Is Alder Good For Cutting Boards? (Answered) -

When it comes to using wood for cutting boards, the most common options that come up include acacia, walnut, bamboo, and maple.

However, these are not the only types of wood you can use when it comes to a modern cutting board.

One option that is going to have you wondering whether or not it is a good fit would be alder. You will ask, is alder good for cutting boards?

Alder is good for cutting boards. It is not as hard as other types of wood including maple, acacia, or walnut. However, it’s resilient, doesn’t scratch easily, and will offer a consistent cutting surface once set up.

If you have multiple types of wood to choose from, alder wood might not be at the top of your list.

On the other hand, if it comes down to this type of wood and a non-wooden cutting board then it is smart to stick to the alder cutting board.

This article is going to help showcase what alder cutting boards are all about and what the benefits can be if you go down this path.

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What Is Alder Wood?

Alder wood is a part of the hardwood family and has a noted bending strength of 9.8. This means it’s not as robust as other types of wood, but it is appreciated for its dense build and overall texture.

This type of wood is commonly seen being used for furniture, cabinets, and turned products.

Benefits Of Alder Cutting Boards

1. Stable Cutting Surface

Using alder wood for cutting boards comes down to stability.

While this is not the hardest wood available, it is still robust.

This means once you set it down on a solid surface, it’s not going to wobble or create an uneven cutting experience. You can rely on it working the way you expect it to as a cutting board.

This is a type of wood that is resilient and is not going to let you down.

If you are hoping for stability, you are going to enjoy how well this option works.

2. Resilient Design

Most people invest in a new cutting board with the idea of it being a long-term investment.

Keeping this in mind, an alder cutting board is the real deal. It’s going to last for a long time as long as you are oiling it consistently.

It is a strong type of wood that is a part of the hardwood family.

It is consistent along the edges and acts as a robust cutting surface once set up in the kitchen.

3. Easy To Maintain

When it comes to the advantages of an alder cutting board, you will always want to go with something easy to maintain.

This is not going to be much of an issue with the alder cutting board.

It’s going to last for a long time and it doesn’t take a long time to maintain it. For most people, just rinsing it with hot soapy water is enough to keep it going for years.

However, if you want premium performance, it is recommended to oil the alder cutting board with food-grade mineral oil.

This will help make sure it remains in pristine condition year-round.

4. Sanitary

This is a relatively sanitary wood.

This means as long as you are keeping it clean, it is not going to create too many issues with bacteria lingering on the surface.

With this type of hardwood, bacteria isn’t going to linger on the surface for more than a minute.

The rest can be removed by oiling the surface using mineral oil and ensuring it’s rinsed with baking soda a few times a year.

If you do this, alder cutting boards not only last a long time but also remain sanitary.

Final Thoughts

Is alder good for cutting boards?

Alder is good for cutting boards. It’s a part of the hardwood family meaning it’s robust, consistent as a cutting surface, and doesn’t age aggressively. If it is well-maintained this is an effective material to use for a cutting board.

If you want the best, you might not lean towards an alder cutting board, but it is still among the better wooden cutting boards on the market.

Just look for one that is well-made and you are going to be good to go.

The joy of using this type of cutting board is knowing the cutting surface is stable. This goes a long way when handling raw meat and other similar ingredients during the year.

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