This article discusses what to look for in a meat cutting board. After using a number of different products, reviews have also been included in this article. Some of these cutting boards are higher end, and some are great budget picks.
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What to Look For in a Cutting Board For Meat
There are a bunch of things to look for in a cutting board. In addition to picking something that looks and feels “nice” to you, it’s also important to consider durability, particularly for cutting meat; the cutting board size; and what material the cutting board is made out of.
Durability
Cutting meat can be a fairly heavy-duty cutting task. Some thin or cheap cutting boards stand up poorly to cutting with, for example, a heavy cleaver. When you choose a cutting board for meat, especially if you intend to be doing a fair amount of heavy-duty meat cutting, it’s a good idea to get a cutting board that is going to be fairly thick and well-built.
Cutting Board Size
When cutting meat, you often want more room to work than if you were cutting vegetables or similar. Large cuts of meat, such as if you’re processing a whole chicken or similar, are going to be difficult to work with on a small cutting surface. I generally recommend that you choose a larger cutting board if you want to be able to work with meat easily.
Cutting Board Material
Broadly, there are two options for cutting board material: wood and synthetic materials.
Wooden cutting boards tend to look great. They also tend to perform great, as long as they’re taken care of. These tend to require occasional treatment with oil to stay in good condition, but this is pretty easy to do and will give you a great cutting board. If you’re willing to take care of your cutting board, wooden cutting boards are great.
Cutting boards made from synthetic materials tend to be machine washable, and they tend to require little maintenance. However, they can get more beat up over time, and often look cheaper. If you want a basic cutting board that you can throw in the dishwasher, synthetic cutting boards are great.
Cutting Board For Meat Reviews
To figure out what the best cutting board for meat is, I tested out a few cutting boards that I own, and also got some new ones for the reviews. After testing out a bunch of cutting boards with a number of different meats, I’ve put together the following reviews. Some of these are great high-end cutting boards, if you want the best of the best. There are also some excellent budget options included, if you want something that will do a good job of cutting meat while still coming with an excellent price tag.
John Boos WAL-R03 Walnut Wood Edge Grain Reversible Cutting Board
All-in-all, this is one of the nicest cutting boards that I’ve used. The product looks extremely good, and is pleasant to chop on. The fact that this is reversible is also nice, and is one advantage to a wooden cutting board, whereas synthetic cutting boards are often only usable on one side.
One thing you may want to keep in mind is that it is a good idea to refrain from washing this cutting board in water. Instead, clean it with a scraper and oil. This will help to keep the cutting board in great condition.
Ironwood Gourmet 28218 Square Charleston End Grain Chef's Board
This cutting board looks great and works great. The surface of the cutting board manages to stay in good condition even with plenty of use. Other cutting boards can start to get sliced up over time, but this one performs pretty well. This is also a pretty good size for a cutting board, which is great when processing larger pieces of meat.
Personally, I find the John Boos cutting board to feel a little higher quality. However, it’s also a little higher on the price spectrum. Considering that this is still quite well made, and that it comes at a terrific price, this is a strong contender for the best cutting board for meat.
GORILLA GRIP Original Oversized Cutting Board, Set of Three
This is a nice cutting board set. It’s very convenient to have a few different sizes, since it’s easier to wash a smaller cutting board if that’s all you need. The reservoirs around the side are great for catching liquid, which is another plus when cutting meat. The fact that these are dishwasher safe is also a huge plus, and is much easier than hand washing.
In terms of the limitations to these cutting boards, they do start to get scratched up over time. If you want a cutting board that will stay looking pristine, check out the wooden cutting boards in the reviews above. But, despite the cosmetic damage, these still keep working great.
All-in-all, this is a great, inexpensive set of cutting boards. They’re a good size and durability to be used for meat cutting, and they’re nice to have in your kitchen.
John Boos Block RA06 Maple Cutting Board
This is a great-looking cutting board. You can tell that it’s handmade and that the wood is high quality. I’ve been using this cutting board pretty heavily at this point, and with a treatment with mineral oil now and then, it holds up great. It’s a great size for cutting meat, and it’s also a nice, sturdy thickness. Even hardcore cutting, such as heavy use of a cleaver, can be stood up to by this cutting board. This is an excellent product that was really made to a high standard, which is designed to last you for many years to come.
While this is a high-quality cutting board, I found the rate to be a little high. If this were priced a bit lower, it would be a stronger contender. The other John Boos is priced lower than this product, and I like that cutting board a bit more. If the price were a bit more competitive, I would consider this cutting board strongly. But, if you like this board and find it to be worth the extra cost, then it’ll do a good job.
Butcher Blocks, Cutting Boards & Chopping Blocks by Ole George
These butcher blocks look great. Mine was able to withstand meat cutting using a cleaver, which shows how strong these are. They’re well built, and you can tell that real time and effort goes into each handmade product.
This is around the price of the same John Boos cutting board, and I tend to lean toward that model. I found it to be a bit nicer looking. But, this is a nice cutting board and the price is reasonable for the quality. Check it out and see if it’s the right pick for you.
Conclusion
When choosing a cutting board to use with meat, there are a lot of options out there. I’ve got all kinds of cutting boards around my kitchen, but if I were to pick just one of these products to use, I’d narrow it down to one of the following three products:
- In terms of the single best cutting board out there for meat-cutting, the John Boos WAL-R03 Walnut Wood Edge Grain Reversible Cutting Board is my favorite. The price is definitely right for this cutting board. It’s great that this cutting board is reversible, and it looks great on both sides. Keep this cutting board looking great with a bit of mineral oil and it’ll last you for years.
- If you want a great product at an amazing rate, then check out the Ironwood Gourmet 28218 Square Charleston End Grain Chef’s Board. This cutting board looks great and feels smooth and easy to cut on. This is quite a heavy-duty cutting board. For how well made this is, I’m surprised that it’s at this price point; I’d even pay a little more than what it’s listed for.
- If you want a decent set of cutting boards at a great price, then you should check out the GORILLA GRIP Original Oversized Cutting Board, Set of Three. These cutting boards come in a set, which allows you to easily choose between a smaller or larger cutting board depending on what you are cutting. This can also be a huge plus, since it’s easier to clean a smaller cutting board than to cut a larger one. These are also great extra cutting boards, if you already have something higher-end.
So, which of these cutting boards do you think is the best cutting board for meat? With so many options, it can be hard to pick a favorite. If you have any questions, or would like to leave your own review of one of these products, post a comment in the comments section below. I am always glad to hear from readers about what they have to say.
