9 Best Cutting Boards for Your Kitchen

Chopping, dicing, and cutting are a necessary and fundamental part of cooking—whether you’re slicing a lemon for a cup of tea or working your way through a mountain of onions for your famous Sunday gravy. Aside from owning the right knife for the job, having a great cutting board can make your prep work and clean-up easier, safer, and faster.

Whether you’re outfitting a new kitchen or want to upgrade your cutting surfaces to something a bit more presentable, these are the best cutting boards available in 2021.

What to Consider

When buying a new cutting board for your kitchen, you’ll want to consider which material to get. The three most common materials for cutting boards are plastic, bamboo, and wood. Avoid glass, marble, and other hard materials, which can damage your knife blade. Plastic is great if you’re looking for something dishwasher-safe and durable. Wood and bamboo tend to be more attractive and can double as a serving platter, but they shouldn’t be washed in the dishwasher.

Next, what size cutting board makes the most sense for you? If you want an all-purpose model with ample space for big cutting jobs, an extra-large board can be useful. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a board for the kids to practice their knife skills or that’s easier to store, a medium to small board may be a better bet. When shopping for a cutting board, check its dimensions and thickness to make sure it will fit in your cabinet before buying.

Finally, consider the design of the board. Look for features like nonstick grips, which can keep your board steady on the counter so you can avoid potentially dangerous or messy slips. Also, consider a board with handles, which is easier to pick up and move around the kitchen. Many boards have a channel around the edge to catch drips, which is useful for slicing meat or cutting juicy fruits and vegetables.

How We Selected

As a trained chef, recipe developer, and food writer for Munchery and Simply Recipes, knife work is part of my everyday job. And naturally, I value a high-quality cutting board that makes my life easier. To select the boards on this list, I researched the best cutting surfaces, board sizes, and features based on my own personal kitchen experience and by reading customer reviews. I’ve selected boards that accommodate all kinds of kitchens and culinary skill levels to help find the right board for you.