Many have debated about teak vs. acacia wood for cutting boards.
We all know that the wood in our chopping boards is just as important as the steel you choose for your knives.
The type of wood gives your cutting board different characteristics, making your cooking life easier.
Two popular choices are teak and acacia wood.
These woods give out good-quality cutting boards, but the choice may be hard between the two.
Below we will compare their properties and other factors to help you choose.
How is Teak for Cutting Boards?
Teak is a tropical hardwood tree that can grow up to and sometimes over 130 feet tall.
Its home is in south and southeast Asia, where it has been growing for over 100 years. Now, that’s a long time!
These trees grow very fast, although dense and thick, and reach maturity around 25 years.
This is why many people use it for furniture, decor, and cutting boards.
Teak is one of the best choices for cutting boards, as it has lots of natural oils, durable but soft enough on your knives.
A teak cutting board can give you years. Even if the surface is damaged, you can easily sort it out with sandpaper.
Teak is especially valued for its straight grain patterns. This makes it look elegant and fancy, making it popular among everyone.
(teak forest)
Pros
- Does not allow bacteria to survive- Teak has a natural barrier that stops the bacteria and its damage. This is because it contains certain chemicals that help defend against mold, fungus, and mildew. It is the only wood that can do this, so your teak wood will not decay easily.
- Has natural oils- Many types of wood cutting boards have to be oiled regularly so they do not warp from water. However, teak has natural oils, so that you can skip the seasoning process!
- Teak can last for years to come- When you buy a wood cutting board, you’d want it to last very long so you don’t always have to replace it. Since teak has a unique wood grain and natural oils, it can last 100 years.
- It is very beautiful- Because teak has a unique wood grain pattern, it brings a sense of elegance into your kitchen. It matches well with probably everything, and you can choose from a wide range of colors.
(teak cutting board)
Cons
- Teak is very pricey! This cutting board is definitely not budget-friendly because it is one of the most costly woods on the market.
- Teak is hard to get. This is because the teak forest is at risk of deforestation, which means the trees are decreasing too quickly, leading to near extinction. It is very scarce; therefore, hard to buy.
How is Acacia Wood for Cutting Boards?
Acacia trees are very fascinating, with their different species spread across different parts of the world. And they’re not just pretty to look at!
This wood is also yet another popular choice as a cutting board, and there’s no surprise why.
Acacia wood cutting boards are a real powerhouse. It is very strong and can handle just about anything you throw its way.
It has good water resistance that keeps it in perfect shape and keeps bacteria away.
(acacia tree)
Pros
- It is water-resistant- This means that acacia wood does not allow much water to seep through, which is a common cause of bacteria growth and rotting. It can prevent warping when taken care of.
- You can buy it from anywhere- The acacia trees grow very quickly, so it is easy to get and buy. In this way, it is not that costly as well.
- It is durable and strong- Acacia brings up a whopping score of 1750 LBF on the Janka scale. This scale measures the hardness of different types of wood, and acacia is at a high spot on that list.
- Acacia has a high aesthetic appeal. This wood is beautiful and brings elegance to any kitchen.
(acacia wood cutting board)
Cons
- Hard acacia cutting boards are not kind to your knives. This is because it contains lots of silica, which can dull your knife out, especially if they are made from soft steel.
- These cutting boards are very heavy, so they can be hard to work with.
What’s The Main Difference Between Acacia and Teak?
By now, we’ve looked at the features of both teak and acacia. Here are their main differences.
Maintenance
If you have an acacia board, you have to season it, which means oiling the board regularly.
This is important so the board can look good and maintain its water resistance.
Overlooking this maintenance step can cause your board to crack.
On the other hand, the teak does not need regular oiling, just normal washing after use.
This is why most people prefer acacia.
Strongness
Acacia is much harder and stronger than teak.
While this is good, too much of a good thing can become bad. Some acacia wood boards are too high that they can damage knives.
The Teak is also strong but soft enough to protect your knives.
However, it depends on what kind of knives you use.
(wood cutting boards in a stack)
Sustainability
Acacia shares its name with 1000 species, so there is no problem supplying the demand for this wood.
Plus, these trees grow quickly, making them sustainable.
Teak is the opposite; while it may grow fast, few trees are around.
This means it is at risk of extinction, which makes it the less sustainable option.
Price
Acacia and teak are both kinds of costly, but acacia is the cheaper of the two.
Teak is sometimes 5 times more expensive than acacia wood because the trees are scarce and not as available.
Plus, it provides lots of benefits over acacia. Because of this, many fake teak are on the market, so do your research before buying!
Conclusion
Both acacia and teak wood make for good cutting boards. However, teak provides more benefits at a higher price.
You probably don’t need something so premium if you don’t cook much, so acacia is also a good choice for those on a budget.
You have to weigh out their pros and cons to come to a decision.