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See why.Carving Boards
Clever features on new carving boards promise easier carving and serving. But does clever always mean useful?
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What You Need To Know
A carving board may seem like a luxury when you pull it out only a few times a year—but anyone who’s tried carving a roast on a flat cutting board knows what a disaster that can be, with juices dribbling onto the counter from all sides. Carving boards are designed to avoid this mess, traditionally by relying on a trench around their perimeter that traps the liquid. Eight years ago we selected the J.K. Adams Maple Reversible Carving Board as our favorite. With a poultry-shaped indentation on one side and generous trenches on both, it’s simple but effective. But when we noticed some new boards with features like pour spouts, clever liquid channeling designs, and innovative ways to anchor the meat, we decided an update was in order. We pitted our winner against nine boards (priced from roughly $20 to about $145) made from various materials (wood, bamboo, plastic, wood composite) and showcasing a range of features. After roasting turkeys and juicy 5-pound beef roasts for each board, we got to work carving.
We knew from our previous testing that we should consider only boards at least 18 inches long—enough space for a large turkey, with room to work. But bigger wasn’t necessarily better. The three models that were nearly 2 feet long felt bulky and hogged counter space. This time around, we also learned that width is important, too. The turkey dwarfed the tiny cutting surface of one board that measured only 12 1/4 inches across. The ideal proportions turned out to be 20 by 14 or 15 inches.
As for height, boards around 1 inch tall had enough heft to sit securely on the counter but were still easy to lift. We liked that thinner boards could be stored easily, but they tended to slip on the counter. Taller boards added unwanted height and weight. The heaviest one tipped the scales at more than 17 pounds and was too cumbersome to carry.
In the Trenches
We expect a carving board to trap at least 1/2 cup of liquid, roughly the amount released by a midsize turkey as it rests. Traditionally, a trench about 1 inch from the board’s perimeter is designed to handle the job. Because the fat released during carving gels as it cools, it will cause the juices to slow down, so boards with narrow, shallow trenches tended to clog and overflow. We were surprised that the two boards with the largest footprints had trenches that held just 2 ounces. At the other extreme, one of the trenches on our old winner held 10 ounces (the most of any board); its other trench held a respectable 5 ounces.
The lone model to stray from the standard trench had flared sides like those on a cafeteria tray. It kept juices off the counter, but the food sat in a puddle. ...
Everything We Tested
Highly Recommended
- Ease of Use: 3 stars out of 3.
- Cutting Surface: 3 stars out of 3.
- Liquid Capacity: 3 stars out of 3.
Our longtime favorite boasts trenches on both sides that easily accommodate 1/2 cup of liquid. One side provides uninterrupted cutting space, while the other features a poultry-shaped well that steadied turkeys during carving but didn’t obstruct our knife. Midweight and moderately sized, it’s easy to handle.
Recommended
- Ease of Use: 3 stars out of 3.
- Cutting Surface: 3 stars out of 3.
- Liquid Capacity: 2 stars out of 3.
This board is nearly identical to our winning board but with a few key differences. A new pour spout is cut at a shallow angle and nearly overflowed. It also downsized the large-capacity trench that our winner features, though it was still sufficient.
Not Recommended
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
- Cutting Surface: 2 stars out of 3.
- Liquid Capacity: 3 stars out of 3.
One-inch lips on either end of this board gripped the counter’s edge so it stayed in place. But the orientation was wrong; testers had to carve at the short end, wasting space at the other end. It was also cumbersome and the most expensive in our lineup.
- Ease of Use: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Cutting Surface: 1 stars out of 3.
- Liquid Capacity: 3 stars out of 3.
In addition to a trench, this board sports a three-pronged channel that directs liquid to a well on one end of the board. It worked, but the well’s nearly 3-cup capacity is more than necessary and takes up valuable workspace. It scarred badly, and the padded feet, each nearly 1 inch tall, raised the board uncomfortably high.
- Ease of Use: 0.5 stars out of 3.
- Cutting Surface: 3 stars out of 3.
- Liquid Capacity: 2 stars out of 3.
Twice as thick as our winning board, it stood a whopping 2 1/4 inches high. It was also brutally heavy and downright unsafe to carry when weighted with a heavy roast. A too-shallow pour spout almost overflowed before the rest of the trench had filled.
- Ease of Use: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Cutting Surface: 1 stars out of 3.
- Liquid Capacity: 3 stars out of 3.
This board’s tiny rows of pyramids interfered with our knife, resulting in slices that were jagged and torn at the bottom. They were also difficult to clean. The only positive: Liquid that accumulates around the pyramids is neatly channeled out to the trench.
- Ease of Use: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Cutting Surface: 3 stars out of 3.
- Liquid Capacity: 1 stars out of 3.
Made by the manufacturer of our favorite cutting board, it had the same elegant, durable construction. It also had the narrowest trench in our lineup, which meant that it overflowed almost instantly. It was also heavy and fit awkwardly in our sink.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
- Cutting Surface: 3 stars out of 3.
- Liquid Capacity: 1 stars out of 3.
This carving board had ample cutting space, but its trench, which we found holds just over 2 ounces of water (less than half of what we expect from our carving boards), overflowed every time. It also slipped and spun on the counter.
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
- Cutting Surface: 1 stars out of 3.
- Liquid Capacity: 2 stars out of 3.
While this smaller, lightweight board kept up with bigger models when we carved roast beef, its narrow footprint was dwarfed by the turkey. Because it had raised sides instead of a trench, roasts sat in a puddle, turning crusts soggy. On the upside: It’s dishwasher-safe and mostly scratch-resistant.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
- Cutting Surface: 1 stars out of 3.
- Liquid Capacity: 3 stars out of 3.
This board’s trench held plenty of liquid, but the trench had a yellow-green tinge and emitted an unpleasant odor when wet. It scratched easily, but mineral oil covered up most marks. Although marketed as dishwasher-safe, it couldn’t fit in our machine.
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The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing.
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