A cutting board is one of the essential items you need in the kitchen. Whether you like to cook or not, not having a cutting board will make things inconvenient. Without a cutting board, you won’t be able to cut anything as simple as a fruit. Hence, you must invest in a good-quality cutting board right away.
Instead of buying one, you can always take the unconventional route and make a cutting board. Making one yourself will probably save you more money than you think. All you need are a few vital tools and the right kind of wood. The former is highly necessary as your cutting board’s quality and life depend on it.
The 9 Best Woods for Cutting Boards
Below are a few best blocks of wood you can use to build a cutting board.
Maple
Most people who make their cutting boards themselves recommend maple, as it’s one of the hardest pieces of wood; hence, one of the most durable. Also, maple has refined grains, which will add more appeal to your cutting board.
Since it’s too hard, it has powerful bacteria-resisting capabilities, preventing it from being eaten by insects. Another thing about maple is that it has neutral tones. So, it’ll blend well with your kitchen and other kitchen items. Please note that using red maple is a big no as it’s not as durable.
Ash
Another excellent piece of wood to use while making a cutting board is ash. It’s commonly used to make many wooden items as it’s sturdy and durable.
If you use ash to build your cutting board, you won’t need another for years, as your existing one will last pretty long. However, you should know about ash because it’s pretty sensitive. So, you’ll have to work hard to protect and maintain it.
It’ll probably decay or rot away if you don’t care enough to look after it.
Acacia
Acacia isn’t the most used wood to make cutting boards, but it’s highly effective. This wood is versatile as it comes in different colors and has varying qualities. Acacia-based cutting boards are pretty sturdy, contributing to their longevity.
Also, if you’re cutting board is made from acacia wood, you won’t have to battle nasty stains as it’s pretty stain-resistant. Acacia wood mostly comes in neutral colors, making it the perfect wood to make a kitchen-related item such as a cutting board.
Cherry
You’ll have one for years if you use cherry to build your cutting board. If you work hard to maintain your cherry-based cutting board, you won’t have to worry about getting one for the next few years. Cherrywood comes in medium to dark colors, adding a rustic charm to your kitchen.
The best part about getting a cutting board made from cherry is that it won’t dull your kitchen knives. The more rightly you treat this wood, the longer your cutting board will last. Also, cherry isn’t that expensive to afford, so your budget won’t take a hit.
Walnut
Walnut is another piece of wood that will benefit you plenty if you use it to make your cutting board. It comes in dark brown colors that make your cutting board look rustic and edgy. If you have a luxurious kitchen, a cutting board made from walnut wood will fit perfectly.
Although it might be slightly more expensive than other wood types, it’s highly durable. So, it’ll last longer than you think. Walnut wood is softer than maple. It’s just the right amount of hard, making it an adequate piece of wood to invest in.
Teak
Making one from teak will be ideal if you want an easy-to-maintain cutting board. People who can’t invest sufficient time and energy into maintaining their cutting boards go for teak wood to build their cutting boards. It works perfectly as teak has beautiful grains, making the cutting board pretty aesthetic.
Also, teak has water-repelling properties. There’s no problem if you drop some water on your cutting board! Apart from water, it absorbs other stains, too, so you’ll be tension-free, knowing nothing can harm your teak cutting board.
Bamboo
We know what you’re thinking: when did bamboo become a piece of wood? Sure, it’s grass, but using bamboo to make a cutting board is pretty practical. It has the right amount of hardness, and it’s also pretty stain-absorbent.
Another thing you must know about bamboo is that it grows relatively quickly, so it’s easily produced. However, please be mindful that bamboo might harm your knives, so it’s better to use your bamboo cutting board for chopping instead of slicing. Overall, a bamboo cutting board will be of excellent use to you.
Pecan
If you’ve invested in pecan wood, you should know your cutting board will be pretty damage-free. An interesting fact is that pecan is much harder than maple. Building a pecan cutting board is more beneficial since it’ll be more damage-free.
However, one thing you must know about pecan wood is that it’s highly vulnerable to water damage. You might protect it from other damages. However, you might face difficulty protecting it from water seepage. So, if you’re open to working hard to ensure your pecan cutting board stays protected, by all means, go for it!
Beech
Beech is pretty similar to maple as they have many common characteristics. Due to the excellent finish, many people commonly use beech to make their cutting boards. Also, it’s appropriately balanced regarding the hardness; it’s neither too hard nor too soft.
Beech is a pretty durable piece of wood, contributing to its longevity. Hence, if you’re looking for a sturdy cutting board, making one from beech will benefit you. The best thing about beech is that it has all the qualities of an excellent piece of wood, but it’s less expensive than many.
Our Final Thoughts
We hope you know how necessary it is to have a good-quality cutting board. You can always use any wood type mentioned above to build one. However, please maintain them thoroughly if you want your cutting board to last long.
