Although many people do not think much about them, cutting boards are often one of the most heavily used items in a kitchen and are reached for any time a recipe calls for cutting, chopping, slicing and mincing. Cutting boards can also double as serving platters, both for everyday use and for parties.

Since your cutting board is likely to receive heavy use as you prepare food and may even be seen by guests, it's important that you take as much time to consider the purchase of one as you would a new kitchen furnishing, a tabletop appliance or a new piece of high-end cookware. Cutting boards are available in a diverse array of styles, and you may find it difficult to know how to begin browsing the models that are available from top retailers.

This Buyers' Guide to Cutting Boards was created to make it easy to get started with your shopping and to finish quickly. The guide reviews all of the various stylistic and design considerations that separate cutting board models from one another, so that you can determine what you need to look for in your new board. We have centered the guide around questions that we receive from shoppers about cutting boards to make it easier to navigate.

How do I know what size cutting board to buy?

Cutting boards are one kitchen item that is anything but one size fits all. Manufacturers produce cutting boards in a wide variety of sizes to allow their models to perform different functions in a kitchen. Before you consider what sizes are available, take some time to think about where you will be storing your new cutting board. If it will be inside of a crowded cabinet or pantry or hanging on a wall where there is very little space, you may want to measure how much room there is available and use that as a guideline as you shop.

When sizing cutting boards, typically the length is discussed for rectangular, square, oval and irregularly shaped boards, while the diameter is discussed for round styles. There are four main size categories for cutting boards.

• Less than 10 inches in diameter or length You would typically use a cutting board of this size for chopping herbs, garlic, ginger, berries and other small vegetables and fruit.


• 11 to 13 inches in diameter or length This size category is great for slightly larger fruits and vegetables. You will likely need to clear off the cutting board each time you finish chopping one or two fruits or veggies.


• 14 to 16 inches in diameter or length Cutting boards in this length allow you to clear the board less frequently. They are also ideal for serving smaller dishes, like sliced cheeses and charcuterie.


• More than 16 inches in diameter or length The biggest cutting boards are great for slicing baguettes, carving meats and creating large displays for serving.

What thicknesses of cutting boards are available? Which is the best for me?

Just as cutting boards can vary greatly in terms of their length, they can also vary by thickness. Typically, cutting boards are broken into three categories: less than 2 inches thick, 2 inches thick and over 2 inches thick. Thicker cutting boards tend to be more durable as well as gentler on the blades of your knives; however, a thick cutting board will raise your working surface high above your counter top, which some people find uncomfortable. If you will be keeping your cutting board in a crowded space, you may also want to measure to be sure there is adequate space for a thick cutting board.

What types of wood are cutting boards made from and what type is the best?

Cutting boards come in many different types of wood, and there really is no "best" type. When you are trying to determine what type of cutting board to buy, you should think about your own personal tastes, how often people will see the cutting board, how frequently you will be using the cutting board and the durability of the wood. If your cutting board will often be used for serving, you'll want to place an emphasis on its appearance, and a cutting board that is used as a working surface infrequently does not need to be as durable as one that will be used every day.

If you are looking for a cutting board that is a dark brown color, you will have your choice of hickory and dark or American walnut. Hickory is one of the hardest hardwoods from which cutting boards are made, while American walnut is one of the softest. Because hickory is such a hard wood, it is not as commonly used as American walnut for making cutting boards, so you will not find as large of a selection of hickory boards as you shop.

For a golden or beige cutting board, there are three main types of hardwoods that are available. Ranked from hardest to softest, they are: rock maple, yellow birch and white oak. The color variations are slightly different among these woods as well with rock maple being the lightest and coolest in color and yellow birch being the most golden. White oak falls in the middle as a beige wood with golden undertones.

American cherry has a very rich auburn color that is very attractive. The wood is one of the softest used for cutting boards, and as a result, some people who want the look of red wood but want something more durable may select Appalachian red oak, which is browner but with a red tint, or padauk, a rarer, burgundy-colored wood that is extremely hard.

You can also find cutting boards made from specialty woods, including teak and zebrawood, and striped boards that incorporate two different types of wood.

What is an end grain cutting board versus an edge grain cutting board?

An edge grain cutting board is one in which the pieces of wood have been left whole and trimmed to the right length before they are bonded together. In an end grain cutting board, the pieces of wood have been sliced and only the ends are used for making the board. Edge grain cutting boards have even coloration with faint horizontal seams evident on their surfaces, while end grain boards have a large amount of color variation and checkerboard patterns on their surfaces. Most people who select edge grain boards do so because they prefer how they look, while the end grain cutting board is often chosen because it is stronger and gentler on the blades of knives.

What's the purpose of feet on a cutting board?

Adding feet to a cutting board helps keep the board stable so that it does not wobble or shake while you work. The feet can be made of wood or metal. Some also have rubber on the bottoms of their feet to make them even less likely to slip.

Do I need handles on my cutting board?

Having a handle on a cutting board is really a personal preference, though having one can make it easier to move the cutting board to clean or clear it or to transport it to a serving area. Handles are built into the designs of some styles of boards, such as paddle shaped pieces, and other styles can have added wooden or metal handles. An alternative to a handle is a finger groove, an indentation where you can place your fingers to stabilize the board as you move or transport it.

What are juice grooves?

Juice grooves are indentations in the surfaces of cutting boards that are designed to catch the liquids shed by fruits, vegetables and meats when they are sliced. A juice groove typically travels along the perimeter of the cutting board, though some specialty carving cutting boards have the grooves in their centers. The grooves keep your cutting surface drier to prevent slipping and also keeps the board looking neater if you are cutting or carving at the table. When it's time to clean up, it's easy to drain the liquid out of the grooves before washing the board.

What is a reversible cutting board?

A reversible cutting board is one that does not have feet and has a finished working surface on both sides. Reversible cutting boards give you the flexibility to use one side for cutting pungent ingredients like onions and garlic and the other side for cutting sweeter foods like fruits and vegetables.

What is the purpose of a drip pan? How about a counter saver?

The drip pan works in conjunction with the juice groove to make cleaning up the mess from chopping and carving even easier. The pan collects the drippings and then can be lifted out of the cutting board and taken to the sink for washing. This is excellent on boards where you want to slice something and then serve it to your guests, as the drip pan removes all of the mess.

A counter saver is a lip that goes over the front of your counter tops and keeps your cutting board in place. This prevents the cutting board from shifting and scraping the counter top and also keeps the front edge of your counters clean.