When it comes to tough and hardy materials, hickory wood is somewhere close to metal. Seriously, this wood can take a beating and still keep going without looking back.
If this is the type of wood used to create a household product or tool, you can expect it to become a family heirloom that the grandkids will inherit someday. That alone should convince you to order a new cutting board made from this stuff; it is really is that durable.
The Pros and Cons of Hickory Cutting Boards
To write a good article about finding the best hickory board requires that we look at all aspects of the product, whether good or bad, and that is what we intend to do here. Hickory wood has a lot of positives propping it up and making it a great option, but it does have a few negatives that we need to discuss.
Pros
- Hickory wood is strong and durable
- Hickory wood can withstand a lot of use
- Hickory wood is very nice looking and comes in a variety of colors
Cons
- Hickory wood is not very knife friendly
- Hickory wood is porous, and consequently, it can hold onto liquids that will grow mold and bacteria; because of this, it is not recommended that hickory boards be used to cut raw meat
The Features of a Good Cutting Board
If you’re still interested in a good hickory cutting board, let’s talk about how to find one. First off, you need to know what features make a cutting board worth purchasing. Some of these will be geared toward a personal preference, while other features should always be included.
Handles
If you like hanging your cutting boards on hooks to display on your wall, then consider getting one with a handle. This feature not only makes the cutting board a great decorative item, it also makes it easier to hold onto while chopping and transporting it from surface to surface.
Juice Grooves
This is a feature that can prevent, or at least, reduce food spillage on your countertops. Juice grooves are designed to catch excess liquids and hold food scraps so that your countertops do not overflow with them.
Knife Friendliness
If you have a special set of knives, you should always consider how knife-friendly a cutting board is before purchasing it. You’re probably not going to find a hickory cutting board that is easy on knives, but you can try.
Personalization
Not all cutting boards need to be personalized, but if this is a gift, you may want to purchase one that offers engraving or monogramming. This is completely up to you.
Price
Cutting boards can be pricey so make sure you know what your price limits are.
Size & Weight
Ensure that the cutting board you select is something that you can hold without struggling. Choose an item that is sized appropriately for your kitchen space and weighs just enough to be sturdy without becoming burdensome to move. Also, you can get these items in a variety of shapes so do look for something that is styled to your taste.
The Best of the Best
Now that we have covered the reasons why you should look into hickory boards and what features you should consider getting for your cutting board, we can begin the fun process of shopping for cutting boards.
To circumvent all the frustration that can come from an online search, we have gathered the best of the best on the market into one list below. All the recommended cutting boards in this section have been gathered using the following criteria:
- Features – We want to make sure you have a lot of features to consider so we have included products with a variety of essential and preference-oriented features.
- Price Range – We will include items that are budget-friendly, items that are moderately priced, and items that are great when you want to splurge on something special.
- Ratings & Reviews – All the recommended products in this list must have a 4-star rating or above.
- Size & Weight – Of course there must be variety in size and weight, but we will also include a few unique shapes as well.
- Warranties & Return Policies – Since these items can be pricey, we will be sure to mention the return policy for each and whether or not it comes with any type of warranty.
The Best Budget Hickory Cutting Board
If you need a hickory cutting board at a reasonable price, then this is a great option. It is well under $50 whether you get it with or without juice grooves, a feature that costs a little more. This is a quality handmade item that customers are rating at 5-stars. The dimensions of this board are 15” long by 10” wide by 1” thick.
Pros
- Shipping is free
- Returns and exchanges are accepted
- Available with or without juice grooves
- Seller is available for questions
- Includes built-in handles
- Includes stability rubber feet
Cons
- It is not reversible
The Best Hickory Cutting Board for a Splurge Purchase
For a unique cutting board, choose this item. It is beautifully crafted from end wood so that it has a wonderful design and is slightly more knife-friendly than long-grain hickory cutting boards. This cutting board may be a costly splurge but the craftsmanship behind it is well worth it.
Pros
- Handmade
- Non-slip feet can be requested for free
- Shipping is free
- The surface is prepped with food safe oil and wax to keep it waterproof and looking great
- Seller is available for questions
Cons
- Expensive
- No mention of a warranty or a return policy
The Best Hickory Cutting Board for Personalization
For all your gifting needs, just select this item. The seller of this item can take any of your photos and use them to personalize this lovely little cutting board.
Everyone will love the handcrafted look and the heartwarming words available here. If you want to know how much this item is loved, just consider that it won the 2021 Small Business Challenge that was led by Drew Barrymore and special guest host, Daymond John. These are two entrepreneurs who know their way around products and business models.
Pros
- The seller is highly focused on customer-seller communication to make sure you have a frustration-free shopping process and end up with exactly the item you want
- Shipping is free
- Returns and exchanges are accepted
- Both sides of the board can be engraved
Cons
- Expensive
The Best Hickory Cutting Board Overall
If you want to go straight to the ultimate cutting board, then head here. This shop really knows how to make a cutting board and create a shopping experience that is hassle free.
You’re going to appreciate the simplicity of this cutting board, while at the same time, you’re going to relish its intricate design features. Don’t miss out on this reasonably priced but well-built cutting board; it’s so good.
Pros
- Simple design and look, but a highly detailed and skilled craftsmanship
- Includes two built-in handles
- Juice grooves are optional
- Rubber feet are optional
- Handmade
- Shipping is free
- Returns and exchanges are accepted
- Seller is available for questions
- The cutting board and the shop are ranked at a 5-star rating
Cons
- None
The Best Hickory Cutting Board with a Handle
This is a nicely crafted, handmade cutting board that includes a handle for display or an easy storage solution. While there have not been very many sales of this item, the shop doing the producing and selling has a 5-star rating so you can expect quality service and a quality product.
Pros
- Sturdy weight at 6lbs.
- Shipping is free
- Returns and exchanges are accepted
- Seller is available for questions
Cons
- A little pricey for the simple design
The Best Hickory Cutting Board with Juice Grooves
As a very unique-looking cutting board, this is a rare item to find. Because of this rarity, you may conclude that it is pricey, but once you realize that it is made with superb skill, you may not hesitate to get one.
If you read the description of this item and the shop owner, you will quickly realize that they know a little something about woodworking.
Pros
- Handmade
- Rare and unique design
- Made to order
- Seller is available for questions
Cons
- Pricey
- Shipping costs
The Best Hickory Cutting Boards in Unique Shapes
This is like getting two cutting boards in one. Its cute design nests one cutting board against the other to create the silhouette of two people cuddling.
Pros
- Handmade
- Shipping is free
- Seller is available for questions
- The shop has a 5-star customer rating
Cons
- Expensive
No Mi Wood Art Hickory Cutting Board
Ultimately, this is a typically rectangular cutting board with a handle and juice grooves, but take a closer look and you will discover the slight styling of this board makes it uniquely shaped. The handle is set off-center and is thicker than necessary, which makes it different from any other rectangular cutting board on the market.
Pros
- Handmade
- Seller is available for questions
- Shipping is free
- Satisfaction is 100% guaranteed
- Waxed and oiled with organic and food-safe products that are guaranteed to never go rancid
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- None
FAQs
Answer: Yes, these wooden cutting boards definitely require regular upkeep to prevent the grain from splitting and drying out. The best way to keep any wooden cutting board in good working order is to apply a coat of food-grade mineral oil and beeswax to its surface at least once a month. You can apply it more often if you notice that it needs more moisture.
Choose a mineral oil and a wax that has good reviews and ratings so you know whether or not it will work well. Clark’s cutting board oil & wax set is a great option that is both reasonably priced and highly rated. It will take good care of your hickory cutting board.
Answer: Yes, but it is really no different than any other type of wooden cutting board cleaning method. Here are the basic steps to clean a cutting board:
1- Use soap and warm water to clean the surface of the cutting board
2- Use a soft cloth or scrub brush to get food remnants out of any holes, cracks, or open grains
3- Allow the cutting board to dry completely while set in a vertical position
4- Oil and wax the cutting board often
Clark’s offers a great soap to use on cutting boards as well. You can get an entire set of their soap, oil, wax, and scrubbers here.
Answer: Yes, and this process will work in a similar fashion to how other wooden cutting boards are cleaned and sanitized. The one caveat that should be made about sanitizing a hickory cutting board is that it is best to avoid using this type of wood to cut raw meat.
It was mentioned earlier in this article that hickory wood is porous and will soak in juices to its large pores. This creates an environment where mold and bacteria can flourish, and if you use a board in this condition, you risk contaminating your food and making your family sick.
The best way to avoid this risk is to use a different type of cutting board for raw meat and use different cutting boards for each type of food you chop.
Nevertheless, you should sanitize your hickory cutting board every week to keep mold and bacteria at bay. Here are a few tips for doing this:
• Spray the board with a mixture of white vinegar and either lemon or melaleuca essential oil. Rinse, dry, oil, and wax the board per your regular routine.
• Pour 3% hydrogen peroxide over the surface of the cutting board. Wait until the fizzing stops to wipe the peroxide with a clean cloth. Rinse, dry, oil, and wax the board per your regular routine.
• Mix together a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and water in a bowl. Use a clean, lint-free cloth to wipe the solution over the surface of the cutting board. Sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the wet cutting board and scrub it with the cloth. Rinse, dry, oil, and wax the board per your regular routine.
In Conclusion
The idea that a cutting board can become a family heirloom is very appealing to me, and that is probably why I’m most interested in the Morning Joy Co Personalized Hickory Cutting Board.
I would get one of these with a family recipe engraved on one side so I could easily pass it down to the next generation. Sure, it might end up being more of a decorative item, but I figure they are useful items too.
So, which cutting board are you getting? There’s a lot out there, but you now know how to find the absolute best hickory cutting board.
And, if you’re interested in pairing your new hickory cutting board with another type of wooden board, check out our guides on finding the best cutting boards in walnut, olive wood, and maple wood. These will certainly help fill out your kitchen equipment in no time.