Epicurean makes a good board for the job it was designed for: thin, light, dishwasher-safe and made in Wisconsin, from $46.99 for a 17.5 x 13. It is not a board to live on your counter. Independent testers found Epicurean boards loud, slippery and hard to cut on, and America's Test Kitchen rated two of them "Not Recommended". If you want one board for daily prep, buy thick wood. If you want a board you can throw in the dishwasher after raw chicken, Epicurean is one of the best.
Full disclosure: at Bevel & Bond we make end-grain hard maple boards in the USA, so Epicurean is a competitor. It is also a real American manufacturer with a lifetime warranty, and it deserves a fair hearing. Here is what the board is made of, what the tests found (including the part that does not flatter wood), and who should buy which.
Epicurean vs Bevel & Bond: key facts (checked September 26, 2026)
- Epicurean: paper composite (FSC-certified paper and resin), made in Superior, Wisconsin, since 2003. NSF certified, heat resistant to 350°F, dishwasher-safe.
- Closest to our size: 17.5 x 13 in three lines. Kitchen, 1/4", $46.99. All-in-One, 1/4", $52.99. Gourmet, 3/8" with a juice groove, $79.99.
- Warranty: lifetime against defects in material and workmanship.
- Tests: ATK rated the Kitchen and Gourmet boards "Not Recommended" for stability; Prudent Reviews called the Gourmet one of the loudest boards it tested, with middling knife wear.
- Bevel & Bond: end-grain hard maple, 17 x 13 x 1.75", about 10 lb, $129.99, rubber feet, juice groove, 5-year warranty.
What is the short answer on Epicurean cutting boards?
Buy an Epicurean as a second board for raw meat, bread, or the dishwasher; buy thick wood as your main board. Epicurean's strengths are real: no oiling, no rust, no hand-washing, and prices from $15.99. Its weaknesses show up during use: the thin boards slide, the hard surface is loud, and the knife feel is stiff.
If you only buy one board and cook most nights, we would steer you to an end grain maple cutting board. That is not because Epicurean is bad. It is because a 10-pound board that does not move is a better place to spend an hour chopping.
What are Epicurean cutting boards made of?
Paper and resin. Epicurean calls it "a durable thermoset composite of FSC Certified paper and resin": many layers of kraft paper saturated in resin, stacked in alternating directions and cured under heat and pressure (Epicurean). The Nutmeg color is half virgin paper, half recycled cardboard.
Epicurean's commercial site names the material as Richlite, the same stuff used for skate ramps and countertops, and the brand grew out of a skate-park builder that made boards from ramp offcuts. Richlite's own environmental declaration lists it as 63% paper and 37% phenolic resin. Epicurean itself does not name its resin.
You will see it called "wood fiber" in reviews. Epicurean's own pages say paper composite, and so will we.
Are Epicurean cutting boards safe?
Yes, by every certification they publish. Epicurean says its boards are NSF certified for food contact, that the Natural and Slate colors comply with FDA food-contact rules, and that they meet EU food-contact regulations and GREENGUARD Gold. The paper supplier meets the CARB Phase 2 and EPA TSCA Title VI formaldehyde emission limits.
Two precise notes, because the wording matters. Epicurean does not claim "formaldehyde-free"; it claims to meet emission limits. And it does not say "BPA-free"; it says BPA is "not intentionally added", based on supplier declarations. Neither is a red flag. Both are worth knowing if those words are on your checklist. For the wood side of the question, see our maple vs plastic safety comparison.
What does Epicurean do well?
Five things, and we mean each one.
1. The dishwasher. Epicurean's care page says to wash it "with hot soapy water or simply run it through your dishwasher" (Epicurean). No wood board can say that. Ours cannot, and our dishwasher guide explains why.
2. No maintenance. Epicurean calls its products "maintenance free". Oil is optional.
3. Heat. The boards are rated to 350°F and can double as a trivet, though not as cookware.
4. Made in the USA. Epicurean manufactures at a 60,000-square-foot plant in Superior, Wisconsin, from American-made material. Some silicone parts come from overseas.
5. A lifetime warranty. Epicurean warrants its boards "to be free from defects in material and workmanship" for life, excluding normal wear, misuse and not following care instructions (Epicurean warranty). Ours is 5 years. Theirs is longer, and we will say so.
Where should shoppers look more closely?
Three things came up in independent testing, and one in Epicurean's own care guide.
1. They slide. America's Test Kitchen gave the Kitchen 14.5 x 11.25 a 1 out of 3 for stability and rated it "Not Recommended", and noted the hard, very smooth surface was a little unpleasant to cut on (ATK small cutting boards). ATK also rated the Gourmet 19.5 x 15 "Not Recommended" as a carving board: it slipped, and its trench held the least liquid of any board tested, 2.5 ounces (ATK carving boards). Prudent Reviews said the Gourmet slid around more than any other board it tested.
2. They are loud. Prudent Reviews measured the Gourmet at 74.4 dB chopping and called it one of the loudest boards in its test (Prudent Reviews).
3. They can warp. Epicurean says a board "can warp if left in wet or damp conditions for long periods of time" and should be dried on edge (Epicurean storage guide). ATK saw the Kitchen board warp slightly during its wash testing. Prudent Reviews saw no warping. Dry it upright and it should be fine.
4. Thin means light, and light means it moves. The 17.5 x 13 Kitchen board weighs about 2.3 pounds. Ours weighs about 10 pounds on rubber feet. Our how to stop a cutting board sliding guide covers the damp-towel fix if you already own a light board.
Is an Epicurean board easier on knives than wood?
Not reliably, and not reliably worse either. Prudent Reviews' BESS sharpness test put the Epicurean Gourmet in the middle of nine boards: it cost the edge 85 points, more than a Made In edge-grain maple board (50) and a Sonder walnut end-grain board (75), and less than John Boos edge-grain maple (174).
We will not pretend that chart says wood always wins, because it does not. What it says is that the specific board matters more than the category. Epicurean says score marks show "your board is protecting your knife's edge". The test says it protects the edge about as well as an average wood board. Our why end grain is easier on knives article explains the mechanism behind end grain, and our end grain vs edge grain comparison covers why construction matters.
How does the Epicurean Gourmet 17.5 x 13 compare to the Bevel & Bond board?
The Gourmet is the fair comparison: same footprint, the thickest Epicurean at that size, and a juice groove like ours. Here are both, plus the cheaper Kitchen board.
| Feature | Epicurean Kitchen 17.5 x 13 | Epicurean Gourmet 17.5 x 13 | Bevel & Bond End-Grain Maple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Paper composite | Paper composite | End-grain hard maple (Acer saccharum) |
| Thickness | 1/4" | 3/8" | 1.75" |
| Weight | About 2.3 lb | About 3.1 lb | About 10 lb |
| Price | $46.99 | $79.99 | $129.99 |
| Juice groove | No | Yes | Yes |
| Non-slip feet | No | No | Rubber feet |
| Dishwasher-safe | Yes | Yes | No, hand wash |
| Oiling needed | No | No | Monthly |
| Heat rating | 350°F | 350°F | Not a trivet |
| Made in | Superior, Wisconsin | Superior, Wisconsin | USA |
| Warranty | Lifetime, defects | Lifetime, defects | 5 years, defects |
Read those two charts together. Epicurean is cheaper because it is a thin sheet. The only Epicurean with comparable heft is the 1-inch Big Block at $279.99 and about 14 pounds, which costs more than twice what ours does.
Want a board that stays put and stays quiet?
See the 17 x 13 x 1.75" end grain maple board: 10 pounds of hard maple on rubber feet, with a juice groove and finger grips.
Who should buy an Epicurean board?
Anyone who wants a dishwasher board. Raw chicken, fish, a quick sandwich, a camping kit, a rental kitchen, a college apartment. A thin, light, heat-resistant board you never oil is the right tool for all of those, and at $15.99 to $52.99 it is cheap enough to own two. Keeping raw meat on its own board is good practice anyway; our separate boards for meat and vegetables guide explains why.
Who should buy the Bevel & Bond board instead?
Cooks who want one board that lives on the counter. End-grain maple is quiet under the knife, a 10-pound board on rubber feet does not move, and the juice groove on ours is deep enough to catch a resting steak. The trade-off is care: hand wash, dry on edge, and a thin coat of Board Balm once a month. Our maintenance schedule covers the rest.
If you will not dry a board after washing it, wood will frustrate you, and Epicurean is the better buy. If you will, wood is the better place to cook.
Are Epicurean cutting boards made in the USA?
Yes. Epicurean designs and manufactures its boards at a 60,000-square-foot facility in Superior, Wisconsin, from American-made paper composite. Some silicone and nylon parts are imported.
Can Epicurean cutting boards go in the dishwasher?
Yes. Epicurean says its boards are dishwasher safe, including high heat, and can also be washed by hand with hot soapy water. Dry them upright on edge, because Epicurean says a board can warp if left wet for long periods.
Do Epicurean cutting boards dull knives?
About as much as an average wood board. In Prudent Reviews' BESS test, the Epicurean Gourmet cost the knife edge 85 points: more than the Made In maple and Sonder walnut boards, and less than the Dalstrong teak and John Boos maple boards.
Are Epicurean cutting boards toxic?
No, by their published certifications. Epicurean boards are NSF certified for food contact, meet FDA and EU food-contact rules, and meet CARB Phase 2 formaldehyde emission limits. Epicurean states BPA is not intentionally added.
What warranty does Epicurean offer?
A lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship. It excludes normal wear and tear, misuse and failure to follow the care instructions. Bevel & Bond covers manufacturing defects for 5 years.
Is Epicurean or Bevel & Bond better for everyday prep?
For a board that lives on your counter, we recommend the Bevel & Bond 17 x 13 x 1.75" end-grain maple board at $129.99, because it is heavy, quiet and stays put. For a dishwasher board for raw meat or quick jobs, Epicurean is the better tool.
When was this article last reviewed?
This article was last reviewed and updated in September 2026. Epicurean product specifications, prices, certifications and warranty terms were checked on epicurean.com and Epicurean's help center on September 26, 2026. Prices change, so confirm on their site before you buy.
What sources did we use for this review?
- Epicurean: about the company and Epicurean Commercial: the material
- Epicurean Kitchen Series and Gourmet Series product pages
- Epicurean: food contact safety, product facts and what the boards are made of
- Epicurean: cleaning, storing and lifetime warranty
- Prudent Reviews: best cutting board (November 2025)
- America's Test Kitchen: small cutting boards and carving boards
Ready for the board that lives on your counter?
Shop the end grain maple cutting board or browse the full collection
Every board ships hand-finished with Board Balm, in a black gift box, with a 5-year warranty.
Which other cutting board brands have we reviewed?
We are working through every serious maker in the category with the same format. For the full field, see our cutting board brands comparison.
- JK Adams cutting boards: an honest review
- John Boos maple cutting boards: an honest review
- Michigan Maple Block cutting boards: an honest review
- The Boardsmith cutting boards: an honest review
- Brooklyn Butcher Blocks cutting boards: an honest review
- Virginia Boys Kitchens cutting boards: an honest review
- Teakhaus cutting boards: an honest review
- Larch Wood Canada cutting boards: an honest review
- Sonder LA cutting boards: an honest review
