Acacia for end-grain cutting board?

[Hiracer]

Is acacia an acceptable wood for an end-grain cutting board? Found one I like in this wood.

What about yellow Birch?

Maple is the best, right? Walnut and cherry are good too, but expensive.

Thanks.

[Alchemist]

I use a local kind of acacia for my cutting boards and find that it is an acceptable wood for cutting boards - but I also find that I like cherry better. I cannot explain why either - they are both a pleasure to work on. Then again, I am not a Chef.

[Fred]

The best woods are those with closed grain. Birch, maple and cherry among the ones mentioned would meet that specification. Open grained woods like walnut or mahogany are less desirable because of the open grain which can trap fat, food particles etc. I don't think it is a major deal but, personally, I prefer to have my boards made from closed grain woods. I don't know about acaia. Sorry. I've never used it.

[olpappy]

I have a couple of acacia boards, they are my favorite above all other boards that I own. IMHO its harder and more durable than most other woods, resists water and rot very well but not so hard as bamboo.

[TheNoodleIncident]

ive asked about acacia in this forum, and others, many times and have not been able to get a straight answer....i guess it is not as popular a wood choice, so info is more scarce, and due to the different varieties of acaia, what info is available is not always consistent....ive had a few people tell me it may be a little hard, but others have said that it should be fine....most agree that as long as i dont notice any damage, its fine (it's my main board and i havent noticed damage)

since these boards seem to be rare, i wonder if you have the same one as me? i think its around 13" square, with gripper feet on the bottom? so far i like it alot, and have not had any problems....i bought it because it was very nice to look at, and the size fits my small apartment

[Hiracer]

I'm looking at a 14x22 board at Williams Sonoma. Haven't purchased it yet. Thinking about it.

Guess you can more than just cut on it.



"Culinary uses; Acacia seeds are often used for food and a variety of other products. The seeds of Acacia niopo, for instance, are roasted and used as snuff in South America. In Burma, Laos and Thailand, the feathery shoots of Acacia pennata are used in soups, curries, omelettes, and stir-fries. Honey made from the acacia flower is considered a delicacy, appreciated for its mild flowery taste, soft running texture and glass like appearance."

"Pharmacological uses; many Acacia species contain some psychoactive alkaloids of which DMT and NMT are the most prominent and useful. Egyptian mythology has associated the acacia tree with characteristics of the 'tree of life'. "

http://www.pinesolutions.co.uk/acacia_wood.html



"In Mexico the seeds are known as Guajes: Guajes or huajes are the flat, green pods of an acacia tree. The pods are sometimes light green or deep red in color -- both taste the same. Guaje seeds are about the size of a small lima bean and are eaten raw with guacamole, sometimes cooked and made into a sauce. They can also be made into fritters. The ground seeds are used to impart a slightly garlicy flavor to a mole called guaxmole (huaxmole). The dried seeds may be toasted and salted and eaten as a snack referred to as "cacalas". Purchase whole long pods fresh or dried at Mexican specialty markets."

"Acacia is listed as an ingredient in Fresca, a citrus soft drink, Barq's root beer, Full Throttle Unleaded Energy Drink, Strawberry-Lemonade Powerade[6] as well as in Läkerol pastille candies, Altoids mints,Langer's Pineapple coconut Juice and Wrigley's Eclipse chewing gum."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia

[olpappy]

Mine dont' have rubber feet, they're flat on one side and have a groove routed around the edge on the reverse side to catch liquids, the edges are chamfered/rounded off nicely, I have one rectangular one and a smaller square one, ends up that most of the time I use the smaller square one because its more convenient to wash.

[Hiracer]

"A durable hard wood from fast growing trees from the Far East and South America. The thin grain, the flame design and varied colour shades give furniture made from it a warm appearance."
http://www.pinesolutions.co.uk/acacia_wood.html

Mmm. Doesn't sound like open grain to me. I need to look at it closer next time.

Um. What does open grain look like?? Oak is the classic example, right?

* * *

OK, I just eyeballed my oak shelf and found out what open grain looks like. I don't think Acacia is open grain at all, but I don't have it in front of me right now.

[Alchemist]

The Bible describes the Ark as made of shittah-tree wood (acacia), known to the Egyptians as the Tree of Life and an important plant in traditional medicine containing in many cases psychoactive alkaloids. It was 1.5 cubits broad and high, and 2.5 cubits long, conforming to the golden ratio. (~130 x 78 x 78 cm or 4.27 x 2.56 x 2.56 ft, using the Egyptian royal cubit). The Ark was covered all over with the purest gold. Its upper surface or lid, the mercy seat (Hebrew: כפורת, Kaporet), was surrounded with a rim of gold.

On each of the two long sides were two gold rings, wherein were placed two wooden poles (with a decorative sheathing of gold), to allow the Ark to be carried (Num. 7:9; 10:21; 4:5,19, 20; 1 Kings 8:3, 6). Over the Ark, at the two extremities, were two cherubim, with their faces turned toward one another (Leviticus 16:2; Num. 7:89). Their outspread wings over the top of the Ark formed the throne of God, while the Ark itself was his footstool (Ex. 25:10-22; 37:1-9). The Ark was placed in the "Holy of Holies," so that one end of the carrying poles touched the veil separating the two compartments of the tabernacle (1 Kings 8:8). The Book of Deuteronomy describes the Ark as a simple wooden container with no mention of ornaments or gold. Similarly, the Quran makes a reference to the Ark as a wooden box with holy relics inside it.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_of_the_covenant

[Hiracer]

ive asked about acacia in this forum, and others, many times and have not been able to get a straight answer....

Seems like you got good information here from the Boardsmith.
http://www.discusscooking.com/forums/f90/acacia-wood-55689.html

Acacia is a hard wood per the Janke scale. 1750 per the Boardsmith but other varieties of acacia go way, way harder.
http://www.academyfloor.com/pages/the-janka-wood-hardness-test-wood-hardness-scale-information-pv-c0-21.html

Here's a list of different woods for reference.
http://www.sizes.com/units/janka.htm

I'm not convinced the Janke scale is all that relevent to cutting into end grain, since it's a point compression test into side grain.

[Hiracer]

"Pharmacological uses; many Acacia species contain some psychoactive alkaloids of which DMT and NMT are the most prominent and useful.

This adds new meaning to the term "food safe."

Want a buzz with that stir fry? Don't invite the DEA for dinner. :)

[Hiracer]

Regarding the stability of wood, this guy likes Mesquite.
http://www.bjsknives.com/cutting-boards-wood/

That stuff looks superficially like acacia, but mesquite seems to have lots of cracks or holes, whereas acacia has more consistent endgrain.

[Hiracer]

Mmm.

People are using it for flooring, both inside and outside, for it's hardness and dimensional stability.

"A very hard wood, Acacia resists warping and cupping better than almost all other finished woods."
http://hardwoodfloorstampa.com/species.html

"Fitting: acacia terrace decks are fitted on priming gridion made of acacia priming prisms (20 x 40mm, 40 x 40mm, 40 x 60mm). Clamping is solved by rustless screws as visible or invisible.
Use: exterior terraces, balconies, surroundings of pools, stages, bridges, facing of houses.
In the Picture you can see acacia decking after 5 years of climate effects without evident changes of shape."
http://www.acaciawood.sk/item2b1eng



But: "There are over 1,300 species of Acacia."

So who knows what conclusions we can draw. One look at the Janke list and you can see huge differences in hardness within the same species.

Acacia: appealing, promising, and unknown to a great extent as a cutting board wood.

[Seb]

My "basher" board is acacia side grain. In terms of softness, it seems ok to me -- fairly kind on blades, certainly better than any poly board. But I have nothing much to compare it to as I don't own any high quality end grain boards yet.

[dphins]

So is oak not used in cutting boards?

[mainaman]

So is oak not used in cutting boards?
I got an oak endgrain from knifemerchant, so far it's been nice to my knife :)

[boar_d_laze]

Don't overthink this. If you like it, if it's affordable, if it's well made and it's not some incredibly hard hardwood (which acacia isn't), just buy it and put yourself out of your misery.

What if you don't like it? What ever will you do? Will life be worth living?

See what I mean?
BDL

[TheBoardSMITH]

Acacia is acceptable as a wood for a cutting board. So is birch, beech and a host of others with hard maple used as the traditional wood here in the USA. All are hard enough to stand constant use and have a closed cell structure that will be resistant to water penetration. The general rule of thumb for a wood to use is any tree with a running sap that is edible (maple sap becomes maple syrup) or has edible nuts. The only exception I know is oak. The cell structure is far to open to be sanitary. But people pass it off as a great wood to use.

No matter what advice is given, each person will buy what they want which is why glass, stone and plastic boards are still sold. All I can say is that and type of wood needs to be researched before the purchase is made so you get the best value for your dollar.

[Hiracer]

Don't overthink this. If you like it, if it's affordable, if it's well made and it's not some incredibly hard hardwood (which acacia isn't), just buy it and put yourself out of your misery.

What if you don't like it? What ever will you do? Will life be worth living?

See what I mean?
BDL


I know you mean well, but I LIKE over thinking. Analysis is what I do for a living. I can't not overthink. :)

Don't take my fun from me.

[Hiracer]

Acacia is acceptable as a wood for a cutting board. So is birch, beech and a host of others with hard maple used as the traditional wood here in the USA. All are hard enough to stand constant use and have a closed cell structure that will be resistant to water penetration. The general rule of thumb for a wood to use is any tree with a running sap that is edible (maple sap becomes maple syrup) or has edible nuts. The only exception I know is oak. The cell structure is far to open to be sanitary. But people pass it off as a great wood to use.

No matter what advice is given, each person will buy what they want which is why glass, stone and plastic boards are still sold. All I can say is that and type of wood needs to be researched before the purchase is made so you get the best value for your dollar.

Good advice from an expert. Thanks. I like the edible sap and nuts tidbit. Good stuff.

[Hiracer]

Well, it's butt ugly in the picture. Looked better in person.

Mainly, it's the right thickness and area.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/sku6376750/index.cfm?pkey=ccutting%2Dboards%2Dstorage&ckey=cutting%2Dboards%2Dstorage

[TheNoodleIncident]

Seems like you got good information here from the Boardsmith.
http://www.discusscooking.com/forums/f90/acacia-wood-55689.html

very true - i didn't mean to discount his good advice

i guess i was referred to my previous attempts to get info on the wood, where i got little or conflicting responses.....the thread you posted was the first time i got a real solid answer....and this thread seems to have uncovered some good stuff too