A cutting board is not only a kitchen utensil. Most chefs have an emotional bonding with this possession. Also, it’s a perfect gift for your cooking lover friends. 

You can make a cutting board by yourself or buy one. In both cases, most people get concerned about which wood to use. Because not all wood is suitable for a cutting board. 

So, the question arises, is rubberwood good for cutting boards?

Yes, rubberwood is good for cutting boards. It is a non-toxic wood, which is a primary concern for cutting board wood. Its strength and density are perfect for a cutting board. Also, as softwood, it doesn’t ruin your knife. Although its porosity can be a problem, it can be mitigated.  

Don’t go yet. I have a detailed explanation of why rubberwood cutting boards are good. Keep reading.

Is Rubberwood Good For Cutting Boards?

Yes, rubberwood is a good choice for cutting boards. Although it is softwood, it is not good for making furniture. As a wood for kitchen utensils. For example, cutting boards and knife handles are good options. 

Let’s discuss the reasons behind it being a good cutting board wood. 

It’s Not Toxic:

For any materials for our kitchen utensils, the very first thing we think about is safety. Because naturally toxic materials of them can spread in the food and make us sick.

Most of the woods are toxic. Which are great for making furniture and of very good quality. But we can’t use them for cutting boards. Such as birch wood, rosewood, western red cedar, pinewood, mahogany, etc.

On the other hand, rubberwood is a non-toxic wood. Although you may think rubbers are toxic, why not rubberwood? Rubbers are derived from a liquid seeping through the tree. That liquid is toxic. Not the actual tree. 

So, rubberwood can be safely used on a cutting board or other kitchen utensils. Also, rubberwood has antibacterial properties. So, cutting raw meat won’t be a problem. You don’t have to worry about the board containing bacteria. 

Enough Hard To Take Chopping Pressure:

The toughness or hardness of the wood is measured by the Janka Scale. The optimum Janka hardness for cutting board is 900 to 1500 lbf. It represents how many pounds of pressure a board can take. 

For cutting boards, maple wood is the most popular choice. The hardness of maple wood is 1450 lbf. Rubberwood is a little softer than maple. But still, it falls in the optimum range of hardness, which is 960 lbf. 

So, hard enough to take the pressure of cutting and chopping.

Not Too Hard For Knives:

As I said, rubberwood is hard enough for chopping. But still, it’s a soft wood. It’s a good thing. Too much hardness on the cutting board can ruin the knife. It can make the knife blade blunt more often. It can also make dents on the knife. 

Although, naturally all knives must face these problems. You can use ceramic or steel honing rods to regain the effectiveness of the knife. 

But extra hard cutting boards damage the blade frequently. Sometimes it’s not even possible to recover the knives from the damage. 

With a rubberwood cutting board, you won’t face the problem. 

It’s Lightweight:

A lightweight chopping board is easy to maintain. It is easy to move around and clean. Rubberwood is a medium-density wood. It weighs only 37 lb per cubic foot. Which is lighter than many other cutting board wood. 

And if you are concerned about warping, weight doesn’t cause it. The cutting board can get warped because of humidity or other reasons. You can fix the cutting board warping by yourself. 

Reasonable Price:

If you are looking for a budget-friendly cutting board, a rubberwood one is a good option. It makes great cutting wood. But also more reasonable than other wooden cutting boards. 

Maple, teak, and beech are the most popular wood for cutting boards. But the cost is at least more than $50. But you may find a good-quality rubberwood cutting board even for $20-40. 

Also, if you are planning to make a cutting board by yourself, rubberwood pieces are cheaper. 

So, for these reasons, we can safely say that rubberwood is good for cutting boards. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any problems. Let’s discuss the problem with rubberwood for cutting boards in the next segment. 

What’s The Concern With Rubberwood For Cutting Boards?

You can use rubberwood on a cutting board. But there is some concern I would like to address. Such as:

Rubberwood Is Not Waterproof:

The problem with rubberwood is that it’s not waterproof. Again, yes the rubber is waterproof. But the rubberwood is not. Although it’s not a problem when it comes to commercial cutting boards. 

Manufacturers put a coating to save it from water. But the problem occurs when you are making the cutting board by yourself. Never forget to put a coating on the cutting board. Or your cutting board will be ruined in a few days. 

Rubberwood Has Large Pores:

Another problem with rubberwood is it has large open pores. Small particles of chopped food stuck into the large pores in cutting boards. They get rotten there and spread bacteria. 

Although the coating manufacturers use can clog the pores almost all the way. Also, you have to regularly use food-grade mineral oil or beeswax on the cutting board. So, the pores won’t be a problem. 

Here’s what I use for my cutting board: 

• Thirteen Chefs cutting board mineral oil
• Mevell cutting board mineral oil
• Clark’s food-grade beeswax

But you can use whatever you like. But don’t forget to use the oil occasionally. And other than these concerns, rubberwood is a good choice for cutting board.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Conclusion

So, if you ask me, is rubberwood good for cutting boards? My answer will be yes. And I have already discussed the reasons in favor of my answer. Just make sure to use a nice coating if you are making the board yourself. 

And take care of your cutting board, they will last longer. That’s all for now. Good day!