One of the most important utensils for any kitchen is without a doubt the cutting board. If you think about it, it’s really just about the only thing you’ll use no matter what kind of food you are preparing. Having the right cutting board is sort of like having the right knife, everybody has their own preference and everybody is fiercely loyal to the one they use.
Today I want to talk a little bit about how to pick the right cutting board for you and also talk about some of the brands that are available that you have to choose from.
Types of cutting boards: when you come right down to it there are basically just three or four different types to choose from. Broadly speaking, you’ve got wooden cutting boards, acrylic or plastic cutting boards, and finally countertop cutting boards that are built right into your counter. I’m going to talk about each of these.
Personally I like wooden ones the best for overall performance and I have a very nice one that I pull out whenever I’m going to be doing some heavy-duty cooking. I will however admit that I keep a smaller plastic one for everyday use. I just find that it’s easier to clean and a little easier to handle since it’s a little smaller.
Acrylic cutting boards can come in many shapes and sizes as well as colors. There are many great things about using a plastic board. For one thing, they’re much easier to take care of and clean; you really don’t have to do much of anything except stick them in the dishwasher when you’re finished with them. They’re also incredibly cheap. You can find one just about anywhere for around 10 bucks. I use a Progressive International Cutting Board that is polyethylene and cost around $12.
Wooden Boards are generally much nicer. They have a good feel to them, they’re solid. The problem with them is that they require special care and are harder to clean because you can’t just stick them in the dishwasher you have to wash them by hand. You also periodically need to oil them with some sort of cutting board oil. I like to use special mineral oil on mine but some people just use lemon and I guess that’s fine too. Wooden boards usually cost much more than plastic ones. Expect to pay anywhere from $30 up to $200 depending on the size.
Butcher block cutting boards are popular wooden boards and these are generally much thicker than your average wooden cutting board and can be made out of many different materials including maple. Boos cutting boards are a popular brand along this vein.
Bamboo cutting boards are becoming more more popular. These are made out of bamboo but feel wooden and can often be much less expensive than a traditional wooden board.
Butcher block countertops: finally if you are really seriously into cooking and you have lots of money to spare, why not have your entire counter made out of Butcher block cutting board? Sure this can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars and can be an incredible pain in the behind to keep clean but it may be just the thing you’re looking for.
Well, there you have it, the three main categories of cutting boards, plastic, wooden, and countertop. Like I said earlier it really just comes down to personal preference and everybody has their own favorites so I suggest you try different ones until you find one that fits your own personality and style.
