Choosing the right wooden chopping board
The right chopping board will be an invaluable piece of kitchenware and should be high quality, knife-friendly and make your overall food preparation seamless. Selecting one to suit your needs will depend on how much space you have, what your required cutting surface area is, as well as whether or not you plan on having it on display or using it to create delicious serving boards and cheese platters.
Other factors to consider when buying a cutting board
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Impact absorption. For the most part, wooden chopping boards are shock absorbing which makes them gentler on knife blades, causing the least amount of damage over time. However, other factors contribute to the level of impact absorption such as thickness, type of wood grain and quality. If you care about maintaining your knives, go for a higher quality and thicker wood carving board or chopping board set. This is the preferred choice of butchers and chefs.
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Durability. Some materials are more durable than others. Wood cutting boards last significantly longer than other materials, especially when properly looked after, but this also depends on the type of wood used. For example, acacia wood is a hard, rich wood and is considered superior to a bamboo cutting board as it protects knives better and is more long lasting.
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Maintenance. While selecting a harder wood like maple or acacia will be kinder to your knives, they do take some looking after and benefit from a coat of oil every now and then. If this is too much work for you, a bamboo chopping board could be a happy medium as it doesn’t require as much care (but it may warp or bend over time if regularly submerged in warm water).
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Shape and size. Wooden chopping boards make great serving trays. If you like putting together a cheese board but don't have lots of room for varying platters, buying a wooden chopping board that looks good and has a good shape or surface area could be a real win.
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Price. Deciding how much you spend on a cutting board not only depends on your budget but also on value for money. This is where it’s a good idea to try to balance cost with quality and longevity.
Best wood for wooden chopping boards
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Maple. This is a hard, closed grain wood that is very popular among cooking enthusiasts. It’s durable, antibacterial and has the perfect level of hardness but can be on the pricey side.
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Ash. Another great choice, Ash is tough enough to withstand everyday use but has a light tone that looks good and is easy to match. Like most wood boards, it may need a little extra care to avoid staining. If in doubt, avoid slicing acidic food like tomatoes and berries on it.
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Acacia. Incredibly durable and readily available, acacia wood makes for a highly versatile board and can be more affordable than maple wood. Acacia wood also varies in colour so you can select from tones that range from light-medium to dark.
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Walnut. Softer than maple, walnut boards wear pretty well over time and have a good hardness, which both protects blades and is easy to maintain.
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Bamboo. Although bamboo is a grass not a wood, it has similar properties. It’s very easy to maintain and affordable but can be tougher on knives and warp over time if not looked after properly.
For you, it might be as simple as picking a wooden chopping board that best matches the wooden accents you already have in your kitchen, such as salt and pepper mills, knife blocks, spice jars and utensil holders. This will help you achieve a cohesive and polished benchtop or floating shelf display.
End grain vs long grain cutting boards
An end grain cutting board is considered more forgiving on knives and won’t show cutting marks as easily. You can tell the board is an end grain one when the tree rings are visible.
A long grain cutting board is also known as a face or edge grain board. If you’re not one to regularly oil your boards, you’ll find long grain to be more durable and affordable. However they are less knife friendly.
Buying with Kitchen Warehouse Australia-wide
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FAQs:
Do all cutting boards last the same amount of time?
No. The longevity of your cutting board depends on the material, quality and design as well as how well you care for it.
What are the advantages of using a wood cutting board?
The main advantage of using a wood cutting board is that it’s more shock absorbent, meaning it’s gentle on your knives and better protects the blades. We also recommend trying to limit the use of plastic chopping boards where possible to keep your knives in shape.
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