Your Cart is Empty
Cutting boards are an essential element in any kitchen. But have you been wondering what cutting board is best? If you want to know the pros and cons of bamboo and maple cutting boards, read on!
Bamboo and maple cutting boards are great options for any chef. Bamboo cutting boards are environmentally friendly, whereas maple cutting boards are not as renewable. Maple cutting boards can be restored and last for years. Yet, a major drawback is that these cutting boards are not dishwasher safe.
There are upsides to owning either of these cutting boards, but they both have some disadvantages, too. This post will discuss the best and worst parts of owning and using a bamboo and maple cutting board. It will cover which cutting board is better, the benefits of either cutting board, safety, and simple care instructions.
Since every cutting board has pros and cons, you are probably wondering which is better. Bamboo cutting boards are the better choice, but each cutting board has some clear advantages. And depending on what you are using your cutting board for, you may prefer one option over the other.
The following chart highlights that there are many advantages and disadvantages to the bamboo and maple cutting board options:
| Bamboo Cutting Board | Maple Cutting Board | |
| Pros | · Less porous than maple cutting boards · Good for cutting raw meats as it is non-porous · Environmentally friendly option · Does not absorb water · Does not easily crack like other hardwoods · Does not scar · Uniform grain · Harder than maple |
· Good for cutting everything except raw meat · Does not scar easily · Sometimes made from renewable sources or waste wood, making it somewhat environmentally friendly · Easy to sand to remove any scars or scratches, and your cutting board is like new again · Beautiful grain makes for great use as a cheeseboard |
| Cons | · Not dishwasher safe; most cutting boards are hand wash only · Some products are processed with unsafe formaldehyde and glues, which can leech into foods · Dulls knives quicker because of hardness · Easily stain |
· Can absorb juices from the meat and cause dangerous bacterial growth · Not dishwasher safe; hand wash only · Can crack if exposed to too much water · Requires regular maintenance and care · Not as environmentally friendly and renewable as bamboo · Lighter toned maple woods easily stained |
As you can see, the bamboo and maple cutting boards are pretty evenly matched. Yet the bamboo cutting board wins out in being:
Even though these cutting boards are pretty evenly matched in terms of their pros and cons, there are some major differences that you should consider when purchasing a maple or bamboo cutting board.
Bamboo cutting boards are technically not made of wood but grass, as bamboo is a type of grass. This is one major difference between bamboo and maple cutting boards. But bamboo has some other perks that are worth mentioning, too.
When you are buying your cutting board, you want to consider a few different factors:
No matter which cutting board you choose to buy, bamboo and maple are both good options, but each offers its own bonuses.
You also want to consider the grain of your cutting board, as there are a few different options:
Both maple and bamboo cutting boards can be found in these grains. The main things to keep in mind when choosing a grain for your cutting board are cost and aesthetics. There is a cutting board out there for every budget and any kitchen.
Both of these cutting board options have their pros and cons. Let us take a closer look at both cutting boards individually and see how they stack up against each other in more detail.
Buying and using a bamboo cutting board has many advantages for anyone, from the amateur cook to experienced chefs. The pros of a bamboo cutting board can easily make it the best choice for you.
If you want a lightweight, sustainable cutting board that will last for years, a bamboo cutting board is the right option for you. Also, if you plan on cutting raw meat often, this is the cutting board for you, as the juices will not be absorbed into the board. This allows you to avoid some serious health concerns.
A bamboo cutting board has many pros. Some of the best cutting boards are made from bamboo. These cutting boards are especially popular with environmentalists because bamboo is a renewable and sustainable grass that thrives without pesticides and other harsh chemicals.
A bamboo cutting board is a choice for you if you are looking for a cutting board that is:
Bamboo cutting boards are also a low maintenance cutting board, which we will discuss more in the next section!
It is super easy to clean a bamboo cutting board. Basically, there are only three steps to follow when cleaning your bamboo cutting board. With this in mind, it is just another pro as to why bamboo cutting boards are superior to maple cutting boards.
The following three steps are a quick guide on how to clean your bamboo cutting board:
When washing a bamboo cutting board or any other wood cutting board, the one thing to remember is never to soak these cutting boards. A bamboo cutting board does not need to be submerged in hot water and soap to be cleaned. You only need to worry about cleaning the outer surface of the cutting board.
But a bamboo cutting board should be oiled and waxed regularly. See the section on how to oil your cutting board later on for more information.
A major drawback of a bamboo cutting board is that many manufacturers do not disclose if the bamboo they use for their cutting boards is sustainably sourced. And they do not share how the cutting board is made.
This can lead to some misconceptions about how healthy or how positive the impact of purchasing a bamboo cutting board is.
To prevent you from selecting a toxic bamboo cutting board, avoid the following things:
The use of formaldehyde is the most distressing concern when choosing a bamboo cutting board. It requires you to do a little bit of research and read up on each brand before purchasing a bamboo cutting board.
Because a bamboo cutting board can be toxic, the safer option is a maple cutting board. However, you should do your research about each manufacturer before making a final purchase. Some manufacturers are clearer than others when it comes to what materials they use.
We compare other types of cutting boards in this blog post.
You should choose a maple cutting board if you want a beautiful, multipurpose cutting board. The maple cutting board allows for versatility in the kitchen since it can be used as a serving platter or for its intended purpose as a cutting board.
The best part about maple cutting boards is that these cutting boards naturally inhibit bacterial growth. This means you will have a long-lasting, durable, and safe cutting board for years to come.
Maple cutting boards are a great choice because of the many advantages they have. A maple cutting board can be purchased as a solid block of wood or as a cutting board with glued maple wood planks. This flexibility allows you to choose the best maple cutting board for you based on other parameters such as cost and aesthetics.
A maple cutting board has many advantages for any chef:
Maple cutting boards are thought of as a fancier choice by many chefs and cooking connoisseurs. This is particularly represented by the price and overall look of the cutting board. Constructing a hardwood cutting board, such as the maple cutting board, is arguably more difficult than the less expensive bamboo grass options.
Maple cutting boards are offered in the three different wood grain constructions. However, face-grain maple cutting boards are quite expensive. The face-grain maple cutting boards are usually custom made because gluing thin layers of maple together is a tedious task.
The other two options are edge grain and end grain. It is mainly personal preference or budget that should dictate your buying decision if you decide a maple cutting board is right for you.
A maple cutting board is easily cleaned and maintained for ultimate performance over the years. If you take good care of your maple cutting board, it will not need to be replaced for years. It only takes a few simple steps to care for your maple cutting board.
Use the following steps to keep your maple cutting board clean and sanitized:
In addition to keeping your maple cutting board clean and sanitary, you also have to maintain the wood. This requires a few extra steps every few weeks or months, depending on how often you are using (and washing) your maple cutting board.
The following list provides key maintenance to your maple cutting board, ensuring its long life:
The lemon juice will help neutralize smells and remove stains. If you do not have a lemon, you can also use white vinegar. Baking soda is another good cleaning agent to remove unwanted smells and stains.
Mineral oil or beeswax is needed for keeping a cutting board maintained. Both maple and bamboo cutting boards need to be oiled. You should follow the below steps every month or when you notice the surface of your cutting board has dried out.
The following steps will walk you through oiling a cutting board as part of normal upkeep:
Even though many bamboo cutting boards are touted as low maintenance, you will get a longer life out of them if you apply oil regularly.
The main reason to oil your cutting board is to prevent other liquids from soaking into the board during chopping. Additionally, it is important to oil a cutting board because it will help prevent warping and cracking, which can happen when dry cutting boards are exposed to water.
The following are food-grade mineral oils you can purchase to maintain any wooden cutting board:
These highly rated oils will keep your cutting board conditioned and clean while restoring the wood grains' beauty and sheen.
Avoid using any of the following household or cleaning products on your cutting board, as it can be hazardous to your health and the longevity of the cutting board:
| Cleaning Products to Avoid | Household Products to Avoid |
| · Undiluted bleach · Rubbing alcohol · Other cleaning solvents |
· Canola oil · Coconut oil · Corn oil · Olive oil · Palm oil · Peanut oil · Sesame oil · Teak oil · Vegetable oil · Walnut oil · Non-food grade mineral oils |
Many of these cooking oils turn rancid with time, which will leave any chopped food tasting badly and create a horrible smell. Using an oil that is not food grade is again endangering your health by potentially ingesting toxic chemicals.
On a similar note, you do not want to use harsh cleaning products because they will dry out the board and can leave toxic residues behind, which would be dangerous to ingest.
Wax is used in addition to the application of mineral oil on a cutting board. After the application of the oil has dried, it is time to add some wax. These usually come in the form of a cream. You should wax both maple and bamboo cutting boards.
Wax or wax creams are applied similarly to how you oil a cutting board:
Board waxes create a film that fills in all the cracks, crevices, and scratches that have accumulated on the cutting board due to normal use. This helps increase your cutting board's safety by closing areas that could easily collect and harbor bacteria.
It is time to get a new cutting board when the grooves in the board become too deep to smooth over with wax. At this stage, the deep grooves can hold on to food particles and be a breeding ground for bacteria and other microbes.
The following questions indicate whether or not it is time for you to get a new cutting board:
An easy way to extend your maple or bamboo cutting board's life is to sand it down and remove all the deep grooves. Afterward, you would wash, oil, and wax the cutting board. This process would return it to its original form, and you could continue to use it without any potential health hazards.
If your cutting board has deep grooves and you do not want to sand it down, it is time for a new cutting board. It is good practice to inspect your cutting board before and after each use. If you notice any deep grooves, it is time for your cutting board to be:
The maple cutting board is better than a bamboo cutting board for all knives. A maple cutting board will not dull knives as quickly as a bamboo cutting board. A bamboo cutting board has several reasons that make it the worst option for expensive kitchen knives.
The following reasons are what make a bamboo cutting board bad for your knives:
If you are picky about your knives' longevity and quality, bamboo cutting boards may not be for you. However, if you already own a bamboo cutting board and find it too harsh on your knives, you can use it as a serving platter instead of a cutting board!
Both a maple and bamboo cutting board are great options for your kitchen. However, the maple cutting board can be more stylish than a bamboo cutting board. The bamboo cutting board is more sustainable than the maple cutting board.
Even though both have their own benefits and drawbacks, you may be wondering which cutting board you should choose for your home. The best option is a bamboo cutting board.
On a bamboo cutting board, you do not have to worry about what you are chopping. You can chop anything from meats to veggies. A maple cutting board can't have meats cut on it due to the potential for harboring bacteria.
Chef's Vision is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases.
