Cutting boards are a dime a dozen, but the best cutting boards? Now those are something that’s worth taking a knife to. While it’s easy to lump them all together, the right cutting board for the right job will completely change your cooking game. Think about it: Cutting boards are the only things keeping you from using that dangerously sharp knife on just your bare kitchen counter.
You can have multiple boards for different purposes because they’re all infinitely useful, whether it’s for slicing and dicing, serving a charcuterie and cheese plate, or just using it as a sanitary surface for constructing a monster sandwich. If you’re looking for the best multipurpose cutting board, building your collection, or you’re just ready for an upgrade, a solidly made piece of equipment will always serve you well. What you may not know is that the wrong board (read: cheap plastic, slate, or glass) can work against you, dulling knives, harboring bacteria, or just straight up ruining your whole life. With that said, there are plenty of types of cutting boards out in the world and a whole lot of misinformation. Do you need more cutting boards for certain meats? Different sizes? Will that tiny wooden cheese board ever work in a pinch? We tried them out to be sure.
The Best Cutting Boards, According to GQ
You want a great cutting board that will let you chop and prep to your heart’s content. Skip all the scrolling and get straight to our picks for the best cutting boards for any home cook.
- The Best Cutting Board, Overall: Boardsmith Maple End Grain Cutting Board, $230
- The Best Value: Oxo Good Grips Utility Cutting Board, $19
- The Best Budget Wood: Ironwood Charleston End Grain Chef’s Board, $60
- The Best Cutting Board for Carving: Teakhaus Butcher Block Cutting Board, $140
- The Best Rubber Cutting Board: Yoshihiro Hi-soft Cutting Board, $125
- The Best Cutting Board for Charcuterie: Boardsmith Walnut Charcuterie Board, $140
- The Best-Looking Cutting Board: Material re(Board), $35
- The Best Oversized Wood Cutting Board: Boos Block CB Series Large Reversible Wood Cutting Board, $163
- The Best Lightweight Cutting Board: Epicurean Kitchen Series, $27
The Best Cutting Board, Overall: Boardsmith Maple End Grain Cutting Board
Your last cutting board is ripped to shreds and you had to cop a new knife because, well, it got so bent out of shape that not even Michael Myers would want it. Investing in a cutting board like this will net you a better, safer cooking experience, and you’ll basically never have to replace it. This board is a two-inch thick slab of beautifully crafted and sustainably harvested maple end grain blocks that practically gleams. We love this board, which has just the right amount of heft to stay steady when we’ve hit a groove with slicing and dicing. There was minimal slipping and sliding, which is a huge safety hazard and can cause you to cut through your finger instead of a carrot. This board cleaned up well and smelled neutral even after cutting loads of onions and garlic. The craftsmanship is easy to see with no visual or structural imperfections, smoothed beveled edges, and shock-absorbing feet. Keep it oiled and you’ll have a cutting board for life.
The Best Value Cutting Board: Oxo Good Grips Utility Cutting Board
There are a ton of poorly made cutting boards out there that are too light, too flimsy, or too slip prone to do you any good. We’re big fans of Oxo for its ingenious kitchen gadgets, and while there are no bells or whistles when it comes to this cutting board, the considered design features and affordability make this one of the best options for someone looking to avoid, ahem, cutting corners with their kitchen gear. It’s light and steady, able to be thrown in the dishwasher for easy clean up. The larger size, specifically, is a great choice for any sort of prep work, chopping, and carving, while the juice trenches keep any messes contained to the surface and away from your well-manicured counter.
The Best Budget Wood Cutting Board: Ironwood Gourmet Acacia End Grain Square Board
Want a wood board that won’t break the bank? Acacia wood is a bit cheaper than other woods but the end-grain construction works to counteract some of the hardness of the wood, which would normally dull a knife. This square acacia wood board from Ironwood Gourmet does double duty as a solid prep board and chic way to serve charcuterie, cheese, and more. Those end-grain squares make a cute checkerboard pattern that will leave guests “oohing” and “ahhhing” at your next function. As an extra bonus, the base comes with non-slip feet for extra stability. This board is priced at around $100 which, let’s be honest, is just as easy to spend at your local artisanal cheese counter but will last a whole lot longer.
The Best Cutting Board for Carving: Teakhaus End Grain Professional
For carving boards—say when Thanksgiving rolls around and you need to take apart that bird or your famous prime rib needs to make its rounds at your dinner party—you want something heavy duty that won’t shift or slide, with a large enough rectangular shape to accommodate those big hunks of meat. A reasonably sized juice trench is also a nice-to-have so your counter doesn’t get too messy. Wooden boards have tons of natural antimicrobial properties that make them a no brainer for pretty much any cooking project. This board in particular clocks in at a solid 15 pounds and is made from durable end-grain teak. Also, all of Teakhaus’ products are FSC certified, which means that they only source wood from responsibly managed forests, minimize its negative impact on the environment, and protect workers’ rights. Teak also contains natural oils that make it resistant to moisture loss and cracking over time, so this could stay in your rotation for years to come.
The Best Rubber Cutting Board: Yoshihiro Hi-soft High Performance Professional Grade Cutting Board
The Yoshihiro cutting board is a staple in sushi restaurants all over the world. This board is made in Japan of high quality synthetic material that was especially chosen to have just the right amount of give with a “hi-soft” surface that won’t damage delicate, razor-sharp Japanese knives. It’s also odor resistant, so it won’t hold onto smells that’ll have you gagging every time you whip it out. This board is an investment, however, but the quality is undeniable. Like wooden boards, this one is hand wash only which, for a high-performing board like this, is part of the deal.
The Best Cutting Board for Charcuterie: Boardsmith Walnut Charcuterie Board
What you need in a charcuterie board is a bit different than a cutting board, but both start with a good, well-treated piece of wood. Walnut is a hardwood and quite dense, and unlike a lot of commercially processed walnut slats which are steamed, Boardsmith dries their wood in a kiln, which results in a brighter and richer wood tone. The single slab of extra long walnut has a flared base and natural markings, which look striking for any sort of presentation. It also comes with food grade mineral oil, so make sure to apply it at least once a month to protect its longevity.
The Best-Looking Cutting Board: Material reBoard
Material, maker of some very chic kitchen products, makes a particularly attractive cutting board that works as well as it looks. The dishwasher-safe board is made from recycled kitchen scraps, making it one of the more sustainable options on this list, too. There is a little slippage—which is why the brand decided to make a “grippy” version of this board with non-slip silicone legs—but the trick is to put a wet towel underneath the reBoard when in use so it stays steady.
The Best Oversized Wood Cutting Board: John Boos & Co Grooved Reversible
If you’re looking for a solid, reversible board with great surface area, a smooth finish and a generous juice trench, then it doesn’t get much better than the Boos Block. The high-quality Northern Hard Rock maple is an edge-grain board that is resistant to grooves and nicks. The board is large enough to prep a bunch of ingredients simultaneously, and we like that the juice trench leaves enough cutting room so it doesn’t feel like it’s a waste of space. Just make sure to wash this board immediately after use and dry fully before storing.
The Best Lightweight Cutting Board: Epicurean Kitchen Series
Founded by custom skate park manufacturer TrueRide, these super durable and light cutting boards are easy to use and are truly low maintenance. TrueRide was looking for a way to repurpose excess materials used to make skate parks and stumbled onto cutting boards since commercial kitchens had been using the material for years. The boards are made in the USA from upcycled paper products and are quite resilient, resistant to staining, knife marks, all while remaining effortless to maintain. Since the composite material is non-porous, the cutting boards don’t absorb liquids or smells. Clean up is simple, too, with the option to throw it in the dishwasher.
Types of Cutting Boards
Cutting boards come in a range of materials, but most chefs would agree that wooden boards are considered the best, with plastic and rubber boards coming close behind. Here’s how the different cutting board materials stack up against one another.
Wood cutting boards: Wood won’t dull your knife and is easy to work on and with. The dense yet forgiving material makes for smooth cuts and easy, straightforward care, although with a bit more general maintenance. Wooden boards can take damage well and will “heal” over time, which just means that deep gashes will eventually fade and close up. A properly cared for wooden board can and should last a lifetime, and they look great on a counter. Plus, when they start to look a little ragged, a quick sanding can make them look fresh and new. Chef Sarah Glover swears by wooden cutting boards, having amassed a small collection, and also gives credit to this style of board for being great serving pieces, too.
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