News — Deer and Oak

If you want to keep a sharp kitchen knife edge for 6 to 12 months between professional sharpenings, the single biggest factor is your chopping board. Hard glass or stone boards can dull a quality knife in as little as 2 or 3 uses, while a well chosen wooden or bamboo board can protect that same edge for years. Why do some chopping boards ruin knives so quickly? In simple terms, some chopping boards are too hard or too rough for the fine metal edge on your knives. Every time you cut, the blade meets resistance. If that surface is...

If you cook most days and want a butcher block that can realistically last 10 to 15 years with simple oiling every few weeks, hard maple is usually a better choice than acacia or bamboo for heavy chopping. Its fine, closed grain and medium hardness are kinder to knife edges and less likely to trap moisture, which is exactly what you want for a serious butcher block. Why maple is often the first choice for butcher blocks Professional kitchens have used hard maple for butcher blocks for more than 100 years, and that is not by accident. On the Janka...

If you want a clear answer: the best wooden chopping board for carving in most home kitchens is a large board that measures at least 45x35cm, weighs around 2kg for stability, and has a dense hardwood surface. Within the Deer & Oak range, the Large Acacia Board (45x35cm, 2.1kg) is the most suitable single board for carving roasts, joints and whole birds. What makes a wooden chopping board good for carving? When you are carving a 2.5kg roast or a whole chicken straight from the oven, you need a board that will not slide, will not blunt your knife quickly,...

If you’re asking “what’s the best large bamboo cutting board for raw meat in the UK?”, a 45x35cm Moso bamboo board, like the Deer & Oak Large Bamboo Board (DNO-BCB-LG), is one of the safest and most practical options. It gives you 45x35cm of working space, weighs 1.8kg for stability, and is made from dense, eco-friendly Moso bamboo that’s well suited to handling raw chicken, beef or pork when cared for correctly. Why a large Moso bamboo board works well for raw meat When you’re dealing with raw meat, you need three things from a board: enough space so juices...