The Boardsmith Reducing Board Evaluation

I discovered my first wood reducing board at a thrift retailer whereas purchasing for my post-college residence. It had a round burn mark on one facet the place somebody set down a still-hot piece of cookware, however I beloved all of it the identical. 

I stored it for just a few years till it cracked, regardless of my vigilant maintenance. An undisclosed period of time later (don’t ask me how outdated I’m!), I began working at Severe Eats and commenced to spend money on a lot of our favourite merchandise. This included our longtime really useful wood reducing board from The Boardsmith. It’s a far cry from my thrifted board, in one of the simplest ways doable. After experiencing its high quality, I’m hesitant to purchase one other model’s boards ever once more. 

Why It’s Nice

They’re Meticulously Crafted and Sturdy, However Received’t Injury Knives

The Boardsmith is a family-run enterprise in North Carolina that places the utmost care into its reducing boards. It’s evident from the second you unpack a Boardsmith board: It’s coated in board butter and wrapped in paper to make sure it makes it to you unparched and excellent. Previous to transport, the boards are “given a soak in our pharmacy-grade mineral oil tank for 30+ minutes,” the firm says.

The tip-grain floor is extremely easy, and the boards are handcrafted out of hardwoods. And in case you’re questioning why a Boardsmith appears to be like cohesive and fewer like a checkerboard, it’s as a result of The Boardsmith makes use of a “distinctive ‘Carolina slab’ sample of broad sections of hardwood to reduce the variety of glue joints and to stagger the glue strains.” This lessens the chance of cracks from weak seams. 

These boards aren’t simply kind, although. They’ll maintain up for years of hardcore chopping. “I have been utilizing The Boardsmith for years now, each at work and residential. It’s by far the most effective, most well-made, sturdy wood reducing board I’ve ever come throughout,” says editorial director Daniel Gritzer. “Even after years of damage and tear—and truthfully, at occasions flat-out abuse and neglect—there’s not a crack or fissure or signal of something even suggesting essentially the most minor of failures. These boards are true beasts and completely well worth the price ticket.”

Commerce editor Grace Kelly, who not too long ago examined The Boardsmith in opposition to 13 different wood reducing boards, echoes this. “I’ve had my Boardsmith for practically 4 years, and I exploit it each day,” Grace says. “It is stood the check of time—the floor is almost prefer it was once I first plunked it on my countertop: buttery easy and with out blemish. Not solely is it in pristine situation, however it retains my knives that approach, too, guaranteeing they keep sharp for longer. This held true once I examined wood reducing boards, too—it blew my thoughts how another boards left knives boring after just a few swipes.”

They’re Out there in Quite a few Sizes

We’ve lengthy really useful The Boardsmith’s Carolina measurement (16 by 22 inches), which I personal and love. It’s large and also you’ll by no means run out of prep area. It’s additionally what we suggest in case you’re on the lookout for a carving board. That stated, I additionally personal the Butcher measurement (12 by 18 inches) and discover myself reaching for it extra usually. It’s nonetheless a lot giant, however a lot simpler to scrub in my sink. For one thing even smaller, we additionally suggest the charcuterie board.

Apart from measurement, The Boardsmith lets you additional customise your board by including finger grooves, a juice properly, and/or ft. These boards aren’t precisely mild, so I do respect the finger grooves for choosing it up. Should you’re going to do any carving, a juice properly is a should. And whereas ft imply the board gained’t be reversible, they’re non-slip and assist the board simply dry out after washing. I extremely suggest including them.

FAQs

Is The Boardsmith price it? 

Our reply is a powerful sure. Our testing and long-term use present that The Boardsmith’s high quality and craftsmanship are unparalleled. Whereas the boards are costly, they’ll final eternally with correct upkeep. 

What’s the finest thickness for a wood reducing board?

The Boardsmith boards are two inches thick. This thickness provides to their longevity, serving to to stop warping and cracking over time.

Why We’re the Consultants

• Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the affiliate commerce editorial director at Severe Eats. She’s been with the positioning since 2021 and beforehand labored for America’s Check Kitchen and Food52. 
• Riddley’s been testing gear professionally for greater than six years. 
• She’s owned her Boardsmith reducing board for just a few years.