I’m a Former Chef, and I’ve Finally Found a Restaurant-Worthy Cutting Board to Use at Home

One of the things I quickly learned to appreciate when I started cooking in restaurant kitchens was the size of the cutting boards. As cooks, we learned how to work methodically and efficiently, so a “cutting board of size” is a handy (dare I say) necessary yet often overlooked piece of the production process.

When cooking at home, I found myself challenged by the average cutting board size. But most large cutting boards for home were either ugly or flimsy. Thankfully, a brand that makes one of our favorite meat thermometers released a cutting board that solved all of my woes.  

Meater Board

The Meater Board measures 19.5 x 15 x 1 inch, giving ample room for arranging your workflow. I’m very sustainability-conscious and was pleased to see that rather than sacrificing old-growth hardwood trees in the name of kitchenware, Meater makes its Board from sustainable bamboo, with a light color and slightly glossy finish. The board looks great in my kitchen, and I can also feel good about using it as a charcuterie board or serving carved meats directly from it.

I love the large size. Because it’s so big, it allows me to prep vegetables without feeling cramped. I also love that I don’t have to constantly take things off the board while I’m prepping, which saves me time when cooking dinner.

But the board has one more unique feature, and it’s great for anyone who cooks meat. Because of its size, I can rest big hunks of meat on it, but there are also drainage grooves that help collect all of those delicious drippings. Lining the counter with towels to keep the juice from dripping onto the floor is no longer necessary, much to my dogs’ chagrin.

The solidly made Board is a bit heavy at nine pounds. I found its bulk easy to deal with by storing it in the bottom of a wide cabinet or standing it against a wall when not in use. The bamboo is softer than plastic and gentle on your knives, but it does take a few nicks after heavy usage.

As it’s wooden, it requires periodic maintenance by sealing it with food-grade mineral oil to keep water from infiltrating or preventing the wood from drying. (I use Crisbee Cream Wood, a mix of mineral oil and beeswax for easy application.) And overall, the board is easy to clean with some hot, soapy water before letting it air dry.

I now have a reasonably-sized cutting board that pulls double duty as a carving board. It’s a win all around. 

Shop More Cutting Boards at Amazon: 

Gorilla Grip Set of 3 Cutting Boards

KitchenAid Plastic Cutting Board

Ironwood Gourmet Square Cutting Board 

Caperci Large Acacia Cutting board

At the time of publishing, the price was $130.