Cutting Board 101
Welcome to Watley Wood Craft’s cutting board 101. Here you ca learn about various wood species that can be used in a cutting board.
Why wood choice is so important?
Wood Choice effects the, Coloreffects on knivesMaintenance LongevityCost!!GrainToxicity Porosity
What are your choices?
Below is a list of recommended wood types to use for cutting boards!
Why wood type hardness is the biggest factor?
The Hardness of a wood type determines how it effects your knives, durability and bacteria resistance. The Harder the wood the less knife marks and quicker your knives dull. The softer the wood the more knife marks and less effect of knives. The less knife marks result is a higher bacteria resistance.
Janka Hardness: What is Janka Hardness? This number is incredibly useful in directly determining how well a wood will withstand dents, dings, and wear. .The hardness for an optimal cutting board is in the Janka range of 900 to 1500. As a reference point, Hard Maple has a hardness of 1450, which makes it an ideal cutting board for the top end. Black Walnut falls in the middle at 1010 and Cherry on the lower range at 995. If the Hardness is below 900 the wood is soft and will show cut marks on cutting board, too hard and it can dull your knife. Most Domestic woods are the best option for cutting boards, however exotic woods bring a beauty factor when used together.
Domestic Woods
Maple
Hard Maple is a popular choice for cutting boards due to its several desirable qualities:
Durability: It’s a dense and hard wood, making it resistant to wear and tear from cutting and chopping.
Hardness: Its high hardness ensures that it doesn’t easily dent or chip, even under heavy use.
Grain: Generally straight grain contributes to its strength and durability.
Fine Texture: The fine, even texture provides a smooth surface for cutting and chopping, reducing the risk of dulling knives.
Light Color: The pale color makes it easy to spot food particles and debris, ensuring proper cleaning.
Natural Antimicrobial Properties: Some studies suggest that maple wood may have natural antimicrobial properties, helping to inhibit the growth of bacteria.
Overall, Hard Maple cutting boards offer a combination of durability, appearance, and functionality that makes them a popular choice for kitchens.
Cherry
Cherry wood is another popular choice for cutting boards, offering a unique blend of beauty and functionality:
Rich Color: Cherry wood is known for its warm, reddish-brown color that darkens over time, adding a touch of elegance to the kitchen.
Hardness: It’s a relatively hard wood, providing good durability and resistance to wear and tear.
Grain: The grain pattern can vary from straight to curly, adding visual interest to the board.
Fine Texture: The fine texture provides a smooth surface for cutting and chopping.
Natural Antimicrobial Properties: Like maple, cherry wood is believed to have natural antimicrobial properties that can help inhibit bacterial growth.
However, compared to maple, cherry wood might be slightly softer and more susceptible to staining. Therefore, it’s important to maintain and care for cherry wood cutting boards properly to preserve their beauty and functionality.
Overall, cherry wood cutting boards offer a unique combination of aesthetics and functionality, making them a desirable choice for those seeking a stylish and durable cutting surface.
Black Walnut
Black walnut is a premium wood choice for cutting boards, offering a combination of beauty, durability, and functionality:
Rich Dark Color: Black walnut is renowned for its deep, rich dark color that can range from chocolate brown to almost black, adding a luxurious touch to the kitchen.
Hardness: It’s a very hard wood, making it highly resistant to wear and tear, scratches, and dents.
Grain: The grain pattern can vary from straight to curly or figured, creating unique and visually appealing designs.
Fine Texture: The fine texture provides a smooth surface for cutting and chopping, reducing the risk of dulling knives.
Natural Antimicrobial Properties: Like maple and cherry, black walnut is believed to have natural antimicrobial properties that can help inhibit bacterial growth.
Oil Finish: Black walnut cutting boards often have an oil finish to enhance their natural beauty and provide additional protection.
However, black walnut can be more expensive than other wood options due to its scarcity and desirability. It’s also important to care for black walnut cutting boards properly, including regular oiling, to maintain their appearance and prevent drying or cracking.
Overall, black walnut cutting boards offer a luxurious and durable cutting surface that can be a centerpiece in any kitchen. They are a popular choice for those who appreciate high-quality, aesthetically pleasing kitchen tools.
Red Oak
Red oak is a popular choice for cutting boards due to its balance of affordability and durability. Here are some key characteristics:
Hardness: It’s a relatively hard wood, making it resistant to wear and tear.
Grain: The grain pattern can vary from straight to open grain, which can add visual interest but may also require more frequent maintenance.
Color: Red oak typically has a light reddish-brown color that can darken over time.
Natural Antimicrobial Properties: Like other oak species, red oak is believed to have natural antimicrobial properties.
Affordability: Compared to other premium woods like black walnut or cherry, red oak is generally more affordable.
However, red oak cutting boards may require more frequent maintenance, such as oiling, to prevent drying and cracking due to its open grain. Additionally, the color can vary between boards, so it’s important to consider your aesthetic preferences.
Overall, red oak cutting boards offer a good balance of durability and affordability, making them a suitable choice for those seeking a functional and attractive cutting surface without breaking the bank.
Exotic Woods
Padauk
Padauk is a tropical hardwood known for its vibrant reddish-orange color and unique grain patterns. Here are some key characteristics:
Color: Padauk has a striking reddish-orange color that can vary from pale to deep red, depending on the age and location of the tree.
Grain: The grain patterns are often interlocked or wavy, creating unique and visually appealing designs.
Hardness: Padauk is a relatively hard wood, making it resistant to wear and tear.
Natural Antimicrobial Properties: Some studies suggest that padauk may have natural antimicrobial properties.
Oil Finish: Padauk cutting boards often have an oil finish to enhance their natural color and provide additional protection.
However, padauk can be more expensive than some other wood options due to its scarcity and unique properties. It’s also important to care for padauk cutting boards properly, including regular oiling, to maintain their color and prevent drying or cracking.
Overall, padauk cutting boards offer a unique combination of beauty, durability, and functionality, making them a popular choice for those seeking a visually striking and high-quality cutting surface.
Zebrawood
Zebrawood is a tropical hardwood known for its striking black and white striped pattern, resembling the stripes of a zebra. Here are some key characteristics:
Appearance: The alternating black and white stripes create a unique and visually appealing pattern that can be used to add a touch of drama to the kitchen.
Hardness: Zebrawood is a relatively hard wood, making it resistant to wear and tear.
Grain: The grain is typically straight, but can sometimes have a slight wavy or curly pattern.
Oil Finish: Zebrawood cutting boards often have an oil finish to enhance their natural color and provide additional protection.
Price: Due to its scarcity and unique appearance, zebrawood can be more expensive than other wood options.
However, zebrawood may require more frequent maintenance, such as oiling, to prevent drying and cracking. Additionally, the color can vary slightly between boards.
Overall, zebrawood cutting boards offer a unique and visually striking cutting surface that can be a centerpiece in any kitchen. They are a popular choice for those who appreciate high-quality, aesthetically pleasing kitchen tools.
Purple Heart
Purpleheart, also known as Amaranth, is a tropical hardwood known for its vibrant purple color and unique grain patterns. Here are some key characteristics:
Color: Purpleheart typically has a deep purple or reddish-purple color that can vary slightly depending on the age and location of the tree. The color may darken or lighten over time.
Grain: The grain patterns can vary from straight to interlocked or wavy, creating unique and visually appealing designs.
Hardness: Purpleheart is a relatively hard wood, making it resistant to wear and tear.
Natural Antimicrobial Properties: Some studies suggest that purpleheart may have natural antimicrobial properties.
Oil Finish: Purpleheart cutting boards often have an oil finish to enhance their natural color and provide additional protection.
However, purpleheart can be more expensive than some other wood options due to its scarcity and unique properties. It’s also important to care for purpleheart cutting boards properly, including regular oiling, to maintain their color and prevent drying or cracking.
Overall, purpleheart cutting boards offer a unique combination of beauty, durability, and functionality, making them a popular choice for those seeking a visually striking and high-quality cutting surface.
Bocote
Bocote is a tropical hardwood known for its striking dark brown color and contrasting light-colored streaks. Here are some key characteristics:
Color: Bocote typically has a deep dark brown color with lighter-colored streaks, creating a visually interesting pattern.
Grain: The grain is often straight or slightly wavy, with visible growth rings.
Hardness: Bocote is a relatively hard wood, making it resistant to wear and tear.
Natural Antimicrobial Properties: Some studies suggest that bocote may have natural antimicrobial properties.
Oil Finish: Bocote cutting boards often have an oil finish to enhance their natural color and provide additional protection.
However, bocote can be more expensive than some other wood options due to its scarcity and unique properties. It’s also important to care for bocote cutting boards properly, including regular oiling, to maintain their color and prevent drying or cracking.
Overall, bocote cutting boards offer a unique combination of beauty, durability, and functionality, making them a popular choice for those seeking a visually striking and high-quality cutting surface.
Leopard Wood
Leopard wood is a tropical hardwood known for its distinctive pattern of dark spots on a lighter background, resembling the markings of a leopard. Here are some key characteristics:
Appearance: The dark spots on a lighter background create a visually interesting and unique pattern that can add a touch of exotic flair to the kitchen.
Hardness: Leopard wood is a relatively hard wood, making it resistant to wear and tear.
Grain: The grain is typically straight, but can sometimes have a slight wavy or curly pattern.
Oil Finish: Leopard wood cutting boards often have an oil finish to enhance their natural color and provide additional protection.
Price: Due to its scarcity and unique appearance, leopard wood can be more expensive than some other wood options.
However, leopard wood may require more frequent maintenance, such as oiling, to prevent drying and cracking. Additionally, the color can vary slightly between boards.
Overall, leopard wood cutting boards offer a unique and visually striking cutting surface that can be a centerpiece in any kitchen. They are a popular choice for those who appreciate high-quality, aesthetically pleasing kitchen tools and are seeking a more exotic option.