Maple is a versatile and sturdy wood, popular in multiple applications, including the outdoor environment. Its true character is a source of pride for many craftsmen. Maple is part of the hardwood family, it possesses durability, versatility, and elegance that distinguishes it from other wood types. The use of maple is quite widespread, with many people utilizing this wood for various purposes including for carving, flooring, furniture, and particularly in crafting the best cutting boards. Hard maple has a perfect hardness of 1,450 on the Janka Hardness Scale (measurement of how much force is needed to embed a metal ball into the wood). This means that maple wood will be hard enough to be used as a cutting surface for years to come, without being so hard that it will dull your knife blade.
The maple tree, true to its name, comes from the Acer genus, and it's highly regarded for its durable and quality hardwood. Most of the maple wood is harvested from mature trees in North America, making it a vital part of the woodworking industry in the region. It is such an important tree that Canada has even put the maple leaf on its flag. Native to both Europe and Asia, maple trees flourish in the outdoor environment, demonstrating resilience to harsh weather conditions. The strength of maple wood further underscores its popularity among artisans, adding another feather to its cap of pride.
The durability of maple provides a natural resilience to wear and tear, making it ideal for heavy-duty uses like cutting boards. The grains on a maple wood are generally straight, giving it an aesthetically pleasing appearance that also emphasizes its natural beauty. So, when it comes to finding the best cutting boards with legacy and beauty, maple holds true as a leading choice and pride in the world of wood.
Maple wood has one of the most beautiful colors. The wonderful pale brown color of maple is elegant and sophisticated in the kitchen. In a perfect world, it should be paired with a darker walnut or cherry wood, maybe using the darker brown woods as inlays into the maple. Such a cutting board is a true work of art.
When you're hunting for the best cutting boards, you're bound to cross paths with maple cutting boards. Why? Because they are undeniably some of the finest, durable, and best performing cutting boards out there. Maple, as a type of wood, is known for its solid and sturdy structure, making it a popular choice for wooden cutting boards, as well as cheese or charcuterie boards. It's no small wonder why so many chefs favour a maple board over other variants.
Chopping veggies or slicing meat, a maple cutting board offers a stable and solid foundation for your knife. The smooth surface of maple wood ensures a clean and safe cut, maintaining the sharpness of your knife edges much longer compared to other cutting board materials. It's not uncommon for users to view their maple cutting board as an invaluable tool in their kitchen arsenal.
In the culinary world, the butcher block stands as a testament of durability and longevity. These hard-wearing surfaces bring rustic charm and practicality into any kitchen. Choosing the best butcher block cutting board might seem daunting, but it boils down to the decision of picking either an end-grain board or an edge-grain board.
An end-grain board, as the name suggests, is assembled from the end pieces of wood strips. It boasts a unique checkerboard look. When the knife hits the block surface, it slips between the fibers instead of cutting across them. This keeps the blade sharp and the board surface relatively free of scars. However, the end grain board is not without its drawbacks. It is heavy, prone to warp and moisture absorption if not properly maintained. Most big butcher blocks are made with end-grain wood.
Moving onto an edge-grain board, it is crafted from running lengths of wood, providing a smoother and less catchy surface compared to the end grain. Its durability is lesser than the end grain, but it doesn’t warp easily and is lighter on the budget and weight. The butcher block surface on it offers enough sturdiness to deal with most types of kitchen heavy-duty tasks.
Both end-grain and edge-grain boards have their pros and cons, but their hard block surfaces make them both worth considering when choosing the best butcher block.
Often when you're starting to add to your kitchen setup, the budget can be a significant factor, and price often drives the decision-making process. Hence, it's worth exploring lower-cost alternatives to maple cutting boards, particularly if you're on a tight budget. Fortunately, there are many affordable cutting boards available that give top-end maple boards a run for their money. Plastic or rubber cutting boards are usually much cheaper, but not as nice as a proper wood cutting board. Maple is an expensive wood, so choosing a wood like ash might reduce the cost for you. Bamboo is usually cheaper too, but the hardness of bamboo does not make it good for a cutting surface; bamboo wood is just too hard and will dull or damage your knife over time. While the aesthetics and durability of maple are undeniable, there are plenty of lower-cost, yet serviceable alternatives that can serve you well in your culinary journey.
Caring for your maple cutting boards isn't a hard task if you're aware of the maintenance procedures. The hard maple used in cutting boards is an incredibly resilient material. Yet it does need some TLC to keep it looking and performing its best. When you're dealing with a board, whether it's a maple butcher block, an edge-grain, or an end-grain, using oil is key in preservation. The oil penetrates the hard wood, keeping it from drying out and developing cracks. Use a mineral oil, not vegetable oil, for the maintenance, and you migth want to mix in some beeswax into the oil for the perfect finish.
Let's not overlook the grooves, which are probably some of the most overlooked parts in cutting board maintenance. These include the juice groove and finger grooves. The juice groove, as the name implies, is engineered to catch the juice from whatever you're cutting up and they need just as much attention as the rest of the board. Similar attention should be given to the finger grooves. Use a dried cloth, apply some oil and run it carefully along the juice groove and then on the finger grooves. When you're caring for your maple cutting boards, do not leave areas like the edge unattended. Apply oil to the edge too for its long-lasting endurance.