Fingernail can scratch cooking board = too soft?

I was using a lot of elbow grease to sand down my cheap cutting board to remove the deep grooves caused by my knife. Then I questioned myself if it's even worth the effort and just get a new better quality cutting board. I recently realized can scratch my cutting board with just my fingernail. Is that sign that it's too soft?

American Test Kitchen recommends the Proteak cutting board because it's not too hard or soft. I will get this board if it's truly worth the money.

cutting-boards

Best Answer

Since it's not all that clear what your question really is, I'm going to go with the question in the title:

If you can mark your dry cutting board with a fingernail, the wood is softer than you want for a good cutting board. In fact, your cutting board would need to be a very soft pine, fir, or similar wood to be that soft, none of which are ideal for cutting boards. This explains why you have "deep grooves".

I own a teak cutting board (it was a gift), and I don't know that I'd recommend it. Teak is hard enough to dull my knives faster than a softer hardwood like beech or maple would (bamboo has the same issue). Beyond that, there is quite a bit of debate about which wood is best for cutting boards and instead of trying to reproduce it here I'm going to give you some reading:

Pictures about "Fingernail can scratch cooking board = too soft?"

Fingernail can scratch cooking board = too soft? - Kitchen Knife on Table

Fingernail can scratch cooking board = too soft? - Assorted Spices on Brown Wooden Table Beside Red and White Textile

Fingernail can scratch cooking board = too soft? - Sliced Bread on Brown Wooden Board

How do you harden a cutting board?

Finish your cutting board with pure tung oil for a durable finish. Tung oil is a thick substance that will dry and harden in the fiber of the wood. This gives strength to the cutting board and will make it highly water-resistant. Unlike non-drying finish options, tung oil does not need to be frequently re-applied.

How do you stop a wooden cutting board from scratching?

Every other month apply a light coating of food grade mineral oil to your cutting board. Small scratches in wooden cutting boards typically heal, but if a deep scratch occurs, it can be scraped out using a plane or scraper. Avoid sandpaper as it can leave grit behind that may dull your knives.

Are cutting boards supposed to scratch?

First off, you should not be upset about knife marks on your wooden cutting board. Those cuts and scratches are signs that you have put it through good use, and that it has been a wonderfully reliable tool.

What to do if cutting board is splintering?

Just follow these three simple steps.

Make sure the wood is dry. Sanding wet wood will cause it to tear - yes, like paper - risking splintering.

Use 220 grit (or higher) sandpaper and lightly sand.

Then wash the sawdust from the board & dry thoroughly.

How To Soften Thick Toenails

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Ryutaro Tsukata, Lukas, Engin Akyurt, Lukas