A good cutting board should be sturdy, easy to clean and use and gentle on your knives. Photograph: Courtesy of: Boardsmith; Cutlery and More View image in fullscreen A good cutting board should be sturdy, easy to clean and use and gentle on your knives. Photograph: Courtesy of: Boardsmith; Cutlery and More Guardian journalism is independent. We earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more .
A good, sturdy chopping board will last you many years. I tested the best non-plastic, non-toxic ones, including some made out of wood and synthetic rubber
Prefer the Guardian on Google Jump to The best plastic-free, non-toxic cutting boards, in detail The best accessories for cleaning and maintaining a wooden cutting board How we tested (and our mission at the Filter US) How to choose the right cutting board material A cutting board is literally the foundation of most things you cook. It’s a must-have for any recipe that needs chopping, smashing, mincing, carving or sometimes even serving. And, let’s be honest, it’s also where we pile up other kitchen items while we make a mess.
Plastic cutting boards are affordable and convenient, but research shows they shed significant amounts of microplastics into food. And though the health damage caused by microplastics is still being studied , we don’t need microplastics in our minestrone.
Many people believe that plastic cutting boards are more hygienic, but a study from the Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety found only minor differences “in microbiological counts” on wooden and plastic chopping boards “after proper cleaning” ( how to clean a cutting board ). Plastic boards also tend to get scratched up more than their natural alternatives.
To help you avoid plastics, I tested a bunch of non-toxic, plastic-free cutting boards in my home. Good chopping boards should be sturdy, gentle on kitchen knives, easy to clean and versatile. My picks are below.
Be sure to check out our guides to the best plastic-free kitchen upgrades , best non-toxic pans and how to clean a cutting board .
This guide has been updated for fall 2026. We made a bunch of tweaks to help you navigate easier, added some advice and accessories, sharpened our wording and added a section to explain what we do here at The Filter. We will continue to update it as we test.
How we tested (and our mission at The Filter US)
How to clean and maintain a wooden cutting board
How to choose the right cutting board material
Best overall John Boos Chop-N-Slice Maple Cutting Board Read more $60 Buy at Wayfair Best for raw meat Material Kitchen MK Free Board Read more $52 Buy at Material Kitchen Most luxe (and eco-friendly) Brooklyn Butcher Block’s End Grain Walnut Butcher Block Read more $470 Buy at Brooklyn Butcher Blocks Best for sharp knives (rubber) Asahi Cookin’ Cut Antibacterial Rubber Cutting Board Read more $76 Buy at Amazon A thicker, taller cutting board Boardsmith Maple End Grain Cutting Board (2in+ thick) Read more $245 Buy at Boardsmith A gorgeous walnut cutting board The Pinocchio Workshop’s Walnut End Grain Cutting Board Read more $155 Buy at Amazon A sponge for cleaning cutting boards Blueland Compostable Scrub Sponge Read more $14 Buy at Blueland Mineral oil for your board John Boos Boos Block Mystery Oil Read more $15 Buy at Amazon Wax for your cutting board Boardsmith Board Butter Wax Read more $25 Buy at Amazon The best plastic-free, non-toxic cutting boards, in detail Best overall: Jo…