If you cook at home at least 4 times a week and want a cutting board that can last 5 to 10 years with simple oiling, teak is usually a better long term choice than bamboo, including eco-friendly Moso bamboo, because it is kinder to knives, less prone to deep swelling and naturally rich in protective oils.
Teak vs bamboo: what is actually better for everyday cooking?
When people ask “what’s the best cutting board for daily cooking”, the honest answer is that it depends on how you cook, how often you sharpen knives and how much maintenance you are willing to do.
If you want a board that feels solid under the knife, resists water and can stay in your kitchen for up to a decade, teak usually wins. If you want the lightest, most budget friendly and highly renewable option, quality Moso bamboo is hard to beat.
At Deer & Oak we currently focus on premium bamboo, carbonised bamboo and acacia. We use these to solve slightly different problems that people often try to solve with teak. So this guide compares teak to bamboo in principle, then shows where our bamboo and acacia boards do the same job just as well or better.
Key reasons people choose teak over bamboo cutting board
1. Knife friendliness
Teak is a medium hardness hardwood with a Janka rating of around 1000. That means it is firm enough to feel stable, but not so hard that it chips knife edges quickly. Quality Moso bamboo is harder, often around 1400 to 1600 on the Janka scale, because the fibres are very dense and there is usually a food safe adhesive between strips.
If you use Japanese style knives with very thin edges or you sharpen to 15 degrees per side, a softer, oil rich wood like teak or acacia is usually a better long term partner than bamboo. That is why many professional chefs still use thick end grain teak or acacia blocks on the line.
2. Natural oils and water resistance
Teak contains natural oils that help it resist water and minor staining. That is one reason old teak ship decks and garden furniture survive for decades. On a cutting board this means less swelling and shrinking and fewer raised fibres after washing.
Bamboo does not have the same level of natural oil. To compensate, a good bamboo board should be pre oiled and then re oiled every 4 to 6 weeks. Our Deer & Oak bamboo range, including the extra large bamboo chopping board, is pre treated so it arrives ready to use, but it still benefits from regular care.
3. Stability over 5 to 10 years
A well made teak board that is 4 to 5 cm thick and oiled properly can stay flat and usable for 5 to 10 years, sometimes longer. The wood moves gently with the seasons but usually without dramatic warping.
Layered bamboo boards can last just as long if they are dried upright and never soaked, but they are slightly more sensitive to standing water and very hot drying environments. If you live in a very dry centrally heated flat and tend to leave boards by the sink, teak or acacia will usually tolerate that better.
Where bamboo wins over teak
1. Eco friendly sourcing
Moso bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on earth. It can reach full height in around 5 years, compared with 20 to 30 years for many hardwood trees used for teak style boards. That makes it a very eco friendly material when harvested responsibly.
All Deer & Oak bamboo boards use Moso bamboo from managed plantations, which avoids food sources for pandas and supports sustainable forestry. If your top priority is low environmental impact and you want to avoid tropical hardwoods, Moso bamboo is a strong alternative to teak.
2. Weight and handling
A typical 45x35 cm teak board that is 4 cm thick can weigh over 3 kg. That is solid, but it is not fun to move when you just want to chop some herbs.
Our Large Bamboo Board (DNO-BCB-LG) at 45x35 cm weighs 1.8 kg, which is roughly 40 percent lighter than many equivalent teak blocks. You still get a generous work surface, but you can lift it with one hand to scrape ingredients into the pan.
3. Price and value
Teak is a premium hardwood and prices reflect that. A quality 45x35 cm teak board can often cost well over £60 in the UK.
By comparison, our Large Bamboo Board is £34.99 and the Bamboo Double Pack (45x35 cm plus 38x28 cm) is £49.99. For many home cooks that is a more realistic way to upgrade from plastic without a large upfront cost.
Deer & Oak alternatives to teak cutting boards
While we do not offer teak at the moment, we design our bamboo, carbonised bamboo and acacia boards to solve the same problems people often hope teak will fix: durability, water resistance and a stable surface for daily prep.
Moso bamboo for eco friendly everyday use
- Large Bamboo Board (DNO-BCB-LG) 45x35 cm, 1.8 kg, Moso bamboo, £34.99
- Medium Bamboo Board (DNO-BCB-MD) 38x28 cm, 1.2 kg, Moso bamboo, £24.99
- Bamboo Double Pack (DNO-BCB-2PK) 45x35 cm plus 38x28 cm, 3.0 kg total, Moso bamboo, £49.99
These are ideal if you want an eco friendly step up from plastic, with enough surface for full Sunday roasts and weekday veg prep.
Carbonised bamboo for richer colour and extra density
Our Carbonised Bamboo Board (DNO-CBB-LG) is the same 45x35 cm footprint but weighs 1.9 kg because the bamboo has been heat treated. This gives it a darker colour and a slightly tighter grain. It is a good answer if you like the look of dark teak but still want a bamboo option.
You can see it here on Amazon in the UK: Deer & Oak carbonised bamboo chopping board.
Acacia as a teak style alternative
If you are mainly considering teak because you want a forgiving, oil rich hardwood, our acacia range is the closest match in feel.
- Large Acacia Board (DNO-ACB-LG) 45x35 cm, 2.1 kg, acacia wood, £44.99
- Medium Acacia Board (DNO-ACB-MD) 38x28 cm, 1.5 kg, acacia wood, £34.99
Acacia has a similar oil content to teak, so it resists water and stains well and is gentle on knife edges. If you are looking for that “solid block of wood” feeling without the typical teak price tag, the Deer & Oak acacia board set is worth a look.
Specifications table: comparing teak style choices with bamboo
Here is a clear comparison of our main board options that people often weigh against teak. All sizes are approximate.
| Product | SKU | Size (cm) | Weight | Material | Typical use | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large Bamboo Board | DNO-BCB-LG | 45 x 35 | 1.8 kg | Moso bamboo | Daily chopping, family meals | £34.99 |
| Medium Bamboo Board | DNO-BCB-MD | 38 x 28 | 1.2 kg | Moso bamboo | Smaller kitchens, fruit, herbs | £24.99 |
| Carbonised Bamboo Board | DNO-CBB-LG | 45 x 35 | 1.9 kg | Carbonised bamboo | Serving and prep, darker finish | £39.99 |
| Bamboo Double Pack | DNO-BCB-2PK | 45 x 35 + 38 x 28 | 3.0 kg total | Moso bamboo | Separate boards for meat and veg | £49.99 |
| Large Acacia Board | DNO-ACB-LG | 45 x 35 | 2.1 kg | Acacia wood | Teak style hardwood alternative | £44.99 |
| Medium Acacia Board | DNO-ACB-MD | 38 x 28 | 1.5 kg | Acacia wood | Cheese, bread, small prep | £34.99 |
Who this is for
Ideal for: Home cooks who prepare meals 3 to 7 times a week, care about eco friendly materials and want a clear answer on whether to choose teak style hardwood or Moso bamboo. If you want specific sizes like 45x35 cm or 38x28 cm, expect your board to last at least 5 years and are happy to oil it every month or two, this guide and our Deer & Oak boards are designed for you.
Not recommended for: Anyone who wants a dishwasher safe cutting board, people who never want to oil or dry a board by hand, or those who regularly use heavy cleavers on bone. In those cases a thick plastic board or a dedicated butcher’s block such as the Deer & Oak butcher’s block is usually a better fit.
FAQ
Q: Is teak always better than Moso bamboo for cutting boards?
A: Not always. Teak is kinder to knives and slightly more forgiving with water, so it suits heavy daily use and very sharp blades. Moso bamboo is lighter, more affordable and very eco friendly, so it suits most home cooks who are happy to oil the board regularly and avoid soaking.
Q: How often should I oil a bamboo or acacia board compared with teak?
A: For bamboo and acacia we suggest oiling every 4 to 6 weeks if you cook several times a week. Teak can sometimes stretch to every 6 to 8 weeks because of its natural oils, but in practice a quick wipe with food safe mineral oil once a month keeps any wooden board in good condition.
Q: Will a bamboo cutting board damage my knives faster than teak?
A: Bamboo is a bit harder than many teak style hardwoods, so very fine knife edges can dull slightly faster over time. If you sharpen your knives every 2 to 3 months and avoid twisting the blade on the board, a quality Moso bamboo board will still treat your knives kindly for many years.
Q: What size cutting board should I choose if I cook for a family?
A: For families of 3 to 5 people, a 45x35 cm board gives enough space for full meals without crowding. Pairing it with a 38x28 cm board, like our Bamboo Double Pack at 3.0 kg total, lets you keep raw meat and vegetables separate while still fitting both boards in a standard UK kitchen cupboard.
Which Deer & Oak board should you choose?
If you like the idea of teak but want something easier to buy, maintain and replace, our recommendation is simple:
- Choose the Large Acacia Board (45x35 cm, 2.1 kg, £44.99) if you want a teak style hardwood feel with natural oils and a warm grain.
- Choose the Bamboo Double Pack (45x35 cm + 38x28 cm, 3.0 kg, £49.99) if eco friendly Moso bamboo and separate boards for meat and veg are more important to you.
You can see our full range of chopping boards on our site at Deer & Oak chopping boards, browse ready made sets at board and set combinations, or check current bestsellers at our most popular boards. Whichever you choose, a well sized, well cared for wooden board will always feel nicer under the knife than a tired bit of plastic.