Should I go for some nice wine glasses? Or perhaps a set of porcelain dishes or a gift card? What should I give my friend? These are questions that plague our minds whenever we need to surprise someone with a present. If this is a dear friend of ours, we don’t want to just give money. Giving a gift from the heart and with thought shows your friend how much you care about them.

Personalized gifts show that you didn’t just go out and buy the first thing you see. It shows that you thought to yourself “I know my friends would like this”. One of the best-personalised gifts that can last for years to come is a cutting board, as an essential kitchen accessory in every house. This is a memorable gift for weddings, housewarmings, Christmas, birthdays and all in between. Let’s see the varying options in picking a unique cutting board for your friend.

Bamboo

When we think bamboo we immediately think panda. Although this is the main source of food for these adorable guys, it’s also a strong and sustainable material. If you want something unique and durable, and your giftee is someone who is environmentally conscious, a personalized bamboo cutting board is perfect.

How does a wood cutting board compare to a bamboo board? Well, bamboo isn’t wood, it’s just hard grass.

Additionally, as opposed to wood, bamboo is more resistant to bacteria getting trapped in the grooves due to its unique antimicrobial component called bamboo kin. That said, a personalised bamboo cutting board is a great way to show your loved one that you care about their wellbeing and impress them by going out of your way to having their name or some personal phrase engraved.

Bamboo is a great material for a chopping board as it absorbs very little moisture. This makes it naturally water-resistant to a certain degree. To maintain your personalized bamboo cutting board you should oil it often to avoid any cracking. This type of damage is what we want to avoid because it can deteriorate the board.

While bamboo-made cutting boards are easy to maintain, they should never be submerged in water or put in the dishwasher. Due to it being a naturally sourced softer board, it holds up well against knives while not damaging them.

Take your wedding gift to the next level by getting a personalized bamboo cutting board with an initial, name, date, or design. It’s the kind of kitchen tool that is also likely to be more of an art piece. A kind of art that will be admired for years to come. Plus it can be used as a serving tray due to its beauty in craftmanship.

The next party your friend has, they will be excited to bring out their board for everyone to see. It has a one-of-a-kind design. People like to be different and feel unique.

Wood

Wood boards can be made out of maple, or walnut. Wood cutting boards aren’t as hard as bamboo but they are still great for cutting and absorbing the pressure of a knife without damage to the knife.

Like bamboo, wood also shouldn’t be completely submerged in water. This is an organic material that can easily be shaped into any shape you want. How about a whale or butterfly-shaped cutting board? Wood is perfect for personalisation, much like bamboo.

Although these boards are not as water-resistant as bamboo, they are still easy to clean. It’s recommended to oil them often to keep them maintained and allow their self-healing properties to fix any grooves opening.

A wooden cutting board can hold hot food and can be used to serve. You can also leave it as a centrepiece in your kitchen. The most recommended wood is maple. Maple is a hard, closed-grain wood. This means it’s durable and able to resist bacteria. Remember, the cheaper the wood, the quicker it will wear down.

Plastic

Most people have transitioned to plastic cutting boards because they feel they are easier to clean. But are they? Well, they are when it comes to prepping things like raw chicken, fish and beef as plastic is less porous than bamboo and wood.

However, with everyday use, this cutting board is likely to cause more damage to your knife in the long run. But, the upside is that you can throw your plastic board in the dishwasher and it won’t cause any damage to it. However, you still have to choose the right quality plastic so that it can take the temperature of a dishwasher.

As a gift, a plastic cutting board is highly practical. It’s not traditionally as aesthetic as a personalized bamboo or wood cutting board but it still works.

From Bored to Board

You can’t go wrong with which board you choose. A personalised cutting board is a practical gift for everyone. You can be sure that it will be used in making lasting memories for years to come. They won’t be bored with the right board.