Aside from being harsh on kitchen knives, plastic cutting boards could also be a “potentially significant source” of microplastics in food, according to a 2023 study. If you have worn-out plastic boards in your kitchen, you can address both issues at the same time by grabbing one of our recommended wooden cutting boards. After testing 18 of them, the Ironwood Gourmet end-grain wood cutting board emerged as one of our favorites. It’s sturdy yet forgiving on blades and costs hundreds less than the other top performers. For a budget pick, it’ll last a long time.
Why It Won Our Review
It’s Lightweight and Well-Designed
At just 7 pounds, it’s 16 pounds lighter than our top pick from Boardsmith. We like the end-grain design made of acacia wood, and the dark tone is eye-catching; this could easily double as a charcuterie board. It’s also thinner than our other top picks at 1.25 inches thick compared to others that are 2 inches thick.
It Doesn’t Dull Knives and Lasts a Long Time
Serious Eats
While acacia wood is harder on knives than walnut or cherry, this board didn’t dull our chef’s knife even after 200 strokes. Since we originally tested it in 2019, this board has held up well with everyday use. Given its more compact nature, it’s easy to wash by hand. Plus, it hasn’t exhibited any warping over time.
Why We Recommend It
Ironwood Gourmet End-Grain Wood Cutting Board
Amazon
Be it slicing delicate tomatoes or chopping fibrous pineapple, the Ironwood Gourmet emerged as the best affordable cutting board we tested. An end-grain cutting board under $100 is a fantastic find, especially since this one is durable, lightweight, and gentle on knife edges.
Explore More Serious Eats-Approved Kitchen Tools
Yes4All Durable Acacia Cutting Board
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Knife Dock Bamboo Knife Drawer Insert
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Horl3 Cruise Rolling Knife Sharpener
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Shun Multi-Purpose Kitchen Shears
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Why We’re the Experts
- An Uong is a writer for Serious Eats.
- An has been testing kitche gear for Serious Eats for over two years.
- She finally phased out all of her plastic cutting boards and has been a big fan of using end-grain wood cutting boards.