Cutting Board Juice Groove or Not? [Which One is Better?]

It is remarkable how regular kitchen tools are evolving to offer more functions to make our kitchen tasks more efficient.

The market is coming out with a variety of cutting boards that makes our experience in the kitchen easier. An excellent example is cutting boards with juice grooves.

At some point in the kitchen, you will be handling foods that become sloppy upon being chopped, for example, tomatoes and onions. The vegetable and fruit juices may flow across the board and make a mess. It makes the cutting process less efficient and is more of a hassle to clean up.

Cutting Board Juice Groove or Not?

As we said, cutting boards with juice grooves are excellent for allowing your board to drain the excess fluids. While cutting foods with a high-water content, juice grooves are like that helping hand you need!

We now know why cutting boards with juice grooves are great. But do they come with their share of disadvantages? The answer is yes. It is best to make a well-informed decision based on your requirements. Continue reading our post to learn more!

Quick Differences Between Boards with Juice Groove & Boards Without Juice Groove

It is essential to understand the merits and demerits of cutting boards with juice grooves before purchasing one.

Before we dive into a detailed analysis of both kinds of cutting boards, let’s quickly compare their features:

Difference	Without Juice Groove	With Juice Groove
Longevity	Long-lasting	Prone to cracks
Price	Inexpensive	Relatively more expensive
Liquid Spillage	Plenty spillage	No spillage
Cleaning	Easy	Complicated
Surface Area	Whole Board	Reduced due to grooves
Price	Check Price	Check Price

In-Depth Comparison

Our brief comparison between both types of cutting boards must have given you a general idea. Now, it’s time to take a closer look! Cutting boards with juice grooves and without have their advantages. Are you wondering what they are? Read further to find out!

Advantages of Cutting Boards with Juice Grooves

Juice grooves are an extra feature that is targeted at consumers to make their kitchen experiences smoother.

When you cut juicy vegetables and fruits, and meat on your cutting board, they leak a considerable amount of liquid.

This liquid can spread across the surface of the board and create a mess. They may flow off the board and make your surroundings messy as well. 

A juice groove removes the possibility of this happening. It allows the food juices to systematically drain via the groove.

Many chefs appreciate this feature as bigger spills can spoil surrounding food as well. It is essential to containing these leaking fluids from rolling over the surface of the boards. This way, you can enhance the cutting process and make cooking more efficient. 

Cutting Board without Juice Groove – Pros

Cutting boards without juice grooves may not drain the fluid from the surface efficiently. However, they also offer features that place them above cutting boards with juice grooves in certain aspects. Let’s take a look at them!

Durability

Cutting boards with and without juice grooves are both made of wood. The quality of cutting boards is largely determined by the kind of wood it uses. Ideally, cherry and walnut are excellent options for quality cutting boards.

So, can the durability of one be different from the other? The answer is yes. Durability is not just about the building material; the design could make a difference as well. Both cutting boards are a slab of wood but the primary difference between the two is the juice groove at the edge.

Generally, cutting boards without juice grooves tend to have a longer life. Juice grooves can make your cutting board more susceptible to cracks and breakage.

The router bit is generally ½ inch or 5/8 inch wide in cutting boards. This area has maximum contact with liquid, making it more prone to damage.

The wood soaks the draining liquid and increases vulnerability to cracks.

Therefore, cutting boards without juice grooves have a longer life as they are less susceptible to damage. 

Ease of cleaning

One of the biggest hassles of every kitchen activity is the cleaning process. Nobody likes to spend extended periods in the kitchen cleaning.

At the same time, it is vital to ensure that you’ve thoroughly cleaned all your kitchen tools as they come in contact with the food you consume.

Cutting boards without juice grooves are relatively easier to clean as they are just a slab of food. It is easier to clean plane surfaces as they are less complicated.

Cleaning cutting boards with juice grooves is more of a task compared to the ones without.

As the juice groove drains fluid, there could be some leftover liquid that attracts certain bacteria. It is advised to use special antimicrobial agents that effectively eradicate harmful microorganisms from juice grooves.

Additionally, learning how to sand cutting boards with juice grooves proves helpful too.

Note: Please avoid washing your cutting board in a dishwasher. Cutting boards are made out of food, which is not the ideal material for dishwasher use. 

Price Range

Another important point that most people look for is the price range. Being budget-friendly is an essential feature, especially for those of us on a budget.

Everyone wants the best deal; so why not for cutting boards? It is similar to choosing between 5 and 7-quart dutch oven.

Manufacturers offer a juice groove in cutting boards as an extra feature. Accordingly, consumers are charged more which puts cutting boards with juice grooves at a higher price point.

So, are you wondering whether cutting boards with juice grooves are worth it? Wooden cutting boards have a wide range of prices.

The starting price point can be as low as 10$ and reach up to a couple of hundred dollars. 

However, most people go for super affordable and common cutting boards daily. So, cutting boards without juice grove are relatively inexpensive. 

Here are some of our top recommendations for regular cutting boards:

Board	Price
Lipper International Bamboo Wood (Set of 2 Boards, 6″ x 8″ and 9″ x 12″)	Check Price
Ironwood Gourmet 28218 Square, Acacia Wood 14″ Square	Check Price
John Boos Block WAL (18 Inches x 18 Inches x 3 Inches)	Check Price

If you feel like cutting boards with juice grooves serve your purpose, you will have to loosen your wallet strings slightly.

Again, cutting boards with juice grooves come at a wide range of price points. But they are still relatively expensive those without a juice groove.

Are you aware of the benefits of bamboo cutting boards? They are incredible! They generally cost about 10 to 20 dollars.

If you’re looking for some direction on which cutting boards to pick, we’ve got you! Check out some of our top picks for cutting boards with juice grooves:

Board	Price
Heim Concept Organic Bamboo Cutting Boards with Juicy Groove (18x12x3/4)	Check Price
Large Acacia Wood Cutting Board by Door 56 Co (18 x 12 x 1.5)	Check Price
John Boos Block BBQBD Reversible Maple Wood Edge Grain (18 x 12 x 1.5)	Check Price

Final Verdict

Now that we are done with our detailed analysis, we hope you’ve gotten some direction on what to purchase.

As we have seen, juice grooves in cutting boards can be extremely helpful in some respects and not in others.

Here’s a final summary of cutting boards with and without juice grooves for those of you that need a final nudge.

Product	Features	Where To Get
Cutting Boards without Grooves	Durable, ideal for regular kitchen activities	Get Now!
Cutting Boards with Grooves	Excellent for chopping food with high water content, relatively expensive	Get Now!

If you’re someone that cooks occasionally and doesn’t chop foods that cause liquid spills, regular cutting boards do the job.

If the food you cut produces a lot of fluid which leaves a sloppy mess, go for the cutting boards with juice grooves.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is my cutting board with juice groove dishwasher-safe?

No, it is not. Cutting boards are made out of food which makes them unsafe for the dishwasher. It is best to wash it by hand. Additionally, we recommend using some antibacterial substances to ensure your board is thoroughly cleaned before your next use. So, please keep your cutting board with juice groove away from the dishwasher.

Is it harder to clean boards with juice grooves?

Yes, it is relatively harder to clean a cutting board with a juice groove. Juice grooves have a higher risk of harboring harmful bacteria that may contaminate our food. This is because sometimes juice grooves may contain fluid residues that could facilitate bacterial growth. So, please ensure that you use proper antibacterial substances to clean them thoroughly.

Is a board with juice groove costlier?

Yes, cutting boards that have juice grooves retail at a higher price point than the ones without. Juice grooves are considered an additional feature on cutting boards which makes them costlier. The price of cutting boards may also vary depending on the manufacturing brand and the quality of the wood. So, you can still find cutting boards with juice grooves in reasonable price ranges.

Conclusion

We’ve reached the end of the article! We hope our article helped you pick between cutting boards with juice grooves and without. Your decision majorly depends on your requirement.

For those that chop meat and other juicy foods on the cutting board, cutting boards with juice grooves are ideal. If not, a regular cutting board will suffice.

As we discussed, cutting boards without juice grooves have their share of advantages. So, please weigh the pros and cons to pick the one that suits you best!

Thank you for reading. See you in our next post!