What to look for in Cutting Boards

CUTTING BOARD BASICS

Almost every kitchen, home or commercial, needs a good cutting board or two for general use. While most people settle for the generic white plastic cutting boards, or handsome wood ones. Understanding safety and usefulness should be applied.

Now I'm not going into the many rules and regulations of commercial kitchens and various health codes, colour codes, and proper usage. I'd rather explain what you should be looking for as far as a cutting board for the home kitchen goes.

Wood- I love a good wooden cutting board, not only are they kind to the edge of your blade, but they are also aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. They can be a beautiful addition to any kitchen. Heavier than plastic, wood boards have a practical place for general use in a home kitchen. But....

As much as I like wood for a board in my home kitchen, safety can be a concern. If you buy the wrong type of board, you risk contamination issues if your board isn't cleaned and sanitized properly. Even worse, if it is made poorly, you might never be able to safely and fully sanitize it. Some wood boards are too porous, and trap all sorts of bacteria, fluids, and even the chemicals you use to clean it.

Different woods and how the boards are made, have different conditions of use. If the board is made from multiple pieces of wood, pressed and glued together, you are generally looking at a board that will last longer. I myself once believed bamboo was the best material for a cutting board, but in my experience they don't last. Warping and gaps appear, and the coloring generally grays. They can even stink, no matter how it's washed.

A classic maple, or other hard wood, extra thick and heavy-duty,  lasts way longer, and stays much more sanitary, clean, and stays rich in its natural coloring for its lifetime. If you're looking at buying a cutting board, I would highly suggest finding a thick, hardwood, well made board. Like the cutting board in the picture above.

Plastics- I'm not a huge fan, but I will admit they are much more safer and durable when compared to wood. My only real dislikes about plastics are they can be hazardous because they are so much lighter, even slippery on a counter top when slicing. The normal way to keep one from moving is to place a wet towel underneath, then your now on a somewhat uneven surface this way.

As far as everything else goes for a cutting board, you really can't beat plastics. Nonporous, easily cleaned, kind to your blades edge, and well suited for all around use. You will get more use and a safer surface with plastics. I guess I'm a little nostalgic, and just like woods better.

Plastic boards can come in different colors, and stylish designs that can blend beautifully into a modern home kitchen.

Glass and other materials- I would recommend staying clear from glassware cutting boards. Extremely tough on your blade, and chipped if used improperly, glass boards don't really have a place in a kitchen. While I'm sure some people will disagree with me, I myself have no use for glassware boards.

Ceramic tile or ceramic flanks are a heavyweight,  while not too kind to a blades edge, they can be used just like woods, only a little more porous and harder to maintain. I have used a black ceramic board once, that was awesome. I didn't even know it was ceramic until someone told me. While not very common and very hard to find anywhere, if you come across one, don't be shy.

Salt rock or pink salt quartz boards are really more for presentation purposes rather than general use, they are for what they offer though, they are unique. A salty surface, beautiful color, and ultra heavy. Cleaning using only very hot water and a clean scrubby, salt quartz slowly deteriorates over time and cost quite a lot. I've seen them used for sushi presentations, meats, and seafood. Even used to season slightly,  beef and other items, while used to cut and portion items before being added to a hot pan or grill.

Mostly used in front of people or customers, and the board or rock served no other purpose afterwards, just cleaned and packed away for another days event where it could be used. Quartz is just for a very cool and neat presentation,  and not at all practical.

Where you can find great cutting boards.

I know of a handful of online sites that sell hand-made wood cutting boards. Some of the boards I've seen are made from good hardwoods, bonded and sealed to keep them sanitary,  and well made to last. 

There are some cool plastic cutting boards I've seen, and used myself. I've seen some colorful ones, even beautiful plastic cutting boards online, and listed the links above.