As a food blogger and self-taught chef of over 2 decades, you bet I’ve used and owned my fair share of cutting boards. I’ve had my main one for many years now. It’s a personalized cutting board with our “Buddha Board” logo engraved into it, and it sits on my kitchen counter day in, day out. It gets A LOT of use, and even though I take good care of it and oil it regularly, it’s definitely seen better days. 

So you might understand my reaction when I came across Cuttingboard.com‘s GORGEOUS John Boos Reversible Walnut Board. I literally stopped in my tracks. You know a good cutting board when you see it, but I really wanted to see it in action. 

About Cuttingboard.com’s Company

Let’s talk about Cuttingboard.com. For starters, their online store is a home chef’s dream. It’s filled with incredible cutting boards and butcher blocks that make kitchen enthusiasts like me practically salivate. From super thick maple boards to eye-catching teak wood boards to STUNNING one-of-a-kind olive boards, they offer a large array of cuts and shapes for your every need. And, what’s more, they quite literally handpick the best of the best, meaning each piece is inspected and handled by them to determine if it’s worthy to grace your countertop. In fact, most of their boards come from limited runs handmade by independent artisans and woodworkers.

Aside from boards, they also offer top-notch knives and other kitchen essentials that promise to elevate your home cooking game. But, because boards are their specialty, they’ve also created their own special blend of food-safe cutting board oils to protect each board from scratches, stains, and bacteria and keep it moisturized so it lasts throughout the years.

Perhaps my favorite thing about Cuttingboard.com is their dedication to being eco-friendly. All of their products are guaranteed to be certified sustainable, renewable, or reclaimed. As members of the Forestry Stewardship Council, they’re serious about supporting sustainable forestry practices, and as someone who is also environmentally-conscious, this makes me incredibly happy!

The John Boos Reversible Walnut Board

Cuttingboard.com’s John Boos Walnut Board is such a beautiful piece of kitchenware, I was almost reluctant to use it! It felt like I was defacing a piece of art. But once I did, I realized that it was meant for functionality, and I have zero regrets! Let’s talk about the quality of this board. 

John Boos & Company has been around since 1887, and have a solid reputation for creating American-made, high-quality, yet sustainable wood and stainless steel equipment and workspaces for home and commercial kitchens alike. They are perhaps most well-known for their butcher blocks and cutting boards, all of which are lovingly referred to as “Boos Blocks”. But it’s their Reversible Walnut Board that really stood out to me.

This beautiful board is crafted from domestic black walnut (sustainably harvested, of course). Black walnut is a rather luxurious wood, and it’s dark and rustic look and natural beauty makes a statement in almost any kitchen, whether modern or classic. Beyond being one of those boards you proudly display on your counter (and trust me, you definitely WILL want to show it off), it’s also great for daily use. And the bonus? Being a popular choice among high-end woods, walnut boasts antimicrobial properties and is naturally antibacterial, which promotes food safety and protects you from the risk of foodborne illness!

This walnut board comes in 2 different sizes: 20″ x 15″ and 24” x 18″, both of which are 1.5″ thick, and feel is luxuriously smooth. (One of the first things I did with this board was just feel it for a while.😄 It’s so smooth!) Luckily, it also comes with routed side grips that make lifting, washing, and handling it in general a breeze. AND! Their boards arrive sealed and pre-finished with Boos’ own oil and wax. Of course, if you want to keep it protected and looking as beautiful as it did the day you got it, be sure keep up the board care by applying cutting board oil to it every 4 to 6 weeks.

Some of My Favorite Things About this John Boos Reversible Walnut Cutting Board

The Pros:

Here are a few things I REALLY love about this board.

The Look: The black walnut wood, with its dark, rich wood grain, is absolutely stunning. This reversible board makes such a bold statement in my kitchen, and I’m certain it would do the same for any kitchen. If this board was a person, it’d be the strong, silent type. It speaks volumes without having to say anything. It carries a bold, yet timeless class that makes it work for modern and rustic kitchens alike. From fresh fruit to bright cheese, it really makes anything you put on it POP! And the laser-cut personalized logo is clean and detailed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Steamy logo in such great detail!

The Feel: I’m not going to lie, this thing has some WEIGHT to it, as any good board should. This makes cutting a breeze, as you don’t have to worry about the board moving. You can feel confident knowing it’s solid and will remain anywhere you put it. When it comes to moving most heavy cutting boards, it can be kind of a pain. But this board comes with side grips! And, let me tell you, they make handling and lifting this board so much easier than any board I’ve had before.

Also, the smoothness of this board is unmatched! You’re not going to get any splinters with this bad boy. Not only is it smooth to the touch, but knowing it’s been sealed and pre-finished with Boos’ own oil and wax gives me such peace of mind. All I have to do is wipe it down and continue to treat it every 4 to 6 weeks with Cuttingboard.com’s food grade mineral oil to keep it looking pristine. 

The Durability: If there was one thing that was clear when I unpacked this board, it’s that it’s going to be lasting me a long time. Black walnut is a durable wood and is also naturally antibacterial, so I don’t have to worry about bacterial growth occurring in or on it. And actually using it for cutting didn’t leave any cut marks! I’m sure the cutting surface may get some wear and tear after heavy use, but overall, I can tell if I treat this board with love and proper care (meaning, just give it an oil treatment every few weeks and don’t try to stick it in the dishwasher), it will reliably last me for years to come, even with everyday use.

The Use: This week, I decided to give my board double duty to get the full use out of it. I used it for both cutting a ton of produce AND as a platter board for a wealth of fruits and nuts. And at no point in the process was I disappointed. From first use, it was clear that it was easy to use, easy to lift, and the size of this larger board was enough to create a gorgeous spread of various berries, crackers, and other fruits. There was something so satisfying about using it in comparison with previous bamboo boards I’ve used. This one really feels quality and it makes serving up a platter of food really fun.

The Sustainability Factor: Perhaps one of my favorite things about this Boos board is the peace of mind I get from knowing it’s eco-friendly. Because Cuttingboard.com is part of the Forestry Stewardship Council, I know that this board (and all of their products) are certified sustainable, renewable, or reclaimed. It’s nice buying from a company that you know cares about the earth. 

The Cons:

I wracked my brain trying to think of any negatives when it comes to this board, and I honestly can’t tell you one! This perfect cutting board is everything Cuttingboard.com says it is and more. It’s a board worthy of even professional kitchens. I couldn’t be more satisfied with it.

We Made A Fruit Board!

As I mentioned, this week, I decided to give this board the ultimate double duty: using it as both a cutting board AND a fruit and nut platter. Not only did it excel in both areas, but it was so much fun to use!

It all started at the grocery store. I knew I wanted to make a healthy fruit and nut board, so I grabbed:

• 2 oranges
• 2 apples
• a box (or punnet, as it is actually called) of strawberries
• small punnets of blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries
• a bag of green grapes
• small bags of cashews, walnuts, and almonds
• a small box of rosemary crackers
• a box of Triscuits
• a bottle of wildflower honey
• a jar of Nutella
• and some sprigs of mint

When I got home, I soaked all the berries in a big bowl of 1 part white vinegar (about a cup), and 4 parts water (4 cups) to disinfect them from any harmful bacteria and pesticides. While they enjoyed their bath, I washed the oranges, apples, and grapes and set everything out. After 5 minutes, I transferred the berries to a colander and thoroughly washed them off in the sink.

Next, I cut one orange into slices (leaving the skin on), and peeled the other, separating it into chunks. I sliced the apples and set them aside. Then I filled a plastic condiment cup with honey, and used a butter knife to spread some Nutella in another, making sure to wipe the lip of the cup down so it looked presentable. I set those cups on the board, lined up on sort of an imaginary diagonal line that reached from the top left corner of the board to the bottom right. 

Then I grabbed 2 more condiment cups and cut my orange slices in half. I curved each piece and lined them around the inside of the cup (with the cut side facing down), making sure they overlapped just a bit. 4 was enough to line each one. Then, I wrapped about 2 smaller pieces within the leftover space near the center, and then rolled the last small piece and stuck in right in the middle. I grabbed 2 pretty mint leaves and placed them on opposite sides of the cup, securing them snuggly between the plastic and the initial orange slices. And viola! I had 2 orange roses!!

I placed those on opposite corners of the board and surrounded them with strawberries. Then I surrounded the strawberries with the smaller berries, allowing them to outstretch toward the middle of the board. Next, I arranged any leftover orange slices to one of the empty corners of the board, and placed the orange chunks on top of them. From there, I branched the apple slices out to the center of the board in a fun, wavy sort of design, making sure to mind the condiment cups. I lined a row of Triscuits on one side of the apple slices, and aligned a row of rosemary crackers at the bottom edge of the board. 

Then, I set my whole bunch of grapes at the bottom right corner of the board. (This also made it incredibly easy to just lift off the board if I wanted to show off my logo!) I added my various nuts to any remaining small spaces and crevices to cover the board entirely. And for garnish, I tucked a sprig of mint right under some of the sliced oranges in the corner, and there you have it! A beautiful fruit and nut board!

Tips For Taking Care of A Wooden Cutting Board

• Clean properly: Wash your wooden cutting board with warm water and mild soap, and avoiding soaking to maintain its quality.
• Store properly: Store your wooden cutting board in a dry place to prevent excess moisture and bacterial growth.
• Avoid excess water: Do not leave your cutting board wet, as excess water can damage the wood.
• Resurface when needed: If your board over time has deep cuts or grooves, consider resurfacing it to maintain a flat surface and prevent bacterial growth.
• Oil regularly: Apply natural oils like mineral oil or coconut oil to keep the wood hydrated and prevent it from drying out or cracking. We love that CuttingBoard.com includes the John Boos Oil in a purchase of the board, but they also have a wide selection of other cutting board oils and conditioners that are all food-safe.
  • Their Food Grade Mineral Oil for cutting boards is a highly rated choice, perfect for keeping your cutting board hydrated and preventing cracks. For those who prefer natural ingredients, consider their Coconut Cutting Board Oil, which provides a gentle and effective treatment for your board. Regular oiling will keep your board in tip top shape.

See the John Boos Reversible Cutting Board in Action in Our Review Video!

 

The Final Word

Overall, I am delighted with the quality, look, and feel of this board. John Boos has made something truly special, and I’m proud to be an owner of such a beautiful piece. 

We hope you enjoyed this review of what we consider one of the best cutting boards out there, and that it helped you discover the best choice for you (and maybe even how to make a great fruit and nut board!)

Looking for the right cutting board for you? You can find them in different types of wood and shapes on their website here! Don’t forget to follow Cuttingboard.com on Instagram as well at @cuttingboarddotcom.

What’s your favorite type of board? Is it charcuterie? Fruit and nut? A butter board? We want to hear about it! Drop your favorite in the comments below.

 

Cuttingboard.com Review & Giveaway

We are so grateful to Cuttingboard.com for gifting a John Boos Walnut Reversible Cutting Board to one lucky winner – in which they will be able to personalize with their own engravement. A value of $233 for this beautiful board! Enter to win below.