American black
Similarly, walnut is another hardwood that's an excellent choice in the kitchen. Its dark color is one of its main appeals, and although it's softer than maple it will still hold up well over time. Walnut falls in the “just right” category of hardness that's perfect for both board and knife maintenance.
Wood that are too hard - Hardwoods like mahogany, teak, or rosewood (too hard) are not acceptable choices for cutting boards. 2. Soft woods - Avoid all softer woods such as pine or cedar. These woods tend to splinter easily, and they're too porous so they harbor bacteria more easily.
Maple is a slightly higher quality wood with many benefits. Still, despite that, it is a less expensive end product though Walnut offers its own advantages. But in the end, it comes down to what you, the customer, wants. That's why we have options for you at BigWood Boards.
Maple. Probably the most common material in wooden cutting boards. Rated 1,450 lbf on the Janka test, a maple cutting board offers the ideal combination of surface hardness and kindness to your kitchen knives. The small pores in maple also prevent bacteria from growing on the surface.
Avoid using your knife on surfaces made of glass, granite, marble, or ceramic.
Bamboo cutting boards are harder and less porous than hardwoods. Bamboo absorbs very little moisture and resists scarring from knives, so they are more resistant to bacteria than other woods.
Following are the reasons why Walnut wood is expensive.
The tree takes around 50 years to mature, it is longer than most other trees. It is in high demand due to its desired characteristics such as durability, strength or aesthetic making it one of the best wood species around.
Walnut Wood Works was an excellent choice for my butcher block island top for my kitchen remodel. Really exceeded our expectations! I would highly recommend Walnut Wood Works to anyone looking for a high quality custom wood creation!
Glass and granite cutting boards are not recommended. Wood cutting boards should be made from hard, tight grained woods; rock maple, walnut, cherry, teak, bamboo, ash and birch. End grain checkerboard style wood boards are preferred.
Glass and marble, in case you don't know, are unacceptable cutting board materials. They ruin knives practically on contact, and have a deeply unpleasant feel; a knife on glass is the kitchen equivalent of fingernails on a blackboard.
I've been treating end grain walnut cutting boards with mineral oil. Twenty-four hours later, I seal the boards with a 4:1 hot mineral oil/beeswax mix and let it dry 24 hrs.
Pros: Walnut is a very strong and stable wood that can take intricate carving. The color can be beautiful. Cons: Some may not like the variation from dark to light that's sometimes found on a single wide board. Walnut is also one of the more costly woods.
As a wood worker, charcuterie boards are a great small craft to make as gifts for any time of year! We made these walnut charcuterie boards out of a live edge slab using the following steps. First you will want to find a live edge piece of wood, we recommend around 20‑26 inches in length for one board.
Walnut: I call it a happy medium between Cherry and Maple--it's the "Goldilocks." Very nice on your knife, and it takes a stain well since it is so dark to begin with. Walnut is probably the single most popular wood for us.
Sealing Butcher Block Countertops with Mineral Oil
To seal butcher block with mineral oil, you simply apply the mineral oil generously, let it soak in, and wipe off the excess. You need to do it fairly regularly at first but then only about once a month after you've gotten through several applications.
One of the most effective butcher block sealers available on the market is Waterlox®. Waterlox® is a high-grade Tung oil and resin blend with a water-resistant finish that we've been recommending to our customers for years.
As a cutting board material, wood is soft enough to protect your chef's knife but still hard enough for smooth cuts, making it perfect for prepping everything except raw meat, Morocco says. (Though you can do that too, if you're willing to give them a thorough, soapy handwashing afterward.)
The Black Walnut is one of the most expensive and lucrative trees to sell, thanks to its high-quality dark wood. The tree ranges from $5- $10 per board foot, although it can cost more depending on other factors.
The typical cost of 5/4 walnut lumber is $9.40 per board foot. Also, the higher the grade, the more expensive it will be. You may opt for lower-grade lumbers as they're less expensive.
Formaldehyde-free Bamboo Cutting Boards (Budget-friendly)
First, bamboo surfaces absorb less moisture than hardwood. It's less likely to warp and hold bacteria.
coli, salmonella and listeria, finding that the wooden boards retained 98-99% less bacteria than plastic. Plastic was said to become an even worse breeding ground for bacteria once it's scarred with knife marks. That's not to say a wooden chopping board will be self-cleaning – you'll still have to wash it.
Wood boards are better in overall quality and can last much longer, but they require maintenance such as oiling and handwashing. Wood cutting boards are the best option for the longevity of your knives.