John BoosBlock CHY-R01 Cherry Wood Edge Grain Reversible Cutting Board, 18 Inches x 12 Inches x 1.5 Inches

As a 17 year Boos block veteran you need to understand there are key responsibilities for owning this magnificent addition to your kitchen. And my new block is MAGNIFICENT!! I’ve owned a very well maintained Boos block and then neglected after years of use. Sadly mine cracked after some time. With this sad experience let me relay to you what I know from being both a good owner and an eeeevil owner:1. You do not need to buy their cream/oil, food grade mineral oil is fine, frankly any cooking oil is better than none.2. For the first year avoid washing with water at all costs (see bullet below), and if you put it in the dishwasher, your fate will be like the rest of these reviews.3. When you first get it - apply your chosen oil/cream EVERY DAY and with regular use.5. Also oil it anytime you clean your kitchen.6. For use: After you use it, clean with a scraper and oil - do not ever use water on this board- scrape the food particles and seal it - do this EVERY TIME as long as you own the board. Oil has been used to clean and sanitize for millennia -....but if you must use soap and water (and hopefully not till after year 1) start with cold water, spray and scrape w a small amount of detergent. Rinse then immediately dry and oil. Remember hot water and detergent’s job is to remove oil - if you do this, you need to double or triple treatment after the dastardly deed. Think of it like you just dehydrated the wood and kicked a kitten....cry a small tear for the anguish you just inflicted on your new innocent dependable kitchen mate....you deplorable5. On its 1 year bday, oil it once a month, but always clean and scrape with oil after use.6 After year three oil it once a month or as needed

Perfect size and feel chopping board. However after less than a month, with limited us and care guidelines fully adhered to - the board started cracking. Disappointed when buying what seemed a premium product.

These chopping boards arrive parched.  I bought a bottle of cutting board oil, used the whole thing on mine within a few days and then had to buy another.  I'm halfway through the second, much larger bottle (see photo) with no end in sight.  I slather my board in oil and a few hours later it has totally absorbed.  It's been a couple of weeks since I purchased it, and I'm still oiling it several times a day.  I'm waiting to see if it ever gets to a point where it has had enough.  Lol.  The cherry wood is changing as it rehydrates and has darkened and become even more beautiful.  Based upon how much oil mine is drinking, I think I understand why people are experiencing cracks.  I also notice that one part of the board is much drier than the others. If you're not willing to oil yours like crazy, several times a day, for a few weeks before you start using it, this might not be the board for you.   The wood arrives very dry and the moisture content between the pieces of wood seems uneven, based upon now they are absorbing oil at different rates of speed. If you live in a dry climate, once you remove it from the plastic wrap, this is only going to get worse without proper care.This board will last you, but it's going to need some serious TLC in the beginning, before you can rely on it.  I'm kind of enjoying watching this process unfold, but I can see how people who (understandably) just want a cutting board to use upon arrival will be disappointed.

I wish it had been color matched a bit better. That is the only reason I didn't give 5 stars. A miss-matched darker strip of maple is laminated indiscriminately in my block. If there was more of it, or none of it, it would have been a nicer piece. I will slather it with mineral oil before I use it and it will sit prominently on my stainless steel kitchen island.

Very very nice board. However it appears not to be flat. It’s on a new brand new stove and it floats in the middle on one side up and sits nice and solid the other side up. Unfortunately the logo is upside down when it sits well. Not the end of the world but for this price I wish it was truly reversible. Perhaps it will flatten out over time. Who knows.