The 8 Best Cutting Boards—From Kitchen Experts

This Test Kitchen Preferred pick made our list of the best loved gadgets every kitchen needs. It impressed our experts and will impress you with its easy use and even simpler cleanup. The OXO Utility Cutting Board is a dishwasher-safe option that makes chopping, slicing and dicing less tiresome. The non-porous construction locks out odors and potential stains from pigmented foods like beats and turmeric. The double-sided design offers a solid side for produce and a grooved side for animal proteins. There is even a drip catcher with easy-pour corners built-in. If you live in a cramped space and only have room for one small footprint cutting board, this is the one.

Pros:

What we liked about the OXO cutting board set:

• Dishwasher-safe
• Double-sided design offers two surface styles
• Non-porous plastic won’t trap odors, flavors or stains
• Affordable

Cons:

Consider these factors before you buy:

• Not ideal for extremely hot and fresh-out-of-the-oven cutting or carving

A heavy-duty wooden cutting board can hold up to a great deal of chopping and will last for decades. Just make sure you clean it correctly (and often). This impressive reversible model is made of natural maple wood and comes in a medium 20-by-15-inch size that nicely fits most kitchen counters. It’s big enough to accommodate chopping and slicing everything you might need for a large salad, and it can easily handle your Sunday night meal prep arrangements before a week of lunches heads into your best glass storage containers. Speaking of meal prep, check out this meal prep cutting board, too.

This model also has a nearly perfect 4.5-star Amazon rating thanks to over a thousand enthusiastic shopper reviews.

Pros:

What we like about the Block Chop-N-Slice:

• Natural, high-quality maple wood
• Medium 20×15-in. size
• Reversible
• Sustainable

Cons:

Consider these factors before you buy:

• Pricier than synthetic options
• Wood requires frequent maintenance

Etched into bamboo, natural walnut or maple wood, this personalized cutting board makes the perfect wedding or engagement gift for couples who love to cook. Over 35 pre-made or custom messages and artwork can be displayed on the board. All boards measure 14-by-10-inches.

Etsy reviewers like Keely, gush over the quality. She writes, “This cutting board was perfection! I gifted it to my boyfriend’s parents for Christmas and it was a huge hit! The engraving was outstanding, and the quality of the wood was great! Marc went out of his way to send me proofs prior to engraving to ensure that it was exactly what I wanted! I can’t recommend them enough!” Here’s how to make sure your cutting board lasts.

Pros:

What we like about the personalized cutting board:

• Budget-friendly personalized gift
• Huge variety of personalization options
• Natural walnut, bamboo or maple wood construction

Cons:

Consider these factors before you buy:

• Not dishwasher safe
• Wood requires frequent maintenance

This plastic Gorilla Grip cutting board set comes as a set of three easy-to-care for pieces that make kitchen prep a breeze. With over 40,000 customer reviews and a nearly perfect 4.5-star rating, you can be sure you’re going to love this affordable find no matter what type of kitchen you’re cooking in.

The cutting boards boast easy-grip handles, deep side grooves to collect juice and fluid run-off and dishwasher-safe materials that make cleanup quicker than ever. Choose from dozens of color options to best suit your personality and decor—or color code cutting boards that you only use for meat or fruit.

Pros:

What we liked about the Gorilla Grip cutting board set:

• Extremely affordable—each board works out to less than $14.
• Dishwasher-safe
• Dozens of color options for easy coding
• Non-slip gripping
• Juice grooves

Cons:

Consider these factors before you buy:

• Not ideal for extremely hot and fresh-out-of-the-oven cutting or carving

This very traditional-looking J.K. Adams cutting board has something you don’t often see in typical boards of its size—spikes. While they may seem a little intimidating, they’re your best friend if your kitchen is known for turning out large cuts of meat like roasts, turkey and lamb legs. Instead of battling your freshly-cooked meat with a sharp knife and other utensils, the spikes help hold the proteins in place so you can seamlessly slice through like a pro. It’s one of the best kitchen hacks professional chefs swear by.

The board itself is made of thick, durable maple wood and boasts a thicker-than-average size that measures 1.25-inches thick. The 14-by-20-inch sides also make carving larger cuts a breeze.

Pros:

What we like about the spiked cutting board:

• Thick 1.25-inch maple wood construction
• Spikes help meat and proteins stay put when you’re carving
• Large drip and juice catching grooves

Cons:

Consider these factors before you buy:

• Less ideal for food prep and typical chopping

Note: Make sure to click on the spiked board option on Wayfair’s website.

This genius Viking butcher block-style cutting board offers all the usual bells and whistles of a high-end cutting board, with the added bonus of three very-convenient deep pockets. This style board is one Pauli stands behind thanks to the thicker, solid wood construction and compartments for items like chopped onions, sliced peppers and more.

“It’s important to choose a wood cutting board that is thick enough that it won’t buckle after getting wet a few times,” Pauli says, adding that, “Even if you’re not running a cutting board under water, your fruits, vegetables and meat have their own natural moisture that can cause the board to warp. A thicker, solid piece of wood will stand up to this for far longer.”

Pros:

What we like about the Viking cutting board:

• Large 20-x.5?fit=14,1-in. size
• Solid acacia wood
• Built-in storage compartments for chopped veggies, herbs and more
• Water and bacteria resistant board

Cons:

Consider these factors before you buy:

• More complicated to wash

Joanna Gaines brought farmhouse-chic style back, both in and out of the kitchen. Match her style by using this pig-shaped cutting board for meal prep. You’ll proudly display this novelty piece even when you’re not using it, but it’s also an excellent serving and prep choice thanks to 100% maple wood construction. And last but not least: it’s made in the USA.

Pros:

What we like about the cow-shaped cutting board:

• Conversation-starting cow shape
• Large 20-in. size
• Real maple wood construction
• Made in the USA
• Mineral oil finish

Cons:

Consider these factors before you buy:

• Not as thick as some other wooden boards, and may be prone to warping sooner as a result
• Unique shape yields smaller usable space

This trendy kitchen showpiece offers just the type of modern design you’d love to give (or receive) as a gift. The Glass Christam cutting board is actually made of digitally printed tempered glass to look like natural marble without being nearly as delicate or porous. It’s also scratch and stain resistant. The nearly 12-inch length makes it compact enough for even small kitchens, and yes—it fits right into most dishwashers with ease.

Because it doesn’t offer the same knife grip as a wood or plastic cutting board, you’ll want to save this option for your most beautiful fruit platters and cheese arrangements.

Pros:

What we like about the glass cutting board:

• 11.5-x-8-in. size is ideal for even small kitchens
• Perfect for cutting and serving raw food, fruits, vegetables and cheeses.
• Tempered glass is break, scratch and stain resistant.
• Dishwasher-safe
• Trendy marble design

Cons:

Consider these factors before you buy:

• Glass offers less knife grip than wood or plastic, so you’ll want to skip major cutting and chopping projects on this board