The Boardsmith Reducing Board Evaluate

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

I saved it for a number of years till it cracked, regardless of my vigilant repairs. An undisclosed period of time later (don’t ask me how previous I’m!), I began working at Severe Eats and commenced to put money into lots of our favourite merchandise. This included our longtime really helpful wood reducing board from The Boardsmith. It’s a far cry from my thrifted board, in one of the best ways attainable. 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 Gained’t Harm 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 delivery, 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 clean, and the boards are handcrafted out of hardwoods. And for those who’re questioning why a Boardsmith seems 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 traces.” 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 perfect, 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 probably the most minor of failures. These boards are true beasts and completely definitely worth the price ticket.”

Commerce editor Grace Kelly, who lately examined The Boardsmith towards 13 different wood reducing boards, echoes this. “I’ve had my Boardsmith for practically 4 years, and I take advantage of it each day,” Grace says. “It is stood the check of time—the floor is sort of prefer it was after I first plunked it on my countertop: buttery clean and with out blemish. Not solely is it in pristine situation, but it surely retains my knives that means, too, making certain they keep sharp for longer. This held true after I examined wood reducing boards, too—it blew my thoughts how another boards left knives uninteresting after a number of swipes.”

They’re Obtainable in Quite a few Sizes

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

Apart from measurement, The Boardsmith means that you can additional customise your board by including finger grooves, a juice effectively, and/or toes. These boards aren’t precisely gentle, so I do respect the finger grooves for choosing it up. For those who’re going to do any carving, a juice effectively is a should. And whereas toes 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 convincing 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 endlessly 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 forestall warping and cracking over time.

Why We’re the Specialists

• 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 a number of years.