Whether you’re preparing for Thanksgiving or a party with friends, the best cutting board for carving meat will surely come in handy. Unlike typical chopping boards, carving boards are bigger and often more aesthetic for presentation purposes.
They also come in a wide range of sizes as well as varying materials. In this post, we reviewed 7 carving board options that will surely make the cut for you. See which of these picks you’d love to get!
| CARVING BOARD | BRAND | EXPERT RATING | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick! Virginia Boys Kitchens Walnut Carving Board |  | Check Price |
 | OXO Good Grips Cutting & Carving Board | | Check Price |
 | TeakHaus Edge Grain Rectangle Carving Board | | Check Price |
 | Bambusi Bamboo Carving & Cutting Board |  | Check Price |
 | Sonder Los Angeles Teak Wood Cutting Board | | Check Price |
 | John Boos Maple Carving Board | | Check Price |
 | J.K. Adams Maple Carving & Cutting Board |  | Check Price |
Best Cutting Board For Carving Meat – Top 7 Picks!
OUR #1 CHOICE
OUR TOP PICK: Virginia Boys Kitchens American Black Walnut Carving Board
Product Name: Virginia Boys Kitchens American Black Walnut Carving Board
Product Description: If you’re looking for the best cutting board for carving meat, I highly recommend the Virginia Boys Kitchens American Black Walnut Carving Board. It has soft and straight grains that will prevent knife blades from getting dull fast. Aside from that, this premium carving board is already pre-seasoned with pure fractioned coconut oil. This is a proprietary seasoning of Virginia Boys Kitchen, which you can also purchase separately for further maintenance of your board. Moreover, this is made of 100% sustainable and American-grown walnut. It’s durable and guaranteed to last long without warping, shrinking, or splintering.
Offer price: $$$
Availability: InStock
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Material
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Size
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Durability
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Price
Overall
Summary
Every purchase of this board is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee. So while it’s not the cheapest option in the market, your splurge will be protected.
Also, this carving board is reversible, whereas the other side can be used as a charcuterie board. It’s also all-natural and made to be food-safe throughout its lifespan.
My only complaint here is the rough grooves, which catch on paper towels. For this price range, I don’t expect to experience this minor issue. Nevertheless, the easy fix is to tap the grooves instead of wiping.
Pros
Made of 100% walnut wood
Pre-seasoned and ready to use
Knife-friendly
Reversible design and doubles as a charcuterie board
100% money-back guarantee
Cons
Not affordable
The grooves are rough and will snag paper towels.
RUNNERS-UP
OXO Good Grips Cutting & Carving Board
If you’re looking for an affordable plastic carving board, I highly recommend the OXO Good Grips Board. This is made with non-porous plastic material. It will not absorb any meat juices and it’s also dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
Aside from that, this carving board has softly tapered edges that serve as handles. There are also grooves on the sides to catch juices. And to ensure that the board won’t slip as you carve your meat dish, it’s equipped with non-slip feet.
I also like that this board is reversible, so you can chop meat on one side and then veggies on the other. This maximizes the carving board before it needs washing.
Since this has a non-porous construction, this carving board won’t make your knives dull easily. It also resists odors even with minimal maintenance.
Overall, this carving board is 14.7” x 10.3”, which is already reasonable for most kitchen needs. It’s also priced affordably for those who don’t have the budget to splurge just yet.
However, I noticed that the rubber feet at the bottom elevate the board. So when you’re chopping, it will create noise. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s something that you’ll notice.
TeakHaus Edge Grain Rectangle Carving Board
If teak is your choice of material, I highly recommend the TeakHaus Edge Grain Carving Board. This one is made of pure teak wood guaranteed to last long while resisting dirt and bacteria. Also, there’s no need to oil teak wood often since it’s naturally oily.
Moreover, this carving board is sustainably sourced as TeakHaus also helps in forest preservation. They develop teak forests to ensure that their boards won’t harm nature.
Aside from that, this carving board is expected to last for up to 30 years. It’s easy to clean and it won’t dull your knife fast.
I also like that this is a large board measuring 24” x 18” x 1.5”. This can fit a whole roasted turkey with enough space to work on various cuts.
However, the biggest niggle I have over this board is the absence of juice grooves. So if you’re carving juicy chicken or turkey, make sure that you place this on top of paper towels to catch the drip.
Overall, I still think that this is a functional and aesthetic cutting board. It’s also priced reasonably for its quality and material.
Bambusi Bamboo Carving & Cutting Board
A sophisticated carving board for a low price? This is exactly what the Bambusi Bamboo Carving & Cutting Board is about. It’s made of organic Moso bamboo, guaranteed to be food-safe with no toxins.
Aside from that, this has a very innovative design. The carving surface has pyramid (raised) ridges that keep the meat in place as you carve. It prevents the meat from sliding around the board as your work on it.
I also like the grooves on the side, which catches a lot of juices. It also adds a premium feel to the board despite its low price.
This Bambusi board is also reversible. The other side has a smooth surface which you can use to chop other food items. So when you’re not carving meat, you can use this as a regular chopping board.
In addition, this board has round edges and is guaranteed splinter-free even if it’s made of bamboo. It’s also a large board measuring 17” x 13” x 1.5”.
Overall, this carving board is truly worth the money. However, there’s no denying that the ridges on the center are hard to clean.
Sonder Los Angeles Teak Wood Cutting Board
Another teak option I recommend is the Sonder Los Angeles Teak Wood Carving Board. This is a large board measuring 23” x 17” x 1.5”, which can fit a whole turkey, chicken, or a large brisket.
Moreover, this carving board has juice grooves, which is an upgrade from the TeakHaus option I reviewed above. The grooves are deep and can hold up to 5 ounces of grease, juices, and other liquids.
This is also a reversible board, with the other side just flat without any grooves. You can use it to chop dry food items needed for the meal you’re cooking.
In addition, I like that the Sonder Los Angeles board is designed with finger grips. This makes the board easy to lift even when full of food. Whether you’re using it in your home kitchen or your food business, this carving board is a total beauté.
Every purchase of this carving board is covered by a 1-year warranty. Just note that you have to register the product in order to avail of the warranty coverage. It’s a slight hassle, but not really a biggie.
John Boos Maple Reversible Carving Board
If you have the budget to splurge, I definitely recommend the John Boos Maple Reversible Carving Board. This end-grain board is made of Northern Hard Rock Maple, guaranteed to last for years.
Aside from that, this board measures 20” x 15” x 2.25”. It’s thicker than most carving boards you’ll see in the market, but it’s for the purpose of allowing the material to last long.
Moreover, this has a reversible design, so you can make the most out of your purchase. However, neither sides have juice grooves, so make sure you keep paper towels handy when carving a juicy turkey.
Since this is made of maple, it’s important to condition the board regularly. You can use John Boos’ proprietary mystery oil or simply any food-grade mineral oil you can find.
Overall, this carving board is knife-friendly and won’t damage the blade’s edge. And even though it’s thick and heavy, I like that John Boos designed this with finger grips on the sides.
If you’re looking for a premium carving board to grace your table, nothing beats this John Boos option. Still, it sure comes with a hefty price tag.
J.K. Adams Maple Carving & Cutting Board
My last pick for this roundup is the J.K. Adams Maple Carving & Cutting Board. This is a 20” x 14” option made of North American hardwood. It’s also hand-crafted to perfection in Vermont.
The first thing I like the most about this carving board is the juice grooves. It’s not just grooves, but channels that run throughout the carving surface to the side where a bigger reservoir is located. So if you’re fond of juicy rotisserie goodies, this is the carving board to purchase.
Also, this board is available in a version with spikes in case you’re struggling to keep the meat in place. Both are made with the same juice grooves design.
In addition, this has an undercut handle to make it easy for you to transport the board when loaded with food.
Moreover, this J. K. Adams carving board is covered by a lifetime warranty. For an option priced this reasonably, such guarantee is unbeatable.
How to choose the best cutting board for carving meat
There are many carving and chopping boards in the market made of different materials and available in varying sizes. If this is your first time buying one, here are a few recommendations you should keep in mind:
✔️Think about the size
The first thing you need to think about when buying carving boards is the size. For carving a turkey, chicken, briskets, and other large chunks of meat, you surely need a big surface to work on.
In general, we recommend getting a 20” x 15” board since it can fit most full-sized bird meat. You also have enough room to spare in flipping, turning, and setting aside meat cuts.
Of course, you’re free to get bigger or smaller carving boards as you wish. Still, I don’t recommend getting anything smaller than 15” as it will only become a chopping board.
Just remember that big carving boards are harder to wash and maintain. It’s also challenging to store them unless you have a really spacious cabinet or drawer.
But when it comes to convenience of use, nothing beats a large carving board. The bonus part is that this board can also come in handy for your charcuterie party.
✔️Choose the material
The next thing you have to consider is the material of the carving board. Most options in the market are made of wood, plastic, or composite material. Here’s a quick rundown of these options:
Wood
Wood is probably the most popular material for carving boards. After all, it’s aesthetic and tends to last long with proper maintenance.
However, wooden carving boards aren’t made equal. The quality of the board depends on the specific wood used. Here are the usual options you can see in the market:
- Walnut. If you’re looking for a premium carving board, you should invest in one made of walnut. This dark-toned hardwood offers more forgiveness against stains. It also doesn’t absorb too much juices, not to mention that it’s naturally aesthetic. However, walnut carving boards come at a higher price than other materials.
- Maple. Maple can either be soft or hard, but it’s best to choose the latter for carving boards. Like walnut, maple has a dark color that’s resistant to staining. It’s also pretty tough, but you need to watch out for humidity as it can shrink the wood.
- Cherry. Cherry wood is durable and can put up with heavy knife work. It also has a nice color, but it tends to be expensive like maple and walnut.
- Teak. Carving boards made of teak are often the middle ground in terms of pricing and quality. This material holds up to scratches pretty well, but since it contains high silica, you may need to sharpen your knife more frequently.
- Bamboo. Bamboo is another popular option since it’s cheaper and easy to come by. However, bamboo is porous and meat juices can easily seep through the material. So if you’re planning to get a bamboo carving board, make sure that it’s sealed and coated first.
- Beech. Beechwood has small pores that reduce the absorption of meat juices. With this, it’s effective in preventing cross-contamination. However, its light color will easily reveal stains.
Plastic
Those who want cheap and easy-to-clean carving boards won’t go wrong with the plastic material. It’s easier to sanitize, not to mention that plastic boards are available in various colors, sizes, and designs.
However, the biggest problem with plastic carving boards is that they will soon sustain grooves from knife work. These grooves will harbor meat juices where bacteria can proliferate.
Still, plastic cutting boards can be pretty tough. When purchasing one of these, make sure that you get one that’s tested to endure intense knife work.
Composite
Composite carving boards are often made of fiberglass. It’s more durable than plastic and has higher strength, which is a big plus when working on large chunks of meat.
However, just like plastic, fiberglass carving boards can sustain grooves where germs can thrive. Proper cleaning and disinfection are necessary to avoid contamination when using this carving board material.
✔️Check the grain
If you’re getting a wooden carving board, you should check the grain of the material. You’ll have to choose between edge grain and end grain. Here’s the difference between the two:
- Edge grain wood. This board is made of parallel wood pieces fused together. It has the staves exposed and is usually cheaper than end-grain types. In general, edge grain carving boards don’t last as long as end grain types and they will also dull your knife quite fast.
- End grain wood. End grain wood usually has a checkerboard appearance. It’s made of end pieces of wood fused together for a more durable profile. End grain wood has a self-healing quality as the grains close when sliced by the knife blade. Also, this carving board material is friendlier to knife edges.
✔️Select the design
Unlike chopping boards, carving boards aren’t exclusively flat and plain. Some have spikes to keep the meat in place while others are equipped with juice grooves.
Juice grooves catch the meat juices and prevent the fluids from overflowing into your table. Aside from meat, carving boards with juice grooves are also handy when cutting juicy food items like watermelon, tomatoes, and peaches.
✔️Consider the maintenance needs
Aside from cleaning, wooden carving boards need regular conditioning to stretch their longevity.
This process involves applying wax or mineral oil to the board to seal its pores. By doing this, the wooden material won’t splinter and would be less likely to shrink due to humidity changes.
Overall, large carving boards will need more maintenance. Also, not all wooden boards are dishwasher-safe, so always check before purchasing.
✔️Consider the price
Lastly, you should set a budget you can afford before you browse for cutting board options.
Hardwood boards tend to be the most expensive, which is understandable for their quality and durability.
On the other hand, softer woods like bamboo and beech are cheaper, but they may not last as long.
But if you’re looking for the most affordable option, plastic or composite boards are often the best resort. However, you shouldn’t forget that this option has its downsides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it okay to cut meat on a wooden cutting board?
A: Chopping and carving raw meat on a wooden board is totally fine. Just make sure that you clean the board after each to avoid cross-contamination. Also, you should clean up any juices that get into the wooden board, so it doesn’t get absorbed further. It’s also best to get a wooden chopping board with a seal coating that will prevent the absorption of meat juices.
Q: How do you disinfect a wooden carving board?
A: To disinfect a wooden carving board, you must wash it thoroughly. After that, you can soak it in white vinegar or 3% hydrogen peroxide. If there are remaining stains after this process, you can rub kosher salt on the affected parts and let them soak for a while. Lemon juice can also help in removing stubborn stains on wooden boards.
Q: Do wooden cutting boards get easily contaminated?
A: Since wooden cutting boards absorb moisture, it’s prone to contamination if not cleaned well. To reduce the risk of cross-contamination, you should consider getting a carving board made of hardwood. You can also look for a carving board with sealed wood, so it reduces or eliminates the absorption rate of meat juices.
Q: Can you use Clorox wipes on cutting boards?
A: Clorox wipes are effective in disinfecting cutting boards. However, make sure that you wash the board first to remove the juices and debris from the meat. Whatever disinfecting wipes you’re using, make sure that you read the instructions first to ensure that it’s safe to use on food preparation items.
Q: How do you deodorize a carving and chopping board?
A: If your carving board has a nasty smell, you can deodorize it by cleaning it with baking soda. Cover the board with baking soda and scrub it in. Let this sit for a few minutes before rinsing. The good thing with baking soda is that it’s food-safe and won’t cause contamination. You can also repeat the cleaning process until there’s no foul odor left.
Final words
Why settle with cramped containers if you can get the best cutting board for carving meat? Aside from getting the job done, these boards also make your food more presentable.
The best part is that you can choose from a variety of sizes, materials, and price tags to suit your budget.
Which of these carving boards do you like most? Let us know below!