I have ten wooden cutting boards in my kitchen (not counting the round carved bread board and the pizza peel). This might seem excessive, but there have been moments when I've had a crowd over for a potluck when nearly all of them are in use. I use them as trivets, serving platters and bread boards in addition to normal purpose as a place to do chopping. I love that in this day of high tech gadgets and specialty tools, some of the most-used items in my kitchen are simply slabs of wood.
My mom has had the same cutting board for most of my life. Over the years it has gotten hollowed out in the center on both sides, to the point that it is impossible to cut straight down and make a complete cut. I'm waiting for the day when she calls me to report that the tip of her knife went straight through the board while she was making dinner.
Despite my abundance, I do have one board that I favor above all others. It is the smallest on in the collection, just under 12 inches long and 8 inches deep. It has that smooth patina that comes from lots of use, scrubbing with the rough side of the sponge and the occasional massage with some mineral oil. It's not great if I'm cutting something particularly juicy, but it works perfectly for cooking project where I'm transporting chopped veggies from board to pot. I imagine that in 20 years, this board will be just as worn as my mom's.
photo by Marisa McClellan
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-21-2007 @ 10:05AM
Susan said...
I had one of those well-used hollowed out boards for over 20 years, about 12 x 12. It finally broke in half along the grain. Sniff. Rest in peace old friend.
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8-21-2007 @ 10:26AM
jsmylie said...
We used to have about five cutting boards. Now thanks to the rigors of a family kitchen we have three big ones and four smaller ones. :)
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8-21-2007 @ 12:26PM
Ozymandia said...
My husband is a woodworker. He will occasionally take one of our (many) wooden cutting boards outside and plane it down a fraction to level it out, remove the gashes, and "pretty it up". This means I now have several boards of various odd thicknesses (although they are all perfectly flat). At least they take up less and less storage space as time goes on. ;)
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8-21-2007 @ 12:44PM
jerzeetomato said...
I have a 6 foot x 4 foot 4.5 inch thick bally block island top. End cut dove-tailed and ready for chopping at the ready. I hear ya!!! Once you have a huge butcher block you look for things to chop.
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8-21-2007 @ 3:10PM
MJ said...
Can we say addiction...........Thats alot of cuting going on in your kitchen! Watch out
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8-21-2007 @ 11:53PM
alosha7777 said...
wow, you weren't kidding that your parents hold onto things!
I need a better cutting board. =( I have two, but still. and I do adore having more than one around while I am cooking as they serve the multiple functions.
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8-22-2007 @ 12:14PM
Bella said...
Our kitchen is filled with wooden cutting boards, wooden bowls, wooden spoons etc. There is something about serving, cooking and using wooden items that makes the cooking experience more natural and organic.
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11-06-2007 @ 4:30AM
Merenwen said...
lolzzz..... i am also a big time cutting board lover... i have a collection of knives too... so with every perticular knife i use a special cutting board... my friends think i am crazy.... but ... hey who cares..!!@#$%@@!!
as long as i have my cutting boards...lolzz
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