How do I pick a wood cutting board?

Pick a wood cutting board by matching its size and thickness to the job, then accept that it needs oiling and hand washing. Wood is not dishwasher safe, so choose it for a board you will keep on the counter and wipe down, not for one you want to load into the machine.

This site has not compared wood cutting boards directly. The boards on our Best Cutting Boards for Plastic and Titanium Sets guide are plastic and titanium, and their published figures are useful as a reference point for size and weight when you shop for wood.

Start with the size you actually need

A wood board should be big enough to hold the food you cut most often without crowding the edge. The plastic and titanium picks on our guide show the range makers publish. The Empune set lists an extra large board at 17.0 by 11.8 by 0.4 inches, a large at 14.0 by 9.5 by 0.35 inches and a medium at 11.4 by 7.8 by 0.35 inches. Those three sizes cover most home prep.

The THETCHRY set splits its boards by food: a large 15 by 10 inch board for meat and fish, a medium 11 by 8 inch board for vegetables and fruit, and a small 9 by 6 inch board for onions and peppers. That is a useful way to think about wood too. One large board for carving and one smaller board for produce keeps raw meat and vegetables apart.

The GORILLA GRIP set publishes a largest board of 16 by 11.2 inches, a medium of 13.8 by 9.6 inches and a small of 11.8 by 8 inches, each 0.37 inches thick. The titanium picks sit in the same range: Sumzzz lists 16 by 11 inches and Pexucalm lists 15.4 by 10.4 inches. A wood board in that band fits a standard counter and still leaves room to work.

Thickness and weight decide how it sits and how you store it

Thicker wood resists warping and stays put, but it gets heavy. The makers on our guide publish thickness for several picks. Empune lists 0.4 inches for its extra large board and 0.35 inches for the large and medium. GORILLA GRIP lists 0.37 inches for each of its three boards. Pexucalm lists 0.5 inches. Sumzzz lists 0.94 inches, which is the thickest figure on the sheet.

Weight matters if you lift the board to the sink or hang it. THETCHRY publishes 1.4 pounds for its set and also states 2.3 pounds in its feature text, so the maker gives two different figures for the same set. GORILLA GRIP publishes 4.24 pounds for its set and states a combined 4.25 pounds in its text. Empune publishes 4.53 pounds. Sumzzz and Pexucalm do not publish a weight.

For wood, a heavy board is a board you leave in place. If you plan to carry it to the sink and back, a lighter board is easier to handle, and the plastic picks show how light a set can be. Wood of the same footprint will generally weigh more than the THETCHRY set, so plan for a board that stays on the counter.

Wood needs oil and hand washing, so check what the maker says about care

Wood is porous and absorbs liquid, which is why it needs oiling and why it should not go in the dishwasher. The makers on our guide make this contrast directly. GORILLA GRIP states that its plastic boards are dishwasher safe and need no oiling or special maintenance, and that the material helps prevent liquid and odor absorption. That is the trade you make with wood: better feel under the knife, more upkeep.

The titanium picks take the opposite approach. Sumzzz states that its titanium surface is non-porous and helps reduce absorption of liquids, odors and stains. Pexucalm states that its titanium side resists residue better than aged wood and rinses clean with a dishcloth. Neither maker publishes an oiling routine, because neither board needs one.

If you buy wood, plan on washing by hand and drying it upright. None of the picks on our guide publish a care schedule for wood, and this site has not compared wood boards, so follow the care instructions that come with the board you buy rather than a general rule.

Look for juice grooves, handles and a non-slip edge

Small features make a board easier to live with. A juice groove catches liquid from tomatoes or a resting roast before it reaches the counter. Empune lists a juice groove on all sides of its boards. Sumzzz lists a built-in juice groove and a garlic grinding area. Pexucalm lists a deep juice groove on its wheat straw side plus a garlic grinder zone.

Handles and grip matter too. THETCHRY lists a triangular handle on each board and rubber anti-slip feet on both sides. GORILLA GRIP lists a slip resistant handle and rubber border. Empune lists a TPR edge handle. Pexucalm lists a full silicone edge for grip. On a wood board, look for a finger groove or end handle that lets you lift it, and a foot or grip that keeps it from sliding.

Reversibility is another point. THETCHRY, GORILLA GRIP, Sumzzz and Pexucalm all describe boards you can use on either side. A wood board used on both faces needs both faces oiled and kept dry, so a single-sided board with a groove on top is simpler to maintain.

A short checklist before you buy

First, decide the footprint. Measure your counter and pick a board close to the 16 by 11 inch class the Sumzzz board lists, or smaller if space is tight. Second, decide the thickness. A board around 0.4 to 0.5 inches, the range Empune and Pexucalm publish, is a middle ground between weight and stability. Third, decide whether you will hand wash. If not, wood is the wrong material.

Fourth, check the published weight if you plan to move the board. The THETCHRY set is listed at 1.4 pounds and the Empune set at 4.53 pounds, which shows how much weight varies between sets of similar size. Fifth, look for a groove and a handle if you cut juicy foods or lift the board often.

Finally, accept the gaps. Many makers do not publish a thickness or a weight, and Sumzzz and Pexucalm publish no weight at all. When a figure is missing, ask the seller or judge the board in person. This site has not compared wood cutting boards, so the figures above are reference points from the plastic and titanium picks on our guide, not a wood ranking.