Wooden Chopping Boards – Everything You Need to Know About Mango, Teak, and Tamarind Woods

Wooden chopping boards have a timeless charm. They are beautiful, natural, and add a particular beauty to your kitchen and home. But they are not without their own caveats. Wooden chopping boards can be a bit more expensive, depending on the material, and they come in a wide range of wood types, making the selection process even more confusing. This article helps you decide on three commonly used chopping board woods in India: Teak, Mango, and Tamarind. Each of these woods has its own benefits and holds a special place in a chef’s heart.

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Why Choose a Wooden Chopping Board?

There is a lot of debate about whether plastic boards are better than wood. Some claim that glass and steel are superior to wood or plastic. The truth is that each of these materials has its own pros and cons.

A plastic board is durable, cheap, can be thoroughly cleaned, and is easily available. However, the downside is the problem of microplastic leaching and its poor aesthetics.

Glass is a versatile chopping surface but has the problem of cracking and is known to dull knife edges. Steel can also dull your knife edges, especially if you love your knives. Additionally, steel boards are expensive and not ideal. Scratches on steel and glass surfaces can never be repaired.

Wood, too, is not without its problems. A good wooden board, no matter what material, requires proper care and maintenance. Oiling your wooden cutting boards, sanitizing, and removing stains regularly ensures a longer life for your board, preventing cracking and warping. But on the plus side, wooden chopping boards can easily be repaired and renewed to be as good as new with little effort. They also add to the aesthetics of your kitchen and home.

The eco-friendliness and sustainability of wooden chopping boards are also important reasons why they are preferred over plastic. They are gentle on knives, prevent dulling of expensive blades, and are naturally antibacterial. When your wooden chopping board is beyond repair, you can repurpose it as a tray or other kitchen accessory.

Types of Wood for Chopping Boards

The most important factor when choosing wood for a chopping board is the density and hardness of the wood. High-density wood will give you a durable board. Unlike furniture, chopping boards go through a lot of wear and tear. The cuts from knives, exposure to moisture, and constant movement and handling put stress on the wood. Your wood needs to have natural oil content, should not split, and should be dense and hard enough to withstand constant cuts.

Wood hardness is calculated using the Janka Hardness Scale. The higher the value, the harder the wood. Mango wood has a Janka hardness of 1070, teak is 1100, and tamarind wood is 2690. Tamarind, being the hardest wood, is perfect for chopping boards. Mango and teak also have high Janka Hardness values, making them suitable for chopping boards. The high oil content of teak makes it a versatile wood for chopping boards.

When it comes to aesthetics, teak outperforms all other woods. With its golden color and prominent natural grain patterns, it adds beauty to the chopping board that excels in its category.

No matter what wood you use, the type of wood is important too. The outer white layer of the wood is usually softer than the hardwood area. The hardwood has more grains and is clearly the winner when it comes to durability. Choosing wood with the best grain pattern makes it more durable. This is prominently visible in teak, while the grains are not as prominent in mango and tamarind unless they are very old.

Note: When choosing a chopping board, go for the ones with a prominent grain pattern. These are hardwoods that will last much longer than those made of softwood.

Mango Wood Chopping Boards

A chopping board crafted from sustainable mango wood adds a specific beauty to your kitchen. Mango wood durability depends on the age of the wood itself. Aged mango wood tends to be stronger. Mango wood grain patterns are also more distinct in aged wood, creating a unique pattern.

When comparing mango wood vs. teak wood, mango wood fares better in terms of price. Mango wood chopping boards are more affordable compared to teak wood and are lighter too. In terms of durability, teak excels over mango wood by a significant margin. Expect your teak wood chopping boards to outlast your mango wood chopping boards by years.

Appearance & Aesthetics

Mango wood is lighter in color, more yellow than brown. It is hard to distinguish between hardwood and softwood in mango wood unless you are quite experienced. They look simple yet are durable. The grain patterns are unique and distinctive.

Durability

Mango wood, when cut, should be cared for until it is dry. This is the phase when it tends to warp and crack. The first week is very crucial for mango wood. Once the first week is clear, the wood becomes resistant to cracking and warping. A curing time of 1 to 2 weeks is sufficient for mango wood to ensure a perfect board.

Sustainability

Mango wood is one of the most sustainable woods. Trees are chopped after they become old and surpass their fruit-bearing stages. Also, when a mango tree is cut in a farm, it is replaced by more mango trees, ensuring the cycle continues and balance is maintained.

Maintenance

Mango wood chopping boards require more care than teak and tamarind wood boards. Regular oiling every week and ensuring that the surface is clean and dry will prolong the life of your board. Oiling is very important when it comes to mango wood chopping boards. Maintaining the oil content in the wood ensures they do not crack. Do not expose the wood to water for long periods of time.

Teak Wood Chopping Boards

One of the best woods for furniture, teak wood is known for its beautiful grains and golden yellow color with brown grains. Extremely durable, teak wood is a prized wood in many parts of the world, including India. Locally referred to as Saag, teak wood’s durability is known to be among the top three woods in India. Crafting chopping boards with teak wood was considered exorbitant in the past, but these days, more and more homes prefer teak wood chopping boards. Teak wood is expensive compared to mango and tamarind woods. This also makes it difficult to find a single wood block of teak wood in the right dimension to make chopping boards. Most chopping boards made from teak wood come with joints, which is relatively cheaper unless they are end-grain chopping boards, which are expensive due to their workmanship.

Appearance & Aesthetic – Very rich grains with golden yellow and dark brown. A very elegant-looking wood, perfect for furniture, doors, windows, and artifacts.

Durability – Teak wood is extremely durable. It can withstand the test of time, and with the right quality, it will last decades with occasional polishing and maintenance. For chopping boards, most teak wood chopping boards will last 10-15 years without showing signs of wear and tear if maintained well. The natural oil in teak wood also prevents it from cracking and warping.

Knife-Friendliness – Teak wood is relatively scratch-resistant. Compared to mango wood, teak can be considered ten times more scratch-resistant. While hard, it is soft on knives. You can expect a longer sharpness on your knife too. Teak wood is knife-friendly, tough, and makes a perfect choice for chopping boards.

Maintenance – Teak wood requires minimal maintenance but does require care. Wipe the board clean after each use. Rinse with warm water after chopping vegetables or meat. Use mild soap and do not scrub with hard steel wool or materials that will scratch the surface. Oil the surface with cooking oil every week. That’s the only maintenance you will require for a long time. When your board looks dirty, use sandpaper with 120 grit to clean the surface and oil it to return the chopping board to a state of new.

Tamarind Wood Chopping Boards

Tamarind wood is quite an underrated wood for chopping boards. One of the traditional woods used by butchers in South India, tamarind wood is known for its durability. With a high Janka strength score, tamarind wood is exceptionally strong. Used for building boards, furniture, and construction, tamarind wood is priced lower compared to teak due to its poor appearance. Tamarind wood is not as appealing as teak and other woods used for furniture and thus not priced high. But what it lacks in beauty, it makes up for in durability and strength. Tamarind wood is also naturally antibacterial.

Appearance & Aesthetic – Tamarind wood is light-colored with darker shades in the hardwood with striking splatters of dark grains. The unusual look of tamarind wood is appealing to those who love a rustic wood pattern.

Durability – Tamarind wood is dense and highly resilient to cuts and scratches. It is strong enough to endure cuts and slashes, making it a wonderful kitchen accessory and a butcher board.

Sustainability – Tamarind is considered sustainable as it is found in plenty and grows naturally. Often planted on the sides of the roads, they are cut down when they are too big to maintain and replanted to maintain a balance.

Maintenance – Tamarind wood requires frequent oiling to maintain a balance in the oil content of the wood. The wood is naturally resistant to cracking. Occasional sanding will retain the smoothness of the board.

How to Choose the Best Wood Chopping Board for Your Kitchen

Choose the right chopping board based on your requirements—what you use the chopping board for, how often you use it, and what your other requirements are. All these factors together help in choosing the right board. If you are looking for a board to use daily to cut only vegetables, a 1-inch mango wood chopping board would be perfect. If you are looking to cut meat and fish, a tamarind board is recommended with a thickness of 1.25 inches. For a chopping board that looks good and is great for regular use, teak wood is the best option. If you are looking for a board that’s used occasionally and also doubles as a tray, opt for teak wood chopping boards that are 1 inch or less.

Mango wood chopping boards require more care than teak and tamarind wood. Teak is a versatile product that will last a long time and requires minimal maintenance. It is naturally beautiful. Tamarind wood is a perfect companion for kitchen needs only. It has a rustic look but is not a great wood for display. Using it as a charcuterie board or a countertop accessory would not go well in most cases.

Common Myths About Wooden Chopping Boards

Myth: Wood retains bacteria more than plastic. This is not true. With prolonged use, plastic tends to harbor more bacteria, as the scarred surfaces can lodge food particles. Wooden boards, on the contrary, can be easily cleaned and are self-healing. Also, wood is naturally antibacterial. The upside to using plastic is that it can be cleaned thoroughly with hot water and sanitized without worrying about damaging the product. Wood, on the other hand, should be cleaned with warm water, and sanitizing is limited to using vinegar, lemon + salt scrubs, and hydrogen peroxide liquid.

Myth: All wood types are the same for chopping boards. Hardwoods are expensive and work best for chopping boards. Softwood is not suitable for chopping boards. Each wood type has its own pros and cons. Some woods leech color, while others are soft. Each wood type is different—some are toxic, while others are food-safe. Choosing the right type of wood is important when selecting a chopping board.

Myth: Wooden boards require excessive maintenance. Wooden boards require maintenance, but not as much as people would have you believe. It’s all about discipline when it comes to maintaining a wooden chopping board. It’s as simple as rinsing your board after use and wiping it clean with a dry towel. Oil the board once a week and sand your chopping board when it has a lot of scratches. The maintenance of a wooden chopping board does not take much time or extra effort.

Chopping boards made from wood are the best kitchen accessory you can purchase for your home. The right wood adds beauty to your kitchen while ensuring that it meets its purpose. Choosing the right wood ensures satisfaction. The beauty of the wood adds to the functionality of the board.