Bamboo cutting boards are inexpensive, durable, and sustainable. But are they the right choice for your kitchen? Our detailed review will help you decide.
The Best Bamboo Cutting Boards
There are hundreds of bamboo cutting boards on the market, and they're all similar, so it can be hard to choose the best ones. We tested several of the highest rated bamboo cutting boards on Amazon and these are how we rated them.
Cutting Board | Features |
|---|---|
Best Large Prep Board: McCook End Grain  | -Organic end grain bamboo -17" x 12" -1.0" thick -Juice groove -Recessed handles -About $40. |
Best Small Board: Top Notch End Grain  | -End grain bamboo -10.6" x 9.3" -1.9" thick -Rubber feet for grip -Juice groove -Recessed handles -Pre-oiled and ready to use -About $45. |
Best Price (Large): Smirly  | -Edge grain organic bamboo -17" x 13" -0.8" thick -Recessed handles -Juice groove -Pre-oiled and ready for use -About $20. |
Best Variety of Sizes: Greener Chef  | -Naturally sourced organic edge grain bamboo -Small - 4XL sizes (large is 18" x 12.5") -0.7" thick -Meat carving board options -Juice groove -Fair labor practices certified -About 22$ for the large (18" x12.5") size. |
Best Set: Kikcoin Set of 3 Cutting Boards  | -End grain bamboo -17"x12", 14"x10", 10"x7" (L, M, S) -1.0" thick -4 layers -Pre-oiled -Juice groove -Recessed handles -Silicone feet included (packaged separately) -About $50 for 3 boards. |
What Is Bamboo?
Contrary to what some people think, bamboo is not a type of wood. It is a grass that grows rapidly and is therefore a sustainable material.
In fact, bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world. It is not only a replacement for wood, it's also edible and can be used for cloth, flooring and roofing, biofuel, and more.
Bamboo is one of the most sustainable resources on the planet.
Is Bamboo a Safe Material for a Cutting Board?
Yes, bamboo is a safe material for cutting boards. It is also an environmentally friendly choice because bamboo is a fast-growing, highly renewable resource.
However, there are a couple of precautions to know about before you buy.
First, look for organic and/or naturally sourced bamboo for the safest, most sustainable choice.
Second, make sure a bamboo cutting board is made with food grade glue. Some brands can be made with formaldehyde, which may leach into your food over time.
Edge Grain Vs. End Grain Boards
Edge grain bamboo: you can see the grain running through it.
End grain bamboo: made up of small blocks of vertically cut bamboo glued together.
As with wood cutting boards, you can go with edge grain or end grain.
Edge grain, also called long grain or side grain, is cut with the grain. An edge grain board shows the natural grain pattern of the bamboo (or wood).
Edge grain boards need less oiling than end grain boards and allow less moisture in. They are also less expensive because they require less labor to make.
However, edge grain boards are harder on knives and will show more knife marks than end grain boards.
End grain, also called end cut or block cut, are cut against the grain, exposing the bamboo (or wood) fibers. End grain cutting boards are easy to identify by the checkerboard pattern, made by small blocks of bamboo (or wood) glued together.
End grain boards are more durable than edge grain boards and can tolerate heavy duty chopping. The end grains work with a knife rather than against it, as edge grain boards do. That is, knife blades are cutting with the fibers rather than against them, so they are easier on knives and also show fewer cut marks.
End grain boards also have the ability to "heal" their cuts, so they show fewer cut marks than edge grain cutting boards.
End grain boards dry out more easily, so they need more frequent oiling (at least once a month for bamboo end grain boards). They are also more labor intensive to make, which means they're more expensive. In fact, end grain wood boards are some of the most expensive cutting boards you can buy.
Which is better? End grain boards are the obvious choice when we're talking about bamboo in particular. Bamboo is harder than wood, meaning it's harder on knives. End grain bamboo largely solves that problem, and it isn't much more expensive than edge grain bamboo boards--so go with an end grain bamboo board unless you're on a super tight budget.
How to Care for Bamboo Cutting Boards
If you go with a bamboo cutting board, you must learn how to care for one, because if you don't give a bamboo board the love in requires, it won't last and you'll have to deal with warping, splitting, and splintering.
Washing: Bamboo boards are not dishwasher safe, so they have to be washed by hand. Use warm soapy water, rinse thoroughly, wipe off excess water, and let air dry, with as much of the board exposed to air as possible. Sitting in moisture can cause a bamboo board to warp, so don't let that happen.
When you wash an edge grain board, try to stroke against the grain to avoid splintering the board. Keeping the board oiled properly will also help prevent splintering.
Oiling: Just like wood, bamboo requires oiling to keep it from drying out and possibly cracking or splintering. In fact, bamboo is a grass, so it's even more prone to drying out than wooden cutting boards.
So you need to oil your bamboo cutting board regularly. Most sources recommend monthly oiling, and some even say that you should oil every day, or at least after every use, to keep it supple and soft. (If you live in an arid climate, this is probably a good idea.)
Oiling is extremely important to keeping a bamboo cutting board in good working order. Most negative reviews about bamboo boards splitting and splintering are almost certainly due to a lack of oiling. People don't realize that bamboo needs it even more often than wood.
To oil a bamboo cutting board, use a food grade mineral oil, olive oil, or cutting board oil. Slather oil generously over the board and let the board absorb the oil for a few hours. Then wipe excess oil off the board and store it where it can't get wet.
Disinfecting: Boards may need occasional disinfecting, such as if they're retaining food odors or if you've used them for raw meat.
To disinfect, first wash the board with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Then pour white vinegar over the board and rinse thoroughly.
Alternatively, you can scrub a bamboo board with lemon and salt, just as you do with wood boards: sprinkle a damp board with salt, then use half a lemon to work the salt into the board. This will lift food particles and scrub all the odors out of the board. When done, rinse thoroughly, wipe off excess water, and let the board air dry with as much of it exposed to air as possible.
These instructions apply to both edge grain and end grain boards, however, end grain boards need more frequent oiling than edge grain boards because the fibers are more exposed.