Cutting boards are an essential kitchen tool when it comes to food prep. With the amount of use and abuse these surfaces sustain, it is important to consider the durability, safety, and eco-friendliness of the material used when selecting a cutting board. Some options may fall short on sustainability or may introduce unwanted chemicals into your kitchen, so choosing a cutting board made from non-toxic, sustainable materials supports both your health and the environment. This guide will help you explore the best cutting board materials that are safe, eco-friendly, and high performing.
Types of cutting boards
Cutting boards can be divided into two surface types: non-porous or porous.
A non-porous cutting board is made from materials that don’t absorb liquids, bacteria, or odors, making it more resistant to stains and easier to clean and sanitize. These properties make them appealing choices for easy maintenance, especially when working with raw meat, poultry, and fish.
However, these cutting boards come with a variety of significant cons which weaken the non-porous advantage.
- Glass: Glass cutting boards are generally not recommended by cooking professionals because they tend to dull knives very quickly and their surface becomes slick, making knife control difficult. They are also prone to breaking.
- Stainless steel: Similar to glass, the hard surface of stainless steel cutting boards will cause knives to rapidly become dull and also develops into a slick surface. Plus, the sound of metal on metal might make people cringe.
- Marble: Another hard material, marble will also lead to dull knives quickly. In addition, it is brittle, lacks flexibility, and is somewhat porous, which increases likelihood of chipping, scratching, and staining, and will etch with acidic foods. These qualities make marble cutting boards a less than ideal choice.
Plastic cutting boards
Affordable, lightweight, and easy to maintain, plastic cutting boards are the most popular choice for home kitchens, but they unfortunately are not the best cutting board material. The convenience and ease of these non-porous boards is overshadowed by one simple fact: they’re made of plastic.
Plastic cutting boards are made from fossil fuel-derived materials, leading to higher carbon emissions from oil extraction and manufacturing of these types of cutting boards than those made from renewable resources. In addition, plastic is laden with numerous chemicals during the manufacturing process, and many of these chemicals have been shown to be carcinogens and endocrine (hormone) disruptors, while affecting organ function and pregnancy outcomes, increasing inflammation, and carrying pathogens, among other health complications.
Any plastic object will shed tiny plastic particles, aka microplastics, and when you are cutting against their surface with a sharp object, that shedding process is only magnified. A 2023 study determined that plastic cutting boards are a “substantial source of microplastics in human food.”
In short, ingesting microplastics exposes you to the harmful chemicals the contain.
If you have a plastic cutting board, take a close look at the surface. If it’s like mine was, you’ll see scratches and grooves with tiny loose pieces of plastic waiting to become detached. These spots are also prime places for bacteria to hide out.
When to condition of plastic cutting boards reaches this point, it is recommended to replace them. The cutting board pictured was four years old when I got rid of it. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be replacing my cutting boards every four years. Especially when they are not biodegradable or recyclable.
Choosing cutting boards made of natural, non-toxic materials is a much more economical, environmental, and health conscious alternative.
Non-toxic cutting boards
The considerations with plastic and other non-porous cutting boards make porous substances–namely wood, bamboo, and composites–the best cutting board material for both sustainability and function.
You might be thinking, wait, aren’t these porous surfaces less sanitary? Don’t they harbor more germs? Actually, no. Contrary to popular concerns, wood (and bamboo) cutting boards can be safely used to cut raw meat, poultry, and seafood, according to the USDA. Hardwoods have natural antimicrobial properties and, when properly cared for, perfectly acceptable cutting boards for meat and are just as safe to use as plastic when it comes to concerns of foodborne illnesses.
To avoid cross-contamination, simply use one board for raw meats and another for everything else. This is best practice no matter what type of cutting board you use. And any cutting boards needs to be properly washed and sanitized, and those made from natural materials are easily cared for, as highlighted below.
Non-toxic finishes on cutting boards another important health consideration that is essential to maintain food safety and enhance the board’s durability. Avoid boards that have been finished with polyurethane, varnishes, or other chemically treated coatings, as they may not be food-safe. Instead, seek those finished with food-safe mineral oil and/or beeswax.
Wood cutting boards
Wooden cutting boards are a beautiful and sturdy addition to the kitchen. They are much gentler on knives than other surfaces and will last for years. The main drawback is their higher upfront cost, but they’re a worthwhile investment since they last significantly longer than plastic boards and require less frequent replacement.
From a sustainability standpoint, the most important aspect of choosing a wood cutting board is seeking products that utilize wood from responsibly managed forests that limit deforestation and illegal logging, protect biodiversity, and engage in fair labor practices.
Many companies make sustainability claims regarding their wood sourcing, but these may be difficult to trust without a high level of transparency and third party auditing.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the most creditable independent certifier of wood and paper products. Their certification is the gold standard to ensure products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits.
Styles of wood cutting boards
There are two designs of wood cutting boards to choose from: edge grain and end grain.
Edge grain cutting boards are the most common style of wood cutting boards. They are formed by placing strips of hardwood lengthwise so that the grain runs horizontally. The edges are then glued together. This simple construction makes this style more affordable than end grain boards. Edge grain boards are very durable and a great choice for everyday use. However, their strong surface will dull knives quicker than end grain boards, and they will show wear and knife marks sooner.
End grain cutting boards are created by arranging numerous square pieces of hardwood with the grain running vertically, exposing the ends of the wood fibers, creating a checkerboard pattern. Being more labor intensive than edge grain, these types of cutting boards are more expensive. In addition, they may require more maintenance.
Both configurations are durable choices, but end grain cutting boards are considered the superior choice due to their ‘self-healing’ quality. As a knife blade descends, the sharp edge slides in between the wood fibers, which separate slightly when cut but close back up. This makes the surface more resistant to cutting marks while being more knife-friendly. As end grain cutting boards can handle heavy use, this is the style is used for butcher blocks, and they are excellent choices for serious home cooks and chefs.
Best wood for cutting boards
The best wood for cutting boards are hardwoods with tight grains, such as maple, teak, walnut, cherry, and acacia. These woods are preferred for their strength and longevity. Open-grain woods, such as oak, are not used for cutting boards because their surface is more porous, which would allow for deeper grooves that trap food particles, bacteria, and moisture.
Acacia
Durability – Acacia is a popular wood choice as it is beautiful, very strong, and generally affordable. It also contains natural oils that promotes water resistance. However, this wood is the hardest of the common hardwoods used for cutting boards, so your knives will dull faster with an acacia cutting board.
Sustainability – Acacia trees are very fast growing, making them an eco-friendly, renewable wood source. They are usually grown sustainably, however many acacia boards lack FSC certification so it can be difficult to verify company claims without this assurance.
Recommendations –
Crate & Barrel offers a handful of FSC-certified acacia cutting boards, ranging from $49.95 to $124.95. The Williams Sonoma FSC-certified Edge-Grain Cutting & Carving Board is available in several sizes, $39.95 to $129.95. They are also sold in sets of two or three.Maple
Durability – The hardness of maple strikes an excellent balance of durability without being too hard on knives. This wood can be a bit heavy, and it is more sensitive to moisture than others. This, combined with its light color, makes this wood more prone to spotting and staining.
Sustainability – Hard maple is grown and sourced in North America, so purchasing this wood supports local industry and decreases transport emissions. FSC-certified maple cutting boards may be easier to find than other types of wood.
Recommendations –
J.K. Adams is based in Vermont and uses sustainably-sourced North American hardwoods in their wood cutting boards, as well as other wood kitchen products and other kitchen supplies. Unfortunately, their products do not hold FSC certification but the company operates a safe, zero waste, FSC-certified facility and actively supports their local community.I own the J.K. Adams Maple Reversible Carving Board, which is the America’s Test Kitchen pick for the best carving board. This heavy duty board is great for year-round use but especially when carving the turkey at Thanksgiving. One side of the board has a flat surface for cutting and chopping, while the opposite side has an indentation that holds a turkey or other large items, such as a watermelon. The entire board is surrounded by a trench, which is great for catching juices and preventing them from spreading all over your countertop. The board is finished with mineral oil and beeswax.
Where to buy: JK Adams / Sur la Table
The Boardsmith Maple End Grain Cutting Board is the company’s most popular board, and comes highly recommended by America’s Test Kitchen and NYT Wirecutter. This board is made with FSC-certified wood and finished with mineral oil and beeswax. The glue used is waterproof and FDA approved as food safe. There are nearly 500 reviews on the company website, most of which give 5 star ratings. You can customize it by adding juice grooves around the perimeter or finger grooves on the sides. It is pricey, starting at $220; they do offer an End Grain Cutting Board for $160. Wood For Chef uses FSC-certified woods for their products, finished with oil and beeswax. Maple cutting boards start at $69.95.Walnut
Durability – The beauty and durability of black walnut has this wood in high demand, which has led to a decreased supply of high quality wood and increased prices. Cherry’s hardness lies somewhere between maple and cherry, making it a durable choice without being extremely hard on knives.
Sustainability – Black walnut is another North American native, so walnut cutting boards are another great option to support local business with less tranportation impacts. One consideration with walnut is that these trees are very disease prone, increasing the likelihood of pesticide use.
Recommendations –
The Boardsmith uses FSC-certified black walnut finished with mineral oil and beeswax in their beautiful selection of walnut cutting boards. Wood For Chef uses FSC-certified woods finished with oil and beeswax for their products. Walnut cutting boards start at $139.95.Cherry
Durability – Cherry is the softest of these woods and so is less durable, develops knife marks quicker, and is prone to warping, making good maintenance vital. On the flip side, the medium hardness makes it easier on knives and boards are lightweight. Cutting boards from this wood tend to be less expensive than other options.
Sustainability – Cherry wood is widely grown and sourced in North America. Black cherry trees are highly susceptible to diseases and pests, so unless organically managed, risk of pesticide use with this wood is high.
Recommendations –
The Boardsmith sources FSC certified wood finished with mineral oil and beeswax for their cherry cutting boards. Wood For Chef uses FSC-certified woods finished with oil and beeswax in their products. Cherry cutting boards start at $84.95.Teak
Durability – Teak is a strong, moderately hard tropical hardwood that contains natural oils which make it more resistant to moisture, staining, and absorption of food odors. In turn it requires less frequent oiling than other woods. It also boasts antibacterial properties. This durable wood can last for decades.
Sustainability – Half of the world’s wild teak grows in Myanmar, where illegal logging has led to losses of large areas of old growth forests. Due to the military takeover in 2021, the US banned teak imports from this region as practices remain largely unethical and profits from this substantial industry benefit the military regime. Because of these concerns, FSC certification for teak is a must. There are currently no FSC certified suppliers of teak in Myanmar. Since this wood is primarily grown in Asia, there are significant carbon emissions associated with transport of teak products to the US.
Recommendation –
TeakHaus is the best brand for beautiful, sturdy teak cutting boards. Not only is the wood FSC-certified, but it also is endorsed by the Rainforest Alliance, which, in addition to requiring sustainable forestry practices, addresses social and economic concerns, working to protect and improve the livelihoods of farmers and their communities.
The teak is sustainably sourced in Vietnam, using the “thinnings” of plantation forest and well managed forests. The TeakHaus factory is FSC certified as well.
TeakHaus’ non-toxic products are manufactured with water-based glue that is free from formaldehyde and VOCs, and finished with mineral oil and beeswax.
The Professional Cutting Board (XL) has been rated as the best wood cutting board by America’s Test Kitchen for over a decade; it is also recommended by Consumer Reports. After testing, Allrecipes.com rated the TeakHaus edge grain cutting board as the best wooden cutting board.
TeakHaus cutting boards range from $50 to $192.
Where to buy: TeakHaus / Crate & Barrel / Sur la Table / Amazon
Bamboo cutting board
Bamboo cutting boards are harder and less porous than hardwoods, yet are more lightweight. Its surface is better suited to resisting knife marks, while naturally repelling water and absorbing little moisture. But being harder than most of the traditional hardwoods, the bamboo can be less forgiving on knife blades.
Bamboo is technically a grass, and is a sustainable material because it grows extremely rapidly and generally does not require fertilizers or pesticides. Despite being a grass, FSC certification for bamboo remains important to ensure that its cultivation does not negatively impact forests and local biodiversity. Similar to teak, bamboo is predominantly sourced from Asia, with transportation contributing significantly to its carbon footprint.
The benefit to these cutting boards is they are much more economically priced that the wood cutting boards, while still maintaining durability and beautiful appearance. I own the Undercut series cutting boards and I like their simplicity and clean lines, durability, and the moderate thickness of the board. Prices start at $23.75.
Enter ‘LETSGOGREEN’ at checkout to save 10% on your purchase.
Composite
Made from materials like paper composite or resin, these boards are non-porous, durable, and typically knife-friendly, making them a popular eco-friendly option.
The paper used is sourced from the US and is FSC-certified, and the resulting cutting board is NSF and Greenguard certified, meaning the materials have been tested for harmful chemicals. The boards are manufactured in the USA and the company facility generates 25% of its energy from solar panels.
These cutting boards are less maintenance that their wood and bamboo counterparts, as they are dishwasher safe and do not require oil. In addition, these cutting boards are a fantastic budget-friendly option, starting at $15.99.
Where to buy: Your local kitchen store / Epicurean / Crate & Barrel / Sur la Table / Williams Sonoma / Amazon
Wood and bamboo cutting board care
Proper maintenance is essential to extend the life of your wood or bamboo cutting board, but don’t let the idea of extra care deter you from choosing one. While these cutting boards require a bit more attention compared to non-porous options like plastic, the upkeep is simple and quick.
Minimize water exposure
Wood and bamboo cutting boards should only be handwashed with soap and warm water–do not put them in your dishwasher. It is very important that you never allow them or any other wood item to soak in water or remain wet for long periods of time. After handwashing, make sure to dry thoroughly with a towel. Minimizing exposure to liquids will go a long way in preventing warping and cracking.
Cleaning and sanitizing
If your cutting board has stains or odors, apply baking soda or coarse salt and scrub with a dish brush or a half a lemon to remove.
Sanitizing your wood or bamboo cutting board entails using a solution of 1:4 vinegar and water. Flood the surface with the solution and allow it to stand for several minutes before rinsing with fresh water. You can also use hydrogen peroxide. Many online sources recommend using bleach, but I would rather not use harsh chemicals on my food prep surfaces. Remember that wood has natural antimicrobial properties, and sanitizing isn’t necessarily required. In all honesty, I have never sanitized mine and everyone I have cooked for has remained free from food poisoning in all the years I have been using them.
Cutting board oil
It is extremely important to preserve the quality of your boards by hydrating them with a cutting board oil, which helps prevent cracking or splitting while maintaining their appearance. If water does not bead on the surface of your cutting board or the surface looks dull, you need to condition them, usually after every several uses.
Food-grade mineral oil is the standard oil used for this purpose, and nearly all cutting board oil formulations contain it. Since mineral oil is petroleum-based, I wanted to find alternative products that are packaged in plastic-free materials.
Do not use vegetable oils to protect cutting boards–they may quickly turn rancid.
Other wood cutting board care tips
- Do not use your cutting board as a hot pad or trivet, which can lead to burn marks, warping, or cracking.
- Refrain from using serrated knives on your wood cutting board; these act like a saw and will seriously damage even the strongest wood.
- Store cutting boards on their sides to prevent moisture from being trapped underneath.
- If the cutting board surface starts to look ragged with deep grooves and knife marks, you can try sanding the affected area with a fine grit sandpaper. When sanding, make sure to always sand with the grain. When finished, use a clean rag to brush away wood particles and follow with a thorough application of your favorite cutting board oil.
Cutting board disposal
Eventually, all cutting boards–no matter the material—will wear out over time. Once they become excessively worn, developing grooves that are too deep to refinish and have become difficult to clean, they should be replaced. The wonderful thing about wood and bamboo cutting boards is that being plant-based, they are biodegradable and compostable, either in your backyard or in your yard green waste.
Final thoughts on the best cutting board material
Wood, bamboo, and composite are the best cutting board materials for durable, non-toxic, and eco-friendly cutting boards. These materials are naturally resilient and gentle on knives, making them ideal for frequent use in the kitchen. While they tend to cost more upfront than plastic cutting boards, their longevity makes them a worthwhile investment, as they require less frequent replacement and contribute less to environmental waste. Additionally, these materials avoid the risks associated with microplastics or harmful chemicals leaching into food.
To ensure that your cutting board choice is truly sustainable, look for products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which guarantees that the materials come from responsibly managed forests. Relying solely on a company’s sustainability claims may not always provide the full picture, so choosing FSC-certified boards helps ensure your purchase aligns with environmental best practices. By opting for wood, bamboo, or composite cutting boards and prioritizing certified options, you’re making a choice that benefits both your health and the planet.
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