A holiday roast takes days of planning and preparation to make. You’ve worked hard all day in the kitchen to roast a turkey, ham, or prime rib to luscious perfection. The last thing you want to do is to chop up your labor of love on a poor slab.
Instead, maximize the flavor of that roast by cutting it on a solid, long-lasting, and hygienic block. The greatest carving boards feature a juice groove or well to catch surplus liquids and drippings for preparing gravy in addition to providing stability and additional surface area for slicing your roasts. Who likes a disorganized kitchen countertop, after all?
In other words, a good carving board will maintain the stylish appearance of your countertop while you party this holiday season.
What to Think About
Carving boards are available in a wide range of sizes, forms, styles, and prices. Before making your final decision, bear the following points in mind in order to pick the ideal one for you this year and for many years to come.
PHYSICAL AND WEIGHT
Before getting into the details, the size and weight of the board are the first things that come to mind. Make sure it’s large enough to accommodate your bird and has lots of extra space around the edges so you have room to carve. One of our smaller cutting boards would be ideal for a small ham, turkey, or roast (like our 11×17-inch option should do the trick). But you’ll need one of our larger boards if you’re feeding an army (like the oversized 18×24-inch pick).
Generally speaking, a board is more stable the heavier it is. However, not everyone will find a heavier board appealing, especially if they intend to store it in the basement and have to carry it up and down the stairs each time they use it. Weights for our boards range from 14.1 ounces to 28.9 pounds.
MATERIAL
There are only basically two options for carving boards: wood or plastic. For their durability, wood carving boards—typically made of acacia, maple, teak, bamboo, or walnut—are favored by many professional chefs and home cooks. The majority of hardwood carving and cutting boards are now made from sustainable or renewable materials, making wood the most environmentally responsible option. Wood also prevents knives from dulling.
They’re also more presentable due to the distinctive grain and richer, more elevated appearance of the wood; this is something to take into account if you intend to use your carving board as a serving board or desire something charcuterie-friendly. When grazing, the wells and grooves of a wooden board—typically for allowing grease to drain during carving—can also serve as holders for fruit or crackers.
DISHWASHER-SAFE
Most wooden carving boards can retain food odors if they are not properly and frequently washed, and most are not dishwasher-safe. In addition to being more expensive, they also require occasional oil seasoning to keep the grain in prime condition. Otherwise, a hardwood board that is too dry can fracture and split.
However, plastic carving boards are less expensive and simpler to clean. They tend to be lightweight and dishwasher-safe, which gives them an advantage for people with busy kitchens. Additionally, they are often constructed from nonporous polypropylene or polyethylene, which makes them odor- and bacteria-resistant. Plastic boards are easier to move and store because they are significantly lighter and thinner than wooden boards.
EXTRA FEATURES
Although many plastic boards now have features that are similar to those found in hardwood boards, such as drip wells and nonslip feet, they still lack the wow factor. So a plastic board might not be the greatest choice to display at a holiday table if you want to dazzle guests or want a quick carve-and-serve option that is more sophisticated. Having said that, there are many excellent options in both camps.
To make this important phase in your dinner preparation even simpler, we’ve picked together the best durable and beautiful carving boards. Many are so exquisite that they double as both a carving board and a serving dish.
1 cutting board made of acacia wood
Durable
Stable
made of acacia, a sustainable material
Every 3 to 4 weeks, food-grade mineral oil must be used.
This double-sided acacia-wood carving board by Sonder LA is a great option if you’re looking for a carving board in the butcher block style that also functions as an elegant serving tray. 82% of Amazon reviewers have given this carving board 5 out of 5 stars, which is a good rating. While chopping or slicing meats, the 1.5-inch thick board offers stability, and the inner handles offer a secure hold for convenient transporting and serving.
Reviewers adore prepping and chopping meats and vegetables on the board’s juice-groove side before flipping it over (after washing it, of course) and using the recessed channel side to serve crackers, sliced crusty bread, cheese, and olives.
Key Specs
16x12x1.5 inches in size
6 pounds in weight
Environmentally friendly acacia wood
Dishwasher-Safe No
2 pour spigot boards
available in four finishes.
a lifetime 100% guarantee
amazing juice collector
less reliable than other boards
The more expensive end
This board has two sides and is made to last a lifetime. Even though you may use this versatile carving board all year long, we love it most during the Thanksgiving season.
It features two distinct sides: one is designed for chopping beef and fish, while the other includes a cutout that is ideal for holding poultry. Bonus: A well for collecting juices is present on both sides.
Its “practical aspects” are praised by reviewers, who also remark that it is “surprisingly light and nimble to handle, hoist, and tilt.”
Key Specs
20×14 inches in size
5 pounds in weight
Material Wood
Dishwasher-Safe No
3 Boards for carving teak
Eco-approved wood
oversized for large feasts
Stylish
The size makes storage difficult.
This environmentally friendly board is a strong competitor if you have a large family or enjoy cooking a large chicken. Teakhaus’s attractive, extra-large 24-inch rectangular cutting board is acclaimed for being strong and long-lasting.
This sturdy carving board will stay put during any slicing activity because it weighs a substantial 14 pounds. Additionally, the handles’ notched ends allow for simple movement from the countertop to the table, or seamless serving.
This “excellent cutting board,” according to reviews, is “heavy” but “worth its weight in gold.”
Key Specs
24x18x1.5 inches in size
fourteen pounds
Environmentally friendly wood
Dishwasher-Safe No
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4 Traditional Maple Wood Carving Board
available in versions with or without spikes
Continual guarantee
Not as resilient as others
In terms of catching errant juice, this traditional carving board from Vermont is unmatched (ideally for a fantastic homemade gravy).
The deep grooves and wells on this carving board catch even the most juicy grease without spilling, which is why reviewers universally advise using it for Thanksgiving feasts and other festive gathering occasions. To assist keep meat in place, this board also comes in another variation with spikes. Genius.
Additionally, the board is a lovely piece of furniture that, after being cleaned, will function nicely as a display dish for your roast, BBQ, or cheese and charcuterie platters. The “well is fantastic, big enough to hold dripping from even a large well-rested turkey,” according to reviewers.
Key Specs
20x14x1.25 inches in size
8 pounds in weight
Maple wood as a material
Dishwasher-Safe No
5 Extra-Large Bamboo Carving Board True Company
comparatively light
Wallet-friendly
kinder to knives
less reliable than some
Check out this Indigo True choice if you’re looking for a sustainable, eco-friendly carving board. One of the world’s fastest-growing timbers, bamboo is also kinder to blades than plastic or glass.
This large bamboo cutting board, which measures 18 x 14 inches, has a deep juice groove to catch spilled juices from any fruit, vegetable, or meat dish as you carve it.
Reviewers particularly like the extra surface area that this large board offers for slicing and serving succulent steaks or rib roasts.
More than 83% of Amazon reviewers give this carving board 5 stars out of 5. It is “large enough to contain whatever I wish to roast or BBQ,” reviewers gushed, praising its “beauty” and “sturdiness.”
Key Specs
17.5×13.5×0.75 inches in size
4 pounds in weight
Material Wood bamboo
Dishwasher-Safe No
6 Grooved Bamboo Wood Cutting Boards
Integrated groove gathers juice.
Lightweight
Reversible
Use Greener Chef cutting board oil spray to condition.
This chemical-free bamboo board beckons if you only want wood in your board. As you prepare that delectable holiday feast, you can feel good knowing that you did your part to protect the environment by using this chopping board from Greener Chef, which is au naturel and constructed from bamboo that is sourced sustainably.
We also value its two-sided, stylish, two-toned surface. It is perfect for carving on one side and serving on the other because it is a great juice collector. It is also reasonably priced.
This board is praised by reviewers who call it “beautiful and useful” and “the ideal size.”
Key Specs
17.9×12.5×0.7 inches in size
3 pounds in weight
Material Wood bamboo
Dishwasher-Safe No
7 Large Walnut Wooden Carving Board in Kitchens
three different sizes
seasoned beforehand with coconut oil
Durable
After each use, this board has to be oiled.
If you want to prepare a smaller turkey or roast this year, this gorgeous, reversible board is a fantastic choice. Any kitchen set will feel more sophisticated and rustic with the addition of this attractive walnut wood carving board from Virginia Boys Kitchens, with its deep, dark chocolate tone and sleek, expertly cut juice groove.
The board has already been coated in coconut oil, making it sparkle and ready for your roast. Thanks to the porous, silky straight grains of walnut, this board is also knife-friendly. If you enjoy walnut but are worried about sustainability, you’ll be happy to know that one tree will be planted for each board you buy.
Key Specs
17×11 inches in size
Size: 3.3 pounds
Material Wood, walnut
Dishwasher-Safe No
8 Cutting and carving board, Good Grips
Simple to maintain
Lightweight
Heat-resistant
For some, plastic materials are off limits.
The upkeep of this sturdy, useful cutting board couldn’t be simpler. This nonporous, odor-resistant board is made of strong yet lightweight polypropylene, which facilitates transportation and cleanliness (no oiling required, and you can throw it in the dishwasher!).
You should get a number of these adaptable boards at this low price range, especially once you learn that they are nonslip (making for fewer spills). In addition to being gentle on blades, the double-sided surfaces also have easy-pour edges and an inbuilt drip catcher.
Key Specs
14.3 x 21.1 inches in size
Size: 3.4 pounds
Material Plastic
Dishwasher-Safe Yes
9 Cutting Boards, Maple Wood, Edge Grain, Reversible
wonderful oversized option
There are four sizes available.
Made in America
Pricey
Heavy
You won’t mind paying a little bit more for this winner if you are fixated on finding a carving board that is strong, sturdy, and built from fine wood. However, it’s a tough lift!
This reversible wood cutting board is about 30 pounds heavy (! ), but that weight just adds to its unmatched durability. Maple is also regarded as one of the toughest surfaces for food preparation.
The board has handy built-in handgrips that make moving it from the stovetop to the table simple. Overall, 86% of users on Amazon rate this carving board 5 out of 5 stars, so if you’re looking for a sturdy carving board to last you season to season, look no further than this timeless, adaptable alternative from John Boos that reviewers hail as “rock-solid.”
Key Specs
24x18x2.3 inches in size
28.9 pound weight
Maple wood as a material
Dishwasher-Safe No
10 Reversible-foot by 10-foot Maple Carving Board
Classic style
Deep groove juice
Made in America
Not as resilient as others
If you roast a lot of birds at home, this carving board might be a permanent game changer. This carving and serving board has two sides, making it both a work of art and a useful culinary tool.
This substantial 20-inch carving board is made from lovely Vermont maple wood with a natural oil finish. It has a wedge-shaped cradle on the carving side to hold birds and meats being carved, as well as an internal juice groove to preserve those vital and tasty fluids. When serving cheese, charcuterie, or small plates before the main course, you can flip this convertible board over to the flat side.
This board receives five out of five stars from more than 83% of Amazon reviewers, who praise it for its “excellent features.” Juices can be collected in the well on the flat side, and ham, poultry, or roasts can rest in the depression on the opposite side to make carving them easier.
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