What is a Bar Board? The Complete Guide to Small Cutting Boards

A bar board is one of the most versatile tools a home cook can have in the kitchen. No matter your cooking ability, having a bar board at your side is a necessity. Whether you’re preparing ingredients for dinner, slicing garnishes for cocktails or serving charcuterie to you and a guest, the bar board is the best tool for the job.  

This guide will dive into how to use a bar board to its fullest potential! 

What is a Bar Board?   

The bar board gets its name for its compact size that makes it perfect for slicing garnishes for cocktails and storing easily on the back of a bar. But like any good kitchen tool, the bar board can be used for much more.  

How to Use a Bar Board 

Many overlook the bar board due to its smaller size, but there are many benefits to having one in your kitchen. Their mini size makes them the perfect cutting board for smaller food prep. They’re great for cutting berries, lemons or peeling garlic. Some people even use a bar board as a designated garlic or onion board.  

Bar boards are excellent for when you’re in a pinch or need to do quick food prep. For instance, when you’re making a sandwich, the small cutting board is easy to grab and use to slice some tomato, lettuce and onion. Mini cutting boards are much easier to store and maneuver around the kitchen. If you’re in a rush and need to slice an apple before you head out the door, you’re not going to want to pull out a larger, bulkier cutting board. Bar boards are small and light, making them easy to pull out, wash and store!  

A bar board is perfect for smaller living situations. If you live in a dorm or have a kitchen with minimal counter space, a mini cutting board is an excellent solution for tight spaces and limited storage. They’re also great for taking on a camping trip, as they take up little space and are lightweight.    

You can also use small cutting boards for smaller parties. If you’re having a guest over or want to create a charcuterie board to treat yourself, the bar board makes a great charcuterie board. Who says you can’t have a charcuterie board all to yourself? With a bar board you surely can! 

How to Choose a Bar Board?  

When picking out a bar board, a big factor in your decision will be material.  

Bamboo

Bamboo is a beautiful material for a bar board, and it also happens to be one of the most sustainable resources in the world. It’s a lightweight yet durable material that’s gentler on knives than plastic and easy to maintain. For tips on how to maintain your bamboo cutting board, read our blog How to Clean and Care For Your Bamboo Cutting Board. 

A must-have for any kitchen or bar area is our Two-Tone Bar Prep Cutting Board. At 8” by 5-3/4”, it’s perfectly sized for quickly slicing lemons, limes and other garnishes for your cocktails or meals. The two stylish caps of light color on either end of the board make for a striking visual on either side of the main cutting surface’s rich caramelized bamboo.  

If you’re looking for bar board with a little more surface area, our Barbados Serving and Cutting Board is a great choice for a bamboo small cutting board. This board measures 9” by 6-1/2” and features a gorgeous inlay of dark end-grain bamboo flanked by strips of natural bamboo. It’s perfect for prepping ingredients or cutting garnishes.  

Acacia Wood

Acacia wood is also a good choice for small wood cutting boards. Acacia is a high-quality wood that is considered more sustainable than most other woods. It has a deep, rich tone that is perfect for serving guests charcuterie. Just like bamboo, it’s gentler on knives and durable.  

Our TB Home® 8” Acacia Wood Serving and Cutting Board with Juice Groove comes with the added benefit of a juice groove. This bar board is great for slicing lemons and limes as well as your extra juicy fruits and smaller meats. The juice groove captures any excess juice from the food being prepped to keep your countertops clean. The gorgeous acacia wood makes it wonderful for serving small snacks and appetizers to guests as well.  

Walnut

Walnut is a dark wood that is incredibly strong. It tends to be heavier than other wood cutting boards, but with a smaller cutting board you won’t have to worry about that! Our TB Home® Walnut Wood Cutting and Serving Board is just 8” by 6-3/8”, making it easy to maneuver as well as perfect for smaller food prep. The rustic charm of the dark walnut will add elegance to any occasion, whether that’s serving guests or slicing veggies.  

Bar boards, or mini cutting boards, are some of the best cutting boards you can have in your kitchen. You’ll be shocked by how often you find yourself reaching for these smaller cutting boards. They’re easy to maneuver, store and clean as well as perfect for a quick slice of lime for an evening drink or treating yourself to a serving of charcuterie.  

If you’re interested in discovering more bamboo and wooden cutting boards, shop our collection.