopped ingredients into a bowl and helps you stash it away in a cabinet without causing too much bulk. The juice trench was an innovative swap for the more traditional juice groove, and we found it worked just as well in collecting any liquids on the board.

Materials: Walnut | Size: 17 x 12 inches | Weight: 5.6 pounds

Choosing the best wooden cutting board is all about making your meal prep work easier and more streamlined. No other board on our list takes that more to heart than this one by Cup Board. It’s designed to act as an all-in-one command station for your chopping needs, with a sturdy paper composite board and integrated silicone cup “tray” where you can stash scraps or corral your chopped ingredients until it’s time to add them to the frying pan or Dutch oven.

While testing, we loved its simple and streamlined design. The board is smaller than others on our list, but the tray allows you to easily clear space as you go and keep things moving. The paper composite material is durable and didn’t show stains or hold onto food smells; that said, a few knife marks were visible and, overall, it didn’t feel as gentle on our knives as some of the thicker wood cutting boards on our list. All parts of this cutting board are dishwasher-safe. Plus, it’s slim and easy to store, making it a great option for the cook who prioritizes ease and organization.

Materials: Paper composite, silicone | Size: 16 x 15 inches | Weight: 5 pounds 4 ounces

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the best wood for cutting boards?

  In terms of food safety, all wood is a fairly sanitary pick for cutting boards, though some cooks prefer not to prep raw meat on the surface because the pieces themselves typically can’t be put in the dishwasher. That said, bamboo is known to have anti-microbial properties and is among the most sanitary wood options for a cutting board. Regardless of what type of wood you choose for your cutting board, you should always be diligent about cleaning the surface well when working with raw proteins to prevent cross-contamination.

• Are wooden cutting boards or plastic cutting boards safer?

  Both wood and plastic cutting boards are safe for use, provided they feature a sturdy, non-slip surface. There is some discussion around plastic boards chipping into food, but in general, they are fine to be used for any given task. That said, wood boards are more gentle on your knives than plastic cutting boards.

• How long do most wooden cutting boards last?

  Wood cutting boards are an investment and are meant to last years in your kitchen with the proper care. As long as you treat your wood cutting board regularly with a moisture application (typically food-safe mineral oil or wax), it can last you up to a decade or more.