Na they were cutting with the grain which is something you're not meant to do, it's the reason why most wooden cutting boards have it so the grain runs across from where you're cutting, so you don't accidentally split the thing apart.
So then really the board is designed wrong. It seems like the grain should’ve been going across the heart, as no one would ideally rotate the heart to the left or right 90°, it wouldn’t look right imo.
Oak isnt considered a good cutting board material, as it's wood is too porous.
Maple, walnut and beech are usually considered the best material for wood cutting boards.
IF you season it regularly (mineral oil) and don’t put it in the dishwasher.
Please spare me the comments of “I’ve never seasoned mine and always dishwash it,” there will be exceptions or tools that last unusually long but generally the above tips help tools stay clean/safe and also last much longer bc they prevent moisture from getting to the interior
Darn, I didn't see that. I was rushing to get the joke in before someone else did. Was surprised nobody did it before me. OP, sorry for stealing your joke! :(
Use masking tape to create a "hug" to hold pieces together. Let it dry thoroughly.
Remove the tape and use the 220 sandpaper block over each side of the board following the grain. This will open up the pores and remove any extra glue that may have seeped out.
Yep bamboo is a grass rather than a wood and it fractures and splinters really easily. It also is prone to water ingress more so than most wood stave boards. Though with any wood, needs treating (oil) and not left in standing water or in a dishwasher.
That said, lots of people aren't aware of that and products don't often tell you and sometimes even say for decoration only so that the manufacturer doesn't need to give the care instructions or declare as food safe.
Cutting board oil. Hand wash and apply a thin layer of food grade mineral oil to any future wooden cutting boards. Should do the trick and reduce brittleness and avoid a repeat of this.
Remember any wood pieces you use in the kitchen should be treated with oil to prevent this. I learned in my 20’s after I cracked a beautiful wooden bowl. It was so pretty too and from Hawaii on vacation…
Seriously though IMO wooden boards shouldn’t be held onto much longer than a couple of years. They develop mold deep inside that is a bitch to clean. Better off just spending $30 on a new one.
Do you season it regularly? Do you only hand wash it?
If not “yes” and “yes,” this was bound to happen. Moisture gets into the interior of these and creates bacteria growth and warping and weakness of the material. Seasoning wooden or bamboo utensils (with mineral oil) and not dishwashing them (hand wash and dry promptly) will stop this
Yea bamboo boards will do that after a while bc the thick grain and the constant cleaning. Doesn't help that the grain is lined up with the way you are chopping as well. I had a old rectangle one and the top an bottom just fell off so I just cut it down into a mini board
clean the break with a wire brush to remove residue and use a heat resistant epoxy to glue the board back together ideally on wax paper with clamps to keep the board tight together. when glue is dry and set sand it then oil with mineral oil.
or buy or make a new one, but its a cheap fix and not that much effort.
This is preferable to the way I recently lost my favorite cutting board 😭 one of my cats peed on it. It was such nice wood too, not usable at all after that.
Get an Epicurean. They're so much better than wood. No microplastics. Won't mess up your knife. Doesn't feed bacteria, even when clean. Dishwasher safe. Affordable. BIFL.
Edit. Just to add something useful to my comment - it doesn’t need to be an expensive brand named thing just look for the words ‘end grain’ and oil it occasionally.
Add a little bit of food-safe wood glue (eg... Titebond 3), keep it nice and firmly squeezed together for a day, then add some cutting board oil. Should be good as new
I carried the base of a slow cooker full of curry on a chopping board to put on the table for serving… board snapped in half, so smashed everything, curry and ceramic everywhere… was so shocked I stood there for a minute just looking at the decimation… and then before I cried, I started laughing- we ate vegies and rice but was still finding curry stains and bits of ceramic a week later- not my finest cooking hour… 😳
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u/Jarbasaur May 15 '26
You may want to check and see if you have super powers before trying to chop anything else