Eater Staff
Tired of chopping on flimsy plastic boards? Bring home a sturdy John Boos slab of maple for a steal
I grew up using a John Boos cutting board. At the time, it didn’t occur to me that not all cutting boards in life would be as satisfyingly thick and unwarpable, and the parade of dinky plastic boards that have followed in its wake have left me yearning to finally invest in a beefy Boos of my own. The maple, cherry, and walnut boards have been made by the (still Midwestern-based) John Boos & Co. company since 1887, and can easily cost a couple hundred dollars given the sustainably sourced wood and craftsmanship it takes to make them. (This 3-inch thick round walnut slab? A cute $632 for that end grain design). So when I discovered deals of up to 70 percent off Boos boards hiding in Wayfair’s big spring sale, I was pretty pleased.
When properly maintained and oiled, a quality wood cutting board should last you a lifetime. When I interviewed chefs about their most essential cooking tools, Boos cutting boards came up more than once, and were praised for their thick (minimum 1-inch) design, and pleasurable cutting experience. The use of maple, for example, is preferred due to its naturally antibacterial properties, moisture-resistant nature, and tight grain (you don’t want any splitting or splintering). Plus, they look great. You can also use them as a serving board for your charcuterie and movie night spreads.
Below, I’ve selected two star John Boos contenders from the Wayfair sale — so let’s walk through the specs.
