Kitchn Love Letters

The Cutting Board I Never Thought I Needed (but Is Now One of My Favorite Kitchen Tools)

Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm
Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm
Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm was the Tools Editor at The Kitchn. A professional kitchen equipment tester, she's worked for America's Test Kitchen, EatingWell, and Food52. Her goal: to find the best gear for your kitchen so you don't waste time or money on anything else. She lives…read more
published Mar 23, 2021
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Chopped cherry tomoatoes, onions, green pepper, and garlic on cutting board
Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Cyd McDowell

I own more cutting boards than I care to admit. But, really, I only keep four in the rotation: two from Material, a large and small one from OXO, and this reversible one from J.K. Adams.

Let’s focus on the latter, shall we? Because I didn’t anticipate how dang useful it actually would be.

You may have seen J.K. Adams products before (perhaps their rolling pin, which we’ve featured in our Kitchn Essentials?). Here’s a quick primer, in case you’re unfamiliar: They’re a Vermont-based company that makes exceptional products like rolling pins, wine racks, and, of course, cutting boards (even cute ones that are shaped like pigs and books!).

As a former Vermonter, I have a natural inclination towards anything made in one of my favorite states. But I couldn’t have guessed how much I’d love their reversible carving board.

One side of the board is flat and great for prep work like slicing onions, mincing garlic, and finely chopped herbs. The reverse side of the cutting board features a well for carving roasts. It cradles roast chickens, turkey, and prime rib as they rest. And, when it comes time to slice, it helps to hold the roast in place. The board also has a wide groove that runs around the perimeter of the board, catching any meat juices.

When you use a regular cutting board without one of these grooves to carve roasts, the juices tend to run off the board and all over your countertop, making cleanup much more difficult. The juice groove on this board is so sizeable, I have never, ever had any juices overflow. I can’t say the same for other carving boards I’ve tried, which have far too shallow wells that barely hold any liquid, making them far less functional and far more frustrating. (The brand also makes one with a pour spout, for even easier cleanup.)

Credit: Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm
See? The perfect poultry well!

While the reversible board is about $85, which isn’t cheap, it’s a worthwhile investment if you, like me, make a weekly roast chicken. I never thought I’d need a carving board like this, let alone end up using it all the time.

Do you have a cutting board you love just as much? Tell us about it in the comments!