Best Large Cutting Boards
A cutting board is such a great kitchen tool for protecting countertops from the sharp blade of a knife as you chop and slice food. Since cutting boards come in many sizes, choosing one large enough to comfortably accommodate a full joint of meat, a 25-pound turkey, a whole raw salmon or a few pounds of tomatoes or potatoes is essential. In doing so, the food won’t fall off the sides as you prepare, and all the juices in the foods will remain on the board instead of creating a wet, slippery mess on the counter.
Most large cutting boards are also easy to clean, if not in the dishwasher, then with soap and water. Cutting boards are available in a variety of materials, including plastic, wood, bamboo, tempered glass and stainless steel, and each has its advantages and disadvantages.
We feature five large cutting boards you can purchase online. Read on to find the one that best suits your needs.
Top Pick Best Bamboo: ROYAL CRAFT WOOD EXTRA LARGE Organic Bamboo Cutting Board with Juice Groove
Bamboo is a renewable, sustainable resource that makes it a popular choice for anyone looking for a cutting board and wants to reduce the amount of plastic they use. This large 18-inch by 12-inch board is an attractive-looking addition to any kitchen, able to handle all food prep tasks.
The rectangular-shaped cutting board is ideal for chopping, dicing and slicing meat, bread, fish, fruit and vegetables, keeping the countertop clean from juices and crumbs. Equipped with side handles, this versatile large cutting board is easy to carry from the kitchen to the table, as it can also be used as a cheese board or serving tray.
Made from high quality, natural, durable bamboo, the cutting board is pest and bacteria-resistant, absorbs less liquid and has fewer cross-contamination concerns. As well, it will not crack or slide on the counter when you are using it, and the surface will not dull or damage knives. The built-in drip grooves retain the juice from meat, fruit and veggies, instead of it all leaking onto the counter or floor.
A healthy alternative to plastic, both sides of this large bamboo cutting board can be used to chop food, or use one side for food prep and the other side for serving.
Pros:
- Made from sustainable, natural thick bamboo
- Large 18-inch by 12-inch size
- Deep drip grooves
- Side handles
- Pest and bacteria resistant
- Won’t dull knife blades
- Crack resistant
- Odor resistant
Cons:
- Bamboo can stain from food
- Not dishwasher safe
Top Pick Best Restaurant Grade: Thirteen Chefs Extra Long Plastic Carving Board
If you consider yourself a serious home chef, are in need of a large cutting board and are always on the lookout for restaurant-grade kitchen tools, then this extra long black plastic cutting board may be for you.
A full 30 inches long by 18 inches wide, this midnight black cutting board provides a huge working area for butchering, chopping and trimming meats, and slicing and chopping fruit and vegetables. The ½-inch thick, BPA-free tough high-density polyethylene plastic adds a good weight that helps prevent sliding.
The cutting board has a convenient drip groove along the sides to catch liquids from spilling over onto the countertop, plus the dot-textured surface helps to bead water and adds micro traction to hold vegetables and meat in place while cutting. Say goodbye to messy clean up, sloppy handling and needing a cloth or paper towels to mop up the juice from meat or fruit.
The surface of this cutting board resists warping and cuts, although cut marks do show up easier on a black surface compared to white. Extra large in size, it is ideal for brisket, ribs, pulled pork, sausages, roasts, carving turkeys, chopping tomatoes, slicing into large watermelons, cutting up pineapples and more.
Pros:
- Extra large 30-inch by 18-inch cutting board
- Made from ½-inch thick polyethylene plastic
- Drip grooves
- Dot-textured surface beads water and adds micro-traction
- Restaurant, commercial grade
- Ideal surface to filet fish
Cons:
- More expensive than other plastic cutting boards
- Drip grooves could be deeper to hold more juices
- Too large to fit into a standard dishwasher
Top Pick Best Solid Wood: Virginia Boys Kitchens Extra Large Walnut Wood Cutting Board
There’s nothing more beautiful or durable than a piece solid wood cut and polished into an attractive yet functional kitchen tool. Cutting boards are made from a variety of materials, but for a natural choice that is a perfect alternative to plastic, this extra-large sized board from Virginia Boys Kitchens made from sustainably sourced walnut wood checks off all the boxes.
Once it has been properly seasoned, the rich chocolate hue of the wood shines through for a gorgeous, solid one-piece cutting board that makes a great gift as it can also double as a lovely charcuterie or cheese platter or serving tray.
The porous, soft straight grains of walnut wood make it an ideal cutting surface that won’t dull your knives. The expertly carved juice groove around one edge catches runaway liquids, so messy food prep when carving meats, slicing fruits, chopping vegetables, dicing herbs and mincing other foods are taken care of while keeping the kitchen counters clean.
Each board is made in the USA with responsibly sourced, non-endangered Black Walnut wood and is kiln dried and carefully smoothed before finishing. The result is a thick, sturdy and reversible block that won’t warp, crack or splinter for long lasting use when properly maintained.
As well, the cutting board is pre-seasoned with a proprietary blend of pure fractionated coconut oil, making the cutting surface free of any unnatural ingredients.
Pros:
- Large 24 by 18-inch size
- Made of solid, sustainably sourced Black Walnut wood
- Knife friendly surface
- Pre-seasoned surface
- Makes a nice gift
- Can also be used as a serving tray or cheese board
- Drip groove
- Made in the USA
- Won’t warp or crack
Cons:
- Considerably more expensive than other wood cutting boards
- Heavy at 8.8 pounds
- Not dishwasher safe
- Must be seasoned again before use
Top Pick Best Portable Set: Thirteen Chefs Extra Large Cutting Board
Having one cutting board in the kitchen is handy; having two is even better, especially when there are more than one cooks preparing food at the same time. Also, some people like to use one cutting board for fruit and vegetables and a separate one for meat, poultry and fish, to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. This two-pack of extra large cutting boards are ideal for use in a home kitchen, but are also light and portable to take camping, on a picnic or to a barbecue where food is being prepared or served.
Made from NSF certified high-density polyethylene plastic, these extra large 30-inch by 24-inch cutting boards are 1/16-inch thick, so they only weight a few ounces each, making them super lightweight and flexible for portability, but not easy to puncture or cut.
Ideal to use as a catering tool for small and large groups, these large cutting boards are easy to move from place to place and provide enough space for large amounts of food for parties, special events and other occasions where you need to feed a lot of people.
They are also easy to clean and dishwasher safe to sanitize for home and commercial use.
Pros:
- Extra large 30 by 24-inch size
- Two-pack
- Portable
- Lightweight and flexible
- 1/16-inch thick
Cons:
- Thin boards
- No drip grooves
Top Pick Best Glass: Light In The Dark Store Tempered Glass Cutting Board
While some home cooks choose plastic, bamboo or wood cutting boards, people who prefer the purity of tempered glass, will like this large 16-inch by 20-inch model.
Rectangular in shape and constructed from break-resistant tempered glass, this large cutting board offers up a hygienic, clean chopping surface that resists stains and odors. The rubber feet on the underside of the cutting board keeps it from slipping on the countertop when in use.
With a non-porous surface, it is scratch and heat-resistant, easy to clean with soap and water, and is safe to put into the dishwasher. Multi-functional and versatile, it can be used to cut, slice and chop food on, or as a clear trivet to protect surfaces from hot pots and pans, or as cheese plate or serving platter.
Pros:
- Made from environmentally friendly tempered glass
- Large 16-inch by 20-inch size
- Rubber feet on the bottom to prevent slipping
- No plastic parts
- Scratch resistant
- Heat resistant
Cons:
- More expensive than a plastic cutting board
Things to look out for:
Consider these factors when choosing a large cutting board:
Material: As mentioned, cutting boards are available in different materials, with each one having its advantages and disadvantages. Which one you choose will depend on your own personal preferences and how much you use the board. The following are a few examples of the different cutting board materials:
Plastic: Plastic cutting boards are very popular, especially after health concerns that traditional wood cutting boards harbored bacteria in the cuts made from knife blades. Plastic is easier to clean and generally won’t warp if put into the dishwasher, although most, although not all, plastic surfaces are susceptible to being cut with knife blades, and may end up with a lot of cuts on the surface.
Try to choose a board that is made from high quality plastic that is knife friendly, to reduce the amount of cut marks and protect the sharpness of your blade. If the cutting board is cleaned and dried properly after every time it is used, then there will be no issues with bacteria or cross contamination.
That being said, when choosing a plastic cutting board, make sure it is made from thick, durable, high quality, BPA and toxin-free materials.
Bamboo: Many consumers are looking for ways to reduce or eliminate plastic from their kitchens and homes. Using a bamboo cutting board is a good start. Most bamboo is sustainably sourced but it’s best to choose an organic bamboo brand to make sure it is pesticide and chemical free, since you will be preparing food on the surface.
Most bamboo cutting boards are aesthetically pleasing and can double as a cheese or charcuterie platter or serving tray. They are also knife friendly, but need special care and maintenance to keep in good shape. For example, a bamboo cutting board should be washed with warm soapy water and dried so that it doesn’t warp. The high heat of a dishwasher would do more harm to a bamboo surface than good.
Wood: More durable than bamboo, a wood cutting board is an ideal surface on which to cut, chop and slice most foods. The surface should be pre-seasoned, and then regularly seasoned with oil to prevent the wood from drying out or splintering. Choose a high quality, thick board from a sustainable source like acacia or walnut.
A wood cutting board needs to be cared for and properly cleaned and dried after each use to maintain the quality and eliminate cross-contamination. Most wood cutting boards are also knife friendly and won’t dull the blade of a knife. They should not be cleaned in a dishwasher.
Tempered glass: A tempered glass cutting board is another eco-friendly, sustainable option, although they can be heavier than plastic and bamboo. Heat and cut resistant, a glass cutting board can also be used as a trivet to hold hot pans and pots and protect counter and table tops. Easy to clean and bacteria-resistant, they can be put into the dishwasher and will not warp.
Features: Two features you may want to look out for are handles and drip grooves. While handles are not necessary and won’t have an effect on the quality of the cutting board, they are convenient for carrying the cutting board, especially if it is also being used as a serving tray or cheese platter.
Not all cutting boards have drip grooves. These mini-trenches located on the perimeter of a cutting board are really helpful for catching all the water and juices that are released during cutting and slicing. While not essential, they do save the countertop from lots of slippery and messy wetness.