Can Any Wood Be Used for a Cutting Board?

by iupilon
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Wooden chopping boards occupy a special place in kitchens because they can take a lot of punishment during heavy use, and they’re beautiful surfaces to prepare food on. But what is the best wood for cutting board? Is oak suitable for cutting boards? What can you expect from certain brands of wooden chopping boards? We will be talking about all these essential points in today’s blog.

Best Wood for Chopping Board

  1. Maple

Maple has always been a crowd favorite in the manufacture of chopping blocks and wooden chopping boards, like oak. Maple has a light grain and also is equally bright in color compared to other kinds of wood, which are great for creating neutral-looking chopping boards. Due to its neutral color, maple chopping boards lend well to different types of kitchens, which makes it an optimum choice for people who like to style their kitchens as well.

For top tier maple, pick a chopping board made of rock maple. The reason why many people love rock maple chopping boards is they’re very durable, and you cannot make knife marks on the surface quickly. Rock maple is more effective in staving off knife marks than other popular wood types like teak and walnut.

  1. Beech

Beech is one of the hardest types of wood to be used in the manufacture of chopping boards. On the Janka scale, it scores a massive 1,300 lbf. But more importantly, beech is safe for use in the kitchen. It will not stain or leach chemicals onto your food. And since beech is a naturally closed-grain hardwood, it does not absorb water as readily as other kinds of softer wood. Its natural resistance to water absorption also means that it is not likely to soften over time, which can lead to warping and cracking on the surface.

Hardwood chopping boards tend to resist knife marks, but they will not dull the chopping-edge of your knives, either. This is probably the reason why so many professional chefs enjoy using wooden chopping boards in general: because sharp knives are just as crucial as durable chopping boards.

  1. Teak

Teak wood is highly prized for its grain and fantastic color. Teak’s natural density isn’t inadequate either, and people tend to use teak wood chopping boards for years before they need to be replaced. Teak chopping boards also occupy the top tier of wooden chopping boards, and they are beloved around the world.

One aspect that genuinely puts teak in a league of its own is its natural capacity to hide stains. Stains can be quite problematic, especially if you frequently prepare food with ingredients like beetroot. Since teak wood is naturally dark, it is not likely that food stains will be seen on the surface for very long.

  1. Walnut

Who could forget the great walnut when talking about reliable wooden products? The claim to fame of walnut chopping boards is that they are not just durable; they are also less likely to show shrinkage over time. We all know that wooden chopping boards shrink because they are made of organic matter and that we also need to condition the wood regularly to reduce the speed of shrinkage.

With walnut, shrinkage is naturally inhibited by the inner structure of the wood. So if you condition walnut and keep it in top shape, it just might outlast the other wood types. And like teak wood, walnut has a naturally dark color that helps significantly in masking natural food stains when you are slicing and chopping away.

Best Wood Cutting Board Brands

We’ve taken a look at the top-selling wooden chopping boards on Amazon, and the following makes the cake when it comes to pleasing actual Amazon buyers. Enjoy our list of the best wood chopping boards in 2020.

  1. Sonder Los Angeles American Walnut Wood Chopping Board with Cherry/Maple Accents

It features a modern and unique design for the best kitchens. It has an edge grain construction that improves the durability of the chopping board and makes it more resistant to knife marks. Resists food stains and moisture. Master artisans make these wooden chopping boards with exquisite attention to detail.

  1. J.K. Adams Large Reversible Maple Carving Board

If you are looking for a reversible carving board with pronounced grooves, the J.K. Adams take on it is plausible. Manufactured in Vermont, USA, this maple carving board is made from sustainably harvested wood in North America. The manufacturer also offers a lifetime guarantee for its buyers. One side of the carving board is designed to hold your roasts stylishly, while the other hand has a smooth, full surface punctuated by deep grooves to catch moisture runoff.

  1. John Boos Block 214 Chop-N-Slice Maple Wood Chopping Board

Another instant classic by John Boos, who is a competitive figure in the chopping board industry, the Block 214 Chop-N-Slice measures eighteen inches tall, twelve inches across and is more than an inch thick, but remains surprisingly lightweight for its build and dimensions. 100% made in the USA and is manufactured by master craftsmen in the state of Illinois. Constructed from sustainably harvested hard rock maple, the king of hardwoods. The Chop-N-Slice is reversible and will naturally resist moisture, bacteria, and knife damage. According to a study from the University of Illinois, maple wood typically contains enzymes that break down bacteria, which makes this chopping board ideal in our health worries.

How To Keep A Wooden Chopping Board Clean

  • Always wash your chopping boards after each use. No, drying them will not remove the bacteria.
  • Use hot, soapy water to kill viruses and bacteria. You may use diluted bleach later on to disinfect the surface. Rinse generously with warm water and then air-dry or pat dry.
  • Use your wooden chopping board for just one class of food items. If you cut bread on it, just cut bread – don’t mix fresh meat or vegetables.
  • Having multiple wooden chopping boards is recommended to stop cross-contamination and to keep all your dishes tasty and safe from human pathogens.

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