If you’ve ever struggled with chopping fruits, vegetables, or meats and having the juice run off your board and onto your floors or countertops, you’ll know what a nuisance that cleanup can be.
Luckily, there are tons of excellent cutting board options out there with juice grooves – a feature designed to solve that exact problem!
So, if you’re in the market for a cutting board with juice grooves, we’ve got you covered with some of the best options out there. We chose the best ones based on their overall size, quality, and price range. Read on to learn more about this convenient feature.
What are Juice Grooves?
So, what exactly are juice grooves? Juice grooves are exactly as they sound – a feature of many cutting boards designed to collect any juice or runoff from chopping your food. Typically, juice grooves are an indentation along the edge of a cutting board that allows juice, oils, and other runoff from chopping food to collect in the indentations rather than running off the side of the board onto your counters or floors.
In some cases, the indentations will run around the entire perimeter of the board, but you may also see boards with only three sides featuring juice grooves. It’s common for boards with juice grooves to be reversible so that one side of the board is flat, making it versatile for all of your shopping needs.
What is the Benefit of Juice Grooves on a Cutting Board?
As we’ve mentioned above, one of the main reasons to seek out a cutting board with juice grooves is that it goes a long way to helping you limit your mess during cooking and prep work. In particular, if you do a lot of butchering, cook with meat, or prep many juicy fruits and vegetables, this simple feature can save you so much cleanup time.
Instead of juice and oils running off your board, they will collect in the grooves, which allows you to rinse off and wash the board quickly, so you don’t need to worry about messy countertop clean up. Additionally, juice running into the board’s grooves means it’s less messy to chop your meat or fruits, as the liquid is less likely to pool in the center of the board where you work.
Pros and Cons to Juice Grooves
On the fence about whether or not you should get a new cutting board with juice grooves? Let’s break down some of the pros and cons of this popular cutting board feature:
Pros
- Deep grooves collect a large amount of juice, water, oils, etc.
- Less mess on countertops
- Especially useful for cutting/butchering meats both raw and cooked
- Often reversible, making it useful for all types of kitchen prep.
Cons
- More care needs to be taken when cleaning these boards
- Harder to transfer chopped food to pans/plates as grooves get in the way of sliding food over the edge of the board
What to Look for in a Cutting Board with Juice Grooves
If you’re in the market for a new cutting board with juice grooves, there are some things you need to consider. When weighing your cutting board options, size, design, material, quality, and price should all be on your radar. Let’s take a look at everything you need to consider when looking for the perfect cutting board with juice grooves for your needs.
Size
When buying a cutting board in general, the size you need will depend mainly on your specific use of it. An average cutting board will be around 12 x 18in or 15 x 20in, but there are endless options for smaller or larger-sized boards to suit a variety of needs.
For example, for butchering large pieces of meat, you may want a larger board, but for smaller tasks and like cutting fruits for cocktail garnish, you may only need a tiny board. An average board, such as a 12 x 18in one, can handle most of your standard kitchen prep tasks, including chopping vegetables such as carrots and potatoes, slicing chicken breast, steaks, or small roasts.
Juice Groove Depth/Design
When it comes to cutting boards with juice grooves, you need to pay attention to the depth of the groove and the design. Shallow juice grooves, such as the ones you often see in plastic boards, may do an okay job collecting small amounts of juice from something like lemon or watermelon but may not be suited to cutting or butchering large pieces of meat.
Design is a personal preference. Some people will prefer that the juice grooves go around the entire board perimeter, allowing for more space to catch run-off – this is common on sturdy wooden boards designed for heavy kitchen prep like meat.
However, you can also find boards that only have grooves on three sides, allowing a flat edge to scrape your chopped foods into a pan or onto a plate.
Material
Material is another thing that will depend largely on how you use your board, as well as your budget. Plastic is a great option if you’re looking to have several boards, each used for a specific food item, such as one for meats and another for vegetables. Plastic is typically the most affordable option when it comes to buying a cutting board, and it can be easily cleaned and sanitized in the dishwasher.
Wood boards are the best material overall due to their durability, longevity, anti-microbial properties, and usefulness for various kitchen tasks. Heavier wood boards are especially popular for butchering meats.
However, wood boards can be pricey, and they require more maintenance and care to ensure they are adequately cleaned, sanitized, and conditioned.
Price
Your budget will determine a lot about the type of board you can purchase, but there are a wide variety of cutting boards with juice grooves that can appeal to any price point. First, determine how much you’re willing to spend on a cutting board and then determine the other considerations such as material, longevity, features, etc., that are must-haves or that you can live without to help you choose the best board for you.
For example, if you have a smaller budget, you may want to opt for plastic boards as they tend to come in packs, are relatively durable, and are easy to clean. Of course, you will need to replace them more often, but if the budget is tight, it’s a great option that you will get a lot of use out of before needing to repurchase.
If price isn’t a concern or you’re willing to spend more for a board that lasts a lifetime, you may want to look into larger, high-quality wood boards as they can stand the test of time when well maintained. They are also a great all-purpose board to have in your kitchen.
Warranty
Warranty is often more of a concern when you’re spending more money on a higher-quality product that should, ideally, last you for years, if not a lifetime. However, how concerned you are about your product’s warranty will be a matter of personal preference.
Warranties for most boards will vary from a 30-day free return to a 1–5-year limited warranty. In many cases, this is determined by the price and quality of the board.
Ease of use
A cutting board is an essential part of cooking – it’s where you prep the ingredients for any meal or recipe. When it comes to a board with juice grooves, you need to consider the ease of use for the board, as this feature can sometimes get in the way.
If you use your cutting board to transfer your ingredients directly to the pan or pot, you may want to consider a board with one flat side or edge so you can easily slide your ingredients off the board, as grooves can make this difficult.
Also, some people will find that juice grooves get in the way of proper technique when slicing, chopping, julienning, etc. If you are concerned about this, you may want to consider a reversible board with one size being entirely flat or looking for a board without juice grooves.
Best Cutting Boards with Juice Grooves
Now that you know more about this helpful feature and some of the things you may want to consider when purchasing a cutting board with juice grooves, let’s take a look at some of the best options out there right now.
Gorilla Grip Oversized Cutting Board w/ Juice Grooves (3 Pack)
Best Budget Set
The Gorilla Grip Cutting board set is the perfect set of oversized, durable, plastic cutting boards. With a larger surface area, deep juice grooves, and a non-slip rubber border, these boards will quickly become your go-to everyday cutting boards.
- Material: BPA-free thick plastic with rubber border.
- Price Range: $15-$30
- Size: Small – 11.8 x 8in, Medium – 13.8 x 9.6in, Large – 16 x 11.2in
- Warranty: 30-day free return
- Best Feature: The larger cutting surface
Available in various colors, you can have a different color for each use – meat, vegetables, garlic, and herbs, etc.
Pros
- Larger than many other plastic cutting board sets
- Sturdy rubber grip
- Extra-deep juice grooves
- Reversible
- Dishwasher safe
- Come in a variety of colors
- Durable
- Easy on knives
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Juice grooves can get in the way of proper cutting techniques and may require regular draining during prep.
- Stains easily
Extra-Large Bamboo Cutting Board w/ Juice Grooves
Best Budget Bamboo Board with Juice Grooves
Bamboo is a fantastic eco-friendly cutting board option for those that are trying to be more sustainable.
- Material: 100% Bamboo
- Size: 18 x 12 x 0.7in
- Price Range: $15 – 30
- Warranty: 1-year warranty with 100% money-back guarantee
- Best Feature: Double-sided – one side with deep juice grooves and a flat side to cover all kitchen prep needs.
This bamboo cutting board set is double-sided, water-resistant, easy to clean, and has deep juice grooves for keeping your work surface clean.
Pros
- Juice grooves
- Double-sided
- Handles
- Water and odor resistant
- Extra-large size
- Easy on knives
- Easy clean
- Sustainable, eco-friendly materials
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- It needs to be treated with mineral oil regularly
- Juice grooves are set further into the board than most, may get in the way
Extra-Large Bamboo Meat Carving Board
Best for cutting/butchering meats
This uniquely designed bamboo board is a durable and eco-friendly option for preparing and cooking meats frequently.
- Material: Bamboo
- Size: 17 x 13 x 1.5in
- Price range: $35 – 50
- Warranty: 30 day free returns
- Best feature: Extra-deep juice groves with a unique design
The unique pyramid ridge design at the center of the board holds meat in place with deep juice grooves connecting from the center to the outside edges of the board. The reversible design also makes it a great all-purpose board for any kitchen.
Pros
- Pyramid ridge design for holding meats.
- Deep grooves from center to outside edge
- Reversible
- Eco-friendly material
- Extra-large
- Easy on knives
- Durable, long-lasting
Cons
- Clean up can be tedious with ridging – especially for raw meats
- Not dishwasher safe
- It needs to be regularly treated with mineral oil
John Boos Reversible Maple Edge Grain Cutting Board with Juice Grooves
Best Overall
Any board by John Boos is sure to be a high-quality home and professional kitchen staple. The Maple Wood Edge Grain Reversible Cutting Board is no exception.
- Material: Maple
- Size: 24 x 18 x 2.25in
- Price range: $200 – 250
- Warranty: 1-year manufacturer’s warranty against defects
- Best feature: Stainless steel handles
This board is built to last a lifetime, with must-have features such as deep juice grooves and stainless-steel handles. Great for everything from light kitchen prep to heavier butchering.
Pros
- Reversible
- 2.25 inches thick
- Sustainably made
- Stainless steel handles
- Durable, long-lasting
- Easy on knives
- Large enough for most kitchen needs
- Deep juice grooves
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires regular care (conditioning)
Mohy Bamboo Cutting Board Set with Juice Grooves
Best Bamboo Cutting Board Set with Juice Grooves
The Mohy Bamboo Cutting Board Set is a thick, durable set of eco-friendly bamboo cutting boards made to cover all your everyday kitchen prep needs.
- Material: Bamboo
- Size: Large – 17 x 12 x 0.8in, Medium – 15 x 10 x 0.8in, Small – 12 x 8 x 0.8in
- Price range: $30 – 40
- Warranty: 100% money-back guarantee
- Best feature: Set of three sizes, comes with a stand
It comes complete with a stand and features juice grooves and handles/holes for hanging.
Pros
- Juice grooves
- Handles/holes for hanging
- Comes with stand
- Easy to clean
- Knife friendly
- Eco-friendly
Cons
- Juice grooves may not be deep enough for all purposes.
- Requires regular conditioning
- Not dishwasher safe
Greener Chef Extra-Large Bamboo Cutting Board
Best All-purpose Board
The Greener Chef Extra-Large Bamboo Cutting Board is the perfect everyday board for any kitchen. Its large size makes it ideal for most regular kitchen tasks, and the deep juice grooves and rounded edges make it easy to clean and easy to grip.
- Material: Bamboo
- Size: 17.9 x 12.5 x 0.7in
- Price range: $20 – 30
- Warranty: Lifetime replacement guarantee
- Best feature: Rounded ends for easy grip
In addition, the reversible design means you can use it for everything from meats to vegetables to cheeses, and it can even double as a serving tray!
Pros
- Reversible
- Deep Juice Grooves
- Rounded ends for easy grip
- Easy on knives
- Long-lasting
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Extra-large
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- Requires regular conditioning
Linoroso Cutting Board with Defrosting Tray Set of 3
Best Starter Set
This set of three Linoroso cutting boards has all your bases covered. Featuring a grooved defrosting tray for defrosting meats, a flat cutting board for fruits and vegetables, and a large, sturdy cutting board with deep juice grooves for heavier kitchen prep.
- Material: Plastic
- Size: Large – 14.4 x 10 x 0.6in, Small – 9.5 x 7.8 x 0.15in, Defrosting tray – 9.5 x 5.9 x 0.15in
- Price range: $20 – 30
- Warranty: Lifetime money-back guarantee
- Best feature: Set of three boards with unique uses
This is definitely a great set of staple cutting boards for your kitchen.
Pros
- Defrosting tray
- Separate cutting board for fruits/vegetables
- Deep juice grooves
- Handles
- Dishwasher safe, easy-to-clean
- Variety of colorways
- Slip-resistant
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Plastic boards need to be replaced frequently
- May stain easily
Final Say
Juice grooves are a common feature of many cutting boards, but there are many things you shouldn’t overlook when you’re specifically in the market for one. This guide has provided you with all the necessary information for choosing the perfect cutting board with juice grooves for your needs.