I’ve had a cutting board for about 30 years that was part of the butcher-block top of a dishwasher that was probably just about as old when it was decommissioned (they *really* don’t make ’em like they used to!) Absolutely spot on: no finish needed. If you've paid any attention to culinary magazines or shows in the last few years, you’ll know that teak cutting boards have made their way onto many a kitchen aficionado’s “must have” list. The sticking point with teak products may be the price, a large board can run upwards of $100, though smaller cutting boards can be had for a mere $20. #1: Always popular, the John Boos R02 reversible maple cutting board. In theory, an end-grain board will be gentler on your knife than an edge-grain board will, and teak will wear down a blade faster than maple. #3: John Boos end grain butcher block with American maple. It did not help that teak from Burma (known as “Burmese Teak”), was often touted as having superior qualities versus renewable, plantation grown teak; though studies showed these claims to be invalid for the most part. Due to teak’s surging demand and popularity, like many other industries, there’s been a trend toward marketing other woods as “teak” even when they aren’t. Wooden cutting boardsshould generally be made from hard, tight-grained woods. Because of its close-grained structure, this wood offers excellent durability and resistance to bacteria. Just wash the board with soap and hot water after every use and allow it to thoroughly dry on all sides (Photo 3). Also by John Boos. banned under sanctions from the US government until just recently, when some sanctions were lifted due to a change in the regime. So the answer is, if you like natural woods, teak will suit your tastes just fine. Its properties prevent water absorption, which makes food-grade mineral oil (as determined by the Federal Drug Administration) a popular choice for wooden kitchen items such as wooden spoons, bowls, and, of course, cutting boards and … The main types of wood for cutting boards are maple, walnut, cherry, beech, teak, and bamboo (which is actually a hard grass). Known as being a durable natural wood, teak has commonly been used in wet environments such as boat fixtures, outdoor furniture or spa benches. #8: John Boos Mystery Oil, made for butcher blocks, countertops and cutting boards. Wood cutting boards are available in walnut, cherry wood, ash, oak, maple, and teak. $119. Exclusively imported by CuttingBoard.com. For a classic board that will last a lifetime, we love this John Boos edge grain cutting board . The other bonus is that teak is generally more resistant to scarring the other woods, but will still scar with regular use or heavy butchering. Visually, teak … Teak You may already know that Teak is a valuable tropical hardwood that is quite beautiful and … Lunar Teak Cutting Board set of 3 908. If you’re hunting for a great wooden cutting board but on a budget, we liked the Grip Acacia which retails for $29.99 and comes with two boards, one 8 inches by 11 inches and an 11 inches by … Teak Cutting Board Teak is known for being a very durable and water resistant form of wood, and for this reason, it’s a popular choice of cutting board. Copyright © 2021 CuttingBoard.com | Built with care in Norcross, Georgia, Sister Company Featured on Margaret of York Blog, Martha Stewart gives a shout out to CuttingBoard.com. If you have been using a cutting board made of maple or beech, you are likely to notice a little shrinkage. While we at CuttingBoard.com haven’t tried the dreaded washing machine experiment with our teak boards, we definitely do NOT recommend you put your cutting board in dishwasher ( If you’re concerned about cost, maple cutting boards are less expensive than other woods like pecan and walnut. They certainly have many positives and few drawbacks. All in all, are teak cutting boards worth the hype? A teak cutting board can be a little pricey, though, but you will be guaranteed a long lasting product. 1½” maple … Top-Rated Maple Cutting Boards. Teak and Scarring If you opt to buy a hardwood cutting board, we our boards here at Wood Cutting Boards are the ones to choose. Easy to work on but tends to burn with high-speed cutters, Secretes natural oils that preserve the wood, The tree yields a resin that produces maple syrup. Posted by , Teak vs. Walnut (Comparing Wood Lumber Species Pros & Cons), Teak vs Acacia Wood Difference - Pros & Cons, Maple vs. Birch (Comparing Wood - Pros & Cons), Best Types Of Wood for Packaging (Shipping Crates), Teak Wood vs. Oak (Comparing Wood – Pros & Cons), 14 Types Of Woodworking Clamps – Carpentry & Woodworking Tools, 8 Types Of Woodworking Vises- Carpentry & Woodworking Tools Guide, Lacquer vs Polyurethane – Wood Finish Comparison, Best Wood for Turning (Types for Beginner Woodturning Lathe Work), Melamine vs MDF (Pros & Cons) – Comparing Materials, Bamboo Flooring vs Hardwood Flooring (Pros & Cons). Mineral Oil Mineral oil (sometimes called liquid paraffin) is a non-toxic, non-drying product derived from petroleum that is colorless, odorless, and flavorless. The demand in teak has also created teak plantations in Mexico, Central and South America, many of which are sustainable and have certifications from the #3: John Boos end grain butcher block with American maple… The disadvantage of making a wood cutting board … Perum Perhutani, an Indonesian state run company, oversees the countries forest with a well managed sustainability program that replants each teak tree that is harvested. This type of cutting board is resilient and durable, as well as sanitary and knife-friendly. Visit our sister site. Unfortunately, the teak trade is a source of both political and sustainability issues. With a teak board, you can rest well knowing you will have a beautiful kitchen piece that will last for years! End grain hard woods like maple … Some examples are “Rhodesian Teak”, “African Teak”, “Brazillian Teak”, all of which are not of the To test this, I ordered a bunch of identical chefs knives, … The best materials for wood cutting boards are hardwoods with tightly grained wood and small pores. In addition to it’s natural tectoquinones oils, teak also is dense in silica, which is the material glass is made out of. Browse our selection of  This classificationis a bit confusing as it doesn't depend on hardness, but the type of tree.Hardwoods are angiosperms aka flowering plants with broad leaves. And many boards are actually made from waste wood (i.e., leftovers at the mill that would have been otherwise thrown away). While this… As with most woods though, depending on the segment or board used, a teak cutting board can either look uniform or have a knotty texture like traditional boards. Rubber cutting boards such as those from the Sani-Tuff brand are another option in this price range, and they may be a better fit for someone looking for a board that that they can run through the dishwasher.. End Grain. ECO-FRIENDLY. As for durability in the kitchen, Cooks Illustrated Teak has it’s roots (no pun intended) in tropical South-East Asia, where it is grown in regions such as India, Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma), Malaysia and other nearby countries. The crème de la crème of cutting boards … For this reason, teak has been coveted by marine ship builders for over the past century. #4: For the knife afficionado, hinoki is regarded as the best wood to use for cutting. Softwoods are gymnosperms (about 80% of t… #1: Always popular, the John Boos R02 reversible maple cutting board. What gives teak it’s water restive properties is a combination of natural wood oils, tight wood grain and tensile strength. #6: Premium 2-1/4" thick American Maple with side handles. Don’t Be Confused or Misled Grant Chen While outdoor teak will patina and turn a silvery gray color, left inside out of the UV exposure, your cutting board should have no issues preserving its color. Historically, it was a prized tree as it naturally resisted rain, termites, rot, fungus and warping, making it an excellent material for the region. The boards we chose were made from bamboo or one of four types of wood (maple, birch, teak, or hinoki, a Japanese cypress). As a home chef though, there are important factors for a cutting board besides simply being water resistant, such as: the visual appeal, durability, knife scarring, maintenance and sustainability. #2: Awarded "Best Cutting Board" by America's test kitchen, the Proteak Model 107 teak cutting board. Tectona grandis species or even close. Obviously, you should always wash and disinfect your cutting board after each use, but as far as wiping down with oils, it is unnecessary. #1: Always popular, the John Boos R02 reversible maple cutting board. Hard maple or sugar maple are two similar types of hardwood that make good cutting boards. Maintaining Teak Wood You can choose between maple, cherry and walnut boards that are both durable and aesthetically pleasing. While teak is more exotic and often used in Asian furniture and smaller projects like cutting boards, Maple is readily available in North America and relatively affordable wood. Maintaining a cutting board is a quick and easy task that will keep your board sanitary, looking new and extend the life of your board. After all, if we just wanted a board that would repel water, we would get a NSF plastic board or even (cringe) glass cutting board and be done with it. The Sustainability Question How Durable is Teak? on 14th Jan 2014. All wood cutting boards are made from one of three types of grains: face grain, edge grain, or end grain. Forest Stewardship Council. Now that we’ve revealed that maple is the best wood for cutting boards, it’s time to get your hands on one! Mostcutting boards are made from trees classified as hardwoods. John Boos RA03 24 x 18 x 2 1/4-Inch Reversible Maple Cutting Board available at Amazon. #3: John Boos end grain butcher block with American maple… We're proud to design products that you could feel gratifying while cooking. With all the advantages listed so far, you were probably wondering what is the downside? And finally, a good maple or beech cutting board is somewhat self-healing, and won’t scar as easily as a plastic board. The grain is sharp, fitted and uniform in texture, making it very appealing for modern applications or design. Is Poplar a Good Wood for Making Furniture? #9: Clapham's Beeswax is a famous name in the woodworking industry, known for their museum quality waxes and finishes. On the political side, some of the world’s largest remaining natural teak forests are located within the borders of Burma, a country that has history of human rights abuses that exploited people and resources to fund their brutal regime. Extra large with 24" x 18" surface. Final Thoughts #7: Our exclusive all-in-one cutting board maintenance kit, with mineral oil, wood wax and applicator cloth. Soft woods and plastics are hard to keep clean. Know More. This beautiful, eco-conscious teak board requires more careful cleaning than a plastic board, but it feels better under a knife and is easier to maintain than the other wood … It is adequately hard to provide a suitable surface for cutting. I’ve been using a cutting board made of solid pine and another made of glued up maple … read here for more information). While glass is often used for cutting boards due to it’s durability, it’s hardness also has a bad habit of turning your sharp chef’s knife into a dull butter knife after a few uses. In fact, ship hands often wash their teak decks with Need wood countertops? Why Teakhaus? Think maple,oak, and birch. So having just a small fraction of silica inside teak gives it a natural boost in hardness that still doesn’t destroy your knife edge. Both soft and hard maple make for excellent cutting surfaces. Bocote 2200 Maple, Soft 999 Brazilian Tiger Mahogany 3840 Teak, Plantation 1000 Brushbox, Northern 2045 Cherry, Africa, Makore 1010 Bubinga 1980 Ash, Victorian 1010 Butternut 490 Walnut, Domestic Black 1010 Camaru (Brazilian Teak) 3540 Oak, Tasmainian 1010 Cherry, Africa, Makore 1010 Aniegre 1110 Cherry, Brazilian 2820 Teak… salt water and don’t treat the wood, which is a true testament to the natural attributes of teak. Outside of Burma, Indonesia is one of the largest producers of teak. They were also constructed in two different ways: Three of the models were end-grain boards (made by gluing together blocks of wood, each with the grain running vertically), and four were edge-grain boards … At CuttingBoard.com, we only sell teak cutting boards that were plantation harvested and are environmentally responsible. Extra large with 24" x 18" surface. both bamboo and teak contain silicates which make them less acceptable as cutting boards–not as bad as glass or ceramics, but in the wrong direction for sure. The Last Cutting Board … Visually, teak is quite beautiful, with a medium brown color tinged with gold and orange hues. As a result, teak exports from Burma were Let's break this down. The most common question we receive each week at CuttingBoard.com is “How do I maintain my cutting board… #2: Awarded "Best Cutting Board" by America's test kitchen, the Proteak Model 107 teak cutting board. For a classic board that will last a lifetime, we love this John Boos edge grain cutting board… The history of the wood cutting board … Now that we've revealed maple as the best wood for cutting boards, it's time to get your hands on one! #5: Exquisite American Black Walnut made by John Boos, the most famous name in cutting boards and butcher blocks. Below we’ll give more information on teak vs. maple wood and … #2: Awarded "Best Cutting Board" by America's test kitchen, the Proteak Model 107 teak cutting board. Extra large with 24" x 18" surface. Michigan Maple BlockMichigan Maple Block is yet another traditional cutting … View all products. The greatest beauty of teak wood is that it is virtually maintenance free. recommended teak wood after putting a variety of cutting boards through the series of chopping, washing and durability tests. What’s more, a heavy softwood board is kind to knives, and will keep them sharper longer. 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