John Boos Chop-N-Slice Series Rectangular Wooden Maple Cutting Board

By John Boos · Cutting Boards · Kitchen & Cooking · More from John Boos

  • 20" x 15" x 1-1/4" thick
  • 10 lb
  • Northern Hard Rock Maple
  • NSF Certified
  • Edge grain construction

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Summary

A reversible edge-grain maple cutting board, 20 by 15 by 1-1/4 inches and NSF certified, for cooks who want a solid board from an established American brand. Check the construction before you buy: it is edge grain, which independent testing says is harder on knife edges and more prone to cracking than end grain.

Strengths

  • NSF certified and made in the USA from Northern Hard Rock Maple.
  • Reversible with eased corners, so you get two usable faces.
  • Owners on the John Boos site praise its solid construction, durability and looks.
  • One owner reports a Boos board still going strong after more than twenty years.
  • A moderate price for a name-brand, NSF-certified maple board.

Weaknesses

  • Edge grain is harder on knife edges and does not self-heal like end grain.
  • Wirecutter no longer recommends edge-grain boards, citing more cracking.
  • In Wirecutter’s 2015 test a Boos edge-grain board arrived extremely dry and cracked within a year.
  • Needs oiling at least once a month and hand washing only; never a dishwasher.
  • Some owners report rough surfaces and wood fibers catching on cloths out of the package.
  • At 10 lb it is heavy to lift and wash for some cooks.

Verified specifications

ModelJohn Boos Chop-N-Slice Series, model 214, in the 20 x 15 x 1-1/4 inch size.
Dimensions20 × 15 × 1-1/4 in.
Weight10 lb.
MaterialNorthern Hard Rock Maple.
Constructionedge grain.
Finishoil finish.
Designreversible with eased corners.
CertificationNSF certified, with NHLA certification shown on the product page.
Manufacturingmade in the USA with domestic and imported materials.
Care productsJohn Boos Mystery Oil and Board Cream, sold separately.
Full research notes and sources

Edge grain, end grain and knife care

The Chop-N-Slice is an edge-grain board, meaning the strips of maple are glued face up. End-grain boards, where the strips stand on end, are gentler on knife edges and close up after cuts. Wirecutter, which has tested cutting boards for years, now avoids edge-grain boards: it says they are harder on knife blades, do not self-heal as well, and have more trouble with cracking. Its 2015 wood-board pick was a larger John Boos edge-grain board that felt good under a knife and stayed put on the counter, but arrived extremely dry and developed a small crack in the handle after the first year. That is one board from one test, not a verdict on this model, but it is the construction you are buying.

Tom’s Guide includes a John Boos board in its cutting board guide, but it reviews the Countertop model, with a lipped edge and a juice groove in different dimensions, not this board, so that praise does not carry over.

Oiling, washing and upkeep

A maple board this size needs attention. John Boos says to apply Mystery Oil at least once a month, more often with heavy use, let it soak in overnight, then wipe off the excess; Board Cream with beeswax adds protection. Wash by hand with mild soap and water only, never in a dishwasher, and keep fresh wet meat or pooled liquid off the surface. Light scratches can be sanded out with fine #200 grit, working with the grain. The oil and cream are sold separately, and the applicator runs about $24.95 from John Boos.

John Boos sells the 20 x 15 x 1-1/4 inch board direct for $86.95, and Cuttingboards.net and the Cutting Board Company list it at the same price. For comparison, Wirecutter points to end-grain boards around $185 and a budget end-grain board at $57. The Chop-N-Slice sits in the middle: less than a premium end-grain board, more than a budget one, with the trade-offs of edge-grain construction. The ongoing cost is the oil and cream.

Is it worth it?

If you want a trusted name, NSF certification and a reversible maple board at a moderate price, this is a reasonable pick. If knife-edge longevity and crack resistance matter more, Wirecutter’s testing suggests an end-grain board is worth the extra cost. The board is simple to keep going with monthly oil and hand washing, and it can be sanded back to life when it gets scarred.

Which model this is

This page covers the Chop-N-Slice Series rectangular board in the 20 x 15 x 1-1/4 inch size, model 214. Do not confuse it with the John Boos R-Board series, which is end grain with finger grips, the Au Jus boards, which have a juice groove, or the Countertop series, which has a lipped edge and a juice groove in different dimensions. The listing is ASIN B00063QBFE.

Sources

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