PSA: You Might Be Using the Absolute WORST Kind of Cutting Board

When I was a kid, my parents used to go to local craft fairs and sell a very small selection of handmade goods. There were these little wooden plaques with hooks and my dad would personalize each one with a Dremel tool right there on the spot. There were cookbook stands with little hand-painted chefs, clocks, and glass cutting boards (also with the hand-painted chef). Their craft business ended decades ago — well before I knew enough to yell at them.

See, glass cutting boards are basically torture devices for knives! Sure, they look pretty (especially these days with all the cheeky designs) and are easy to clean, but they will ruin your knives. Chop a single onion on a glass board and the edge of your knife will roll and become dull before you know it. (The same is true for metal cutting boards.)

When it came time to pick the best wood cutting board for our list of Kitchn Essentials, my fellow editors and I instantly nominated this composite board — two years in a row. It’s nice to knives, durable, nonporous, and basically the best of wood and plastic in one. It doesn’t scratch up and it can go in the dishwasher. It also has a deep groove for collecting juices and little feet that keep in it place while you work. If you’re only going to have one cutting board in your life, this should be it.

Read more: I Regret It Took Me So Long to Buy This Perfect Cutting Board

If you have your heart set on a nice, chunky wooden cutting board that can sit out on your counter at all times, this is the one we all love. It’s teak, so it’s a bit more durable than traditional wood boards (like maple, cherry, or walnut), but it still needs to be oiled and can’t go in the dishwasher.

Related: How To Clean a Wooden Cutting Board with Lemon and Salt

Of course IKEA has a giant bamboo cutting board for less than $20. I love the size of this guy and the fact that it has a lip to help hold it in place. If you’re short on counter space, consider sliding this over your sink for a bonus work surface.

I honestly think every single Kitchn editor has one of these plastic cutting boards. I know I personally have two! Not only is it gorgeous (it comes in six on-trend colors!), but it’s also made from recycled materials, resists scratches, and holds up incredibly well in the dishwasher. Warning: It’s so popular, it often sells out (so buy one or two when you see them in stock!).

Do you have a cutting board that you love? Tell us about it in the comments below!