R02 Reversible Maple Cutting Board (20 x 15 x 2.25 inch)
Last verified by the Lifetime Picks Editorial Team
Why we picked it
Made in Effingham, IL since 1887 — supplies CIA and US restaurant kitchens
John Boos has been building cutting boards in Effingham, Illinois since 1887, supplying the Culinary Institute of America and most American restaurant kitchens. The R02 is the reversible workhorse: 2.25-inch-thick edge-grain hard maple, juice groove on one side, flat on the other. Edge grain (not end grain) means a stiffer surface that wont telegraph knife dings — and it costs roughly half what an equivalent end-grain board does. Restore-able indefinitely with sandpaper and Boos Mystery Oil (mineral oil plus beeswax). One r/BuyItForLife user posted their grandfathers Boos board from the 1960s, sanded and re-oiled, looking new. Heavy at 23 lbs — thats the BIFL feature, not a bug.
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Community & Review Summary
3,700 Amazon reviews
Reddit satisfaction score
Total mentions (210 positive)
Amazon sales rank
Why Reddit Recommends This
Price History
Best Price!Lowest
$90.00
May 9
Average
$90.00
Highest
$90.00
May 9
Pros & Cons from Reviews
Pros
- +Made in Effingham, IL since 1887 — supplies CIA and US restaurant kitchens
- +Edge-grain hard maple — half the price of end-grain, near-equivalent BIFL service
- +Reversible — juice groove one side, flat other
- +Restore-able indefinitely with sandpaper + Boos Mystery Oil
- +23 lbs of solid maple — won't slide on the counter
Cons
- -Heavy enough that one-handed lifting strains your wrist
- -Requires re-oiling every 1-3 months
- -Not dishwasher safe (warps and splits)
- -Edge grain shows knife marks more than end grain does
Warranty & Returns
Warranty
Limited lifetime against manufacturing defects
Return Policy
Returns handled per the brand's policy. Click below to read the full terms.
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