Where do you knead your pizza dough usually? It is seen that many people knead their dough in a bowl. Kneading in the bowl is fine but kneading in an enormous space makes the dough soft and smooth. For your comfort, you need a pastry board where the dough won't stick and helps you make the perfect pizza crust.
Moreover, you need to decide on which type of pastry boards you want. The weight will vary depending on the material you choose. Also, the cleaning process varies from board to board. Consider the size of the board you want before choosing the best pastry board to perfectly set it on your kitchen countertop.
Best Pick
The Fox Run Pastry Board is our best pick on our list because of its stylish look and non-sticky surface. The marble used in the board adds elegance if you use it as a serving dish. Not to mention the rubber feet at the bottom ensure steadiness and prevent from falling.
Budget Pick
The Dexas Pastry Board is on our best budget pick because it allows you to use both surfaces. The board is made of plastic which makes it lighter than other pastry boards. Moreover, the board does not require much care and can be easily washed in the dishwasher.
Quick Comparison: The 10 Best Pastry Boards
| Product | Dimensions (LxWxH inches) | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Fox Run Pastry Board | 16 x 20 x 0.75 | A |
| Dexas Pastry Board | 17 x 14 x 0.25 | A |
| JEmarble Pastry Board | 16 x 12 x 0.5 | A- |
| Thirteen Chefs Pastry Board | 24 x 17 x 1.5 | A- |
| Bethany Housewares Pastry Board | 19 x 19 x 0.3 | B+ |
| Kota Japan Pastry Board | 15.75 x 11.75 x 0.63 | B+ |
| Sur La Table Pastry Board | 22.75 x 19 x 3 | A- |
| Catskill Craftsmen Pastry Board | 21.5 x 15.8 x 0.7 | B+ |
| Zelancio Pastry Board | 24.6 x 20.7 x 3.1 | A |
| GladyStore Pastry Board | 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.6 | B+ |
1. Fox Run Pastry Board
For baking pies, bread, etc kneading is done on a pastry board. The pastry board from Fox Run has a dimension of 16 x 20 x 0. 75 inches where you can knead freely. The board stays cool even if the dough is hot. The surface is flat and smooth, which makes kneading the dough easier and less lethargic.
The feature we like most about this board is that the board won't move while kneading as heavy to stay put in a place. It weighs 22.2 pounds which is heavy to move from one place to another. The patterns on the board will not be the same as shown in the picture as it varies with the pattern of the marble.
This rectangle pastry board is durable to use for a long time. However, the edges will get chipped if it clashes frequently. This pastry board is only usable for doughs and can leave scratch marks if knives are used. The board has a stylish outlook that you can use to serve cheese or fruits on it for lunch parties.
Pros
Cons
2. Dexas Pastry Board
Dexas made their pastry board with polypropylene to make it easier to move around. The weight of the board is 2.59 pounds. It is made sure that they have used BPA-free material to develop a food-grade board.
The best feature of this board is that it is 17 inches long and 14 inches wide. It is spacious to knead dough in a large amount comfortably. On this smooth surface, you can knead as well as use it to cut veggies or fruits. However, there is a possibility of leaving scratch marks on the surface from the sharp knife blade.
Moreover, the brand manufactures pastry boards in three different colors. All of the boards have granite patterns on them. The board has no rubber feet at the bottom to keep it stable on the countertop. This allows you to use both sides of the board but will move while kneading the dough with force.
Pros
Cons
3. JEmarble Pastry Board
Kneading is tiresome and if you also have to hold the pastry board with another hand, a lot of energy gets drained. This board is made of marble and has anti-slip feet to hold the board steady in a place. As the board is made of marble, the board has its own weight of 10.96 pounds.
JEmarble manufacturers boards in 2 dimensions, which are 12 x 16 inches and 16 x 20 inches. You can choose any one of them. You can also buy a rolling pin with the board to prepare the pastry dough. Scratch marks can develop on the surface if you use sharp knives.
One thing to keep in mind is that you need to wash the pastry board by hand. If you buy a large one, the board will be heavier and it will be hard to carry to the sink for washing. Moreover, if one of the anti-slips is damaged, you won't be able to make dough on a stable surface.
Pros
Cons
4. Thirteen Chefs Pastry Board
The pastry board from the Thirteen Chefs is versatile to use for variable purposes. The board is made of premium quality acacia wood which is strong and durable to use. It has a natural pattern on the surface that makes it distinct from one another.
To add, the board is broad in length and width. It is spacious enough to knead the dough and cut meat on it. The feature we like about this pastry board is that it has raised lips to prevent slipping off. The raised lips are given on two sides to secure the hold.
As the raised lips are given on both sides, you can use both surfaces for your kneading or cutting. It is less likely to develop scratch marks from the knife. However, it can be heavy for some people to handwash the board. The board is water-resistant which allows you to wash regularly without fear of damage.
Pros
Cons
5. Bethany Housewares Pastry Board
The Scandinavian company Bethany Housewares manufactures their pastry board in different dimensions. This pastry board is round and the dimensions are 19 x 19 x 0.3 inches. It is a lightweight board that weighs only 2 pounds.
The process of using this board also differs from others. It comes with a cloth that needs to cover the board before kneading. The clothes help in kneading dough without sticking and keeps the board long-lasting. The cloth can be washed and reused.
On the other hand, the board cannot be used for rough kneading. If you want, you can handwash the board but you need to dry it immediately. It has non-skid feet to work comfortably on the board without moving.
Pros
Cons
6. Kota Japan Pastry Board
The pastry board of Kota Japan has a design that can be used for serving food as a background for photography. The surface is smooth and stays cooler to help in making pastries with dough. It is less likely to stick the dough on the board. You can use a little amount of flour for kneading. Or refrigerate the dough for a few minutes to prevent sticking.
A rolling pin does not come with the board. So if you need one, you need to buy it separately. Moreover, you do not have to worry about holding the board with one hand while kneading as it has rubber feet. The rubber feet hold the board steady and protect countertops from scratch marks.
The feature we do not like about this pastry board is that it is heavy. It weighs 11.4 pounds which is hard to move and wash in the sink. You cannot wash this board in the dishwasher. Chopping vegetables and cutting meat on this board is possible but it might develop some scratch marks from the knives.
Pros
Cons
7. Sur La Table Pastry Board
This elegant-looking pastry board from Sur La Table is 22 inches long and 19 inches wide. It is built to give enormous space to chefs to make the perfect dough for their patisserie. The surfaces are smooth and polished to knead without any trouble.
We like the fact that the pastry board will work as a slab to cut meat as well as veggies. However, this board has a good side and a bad side. The good fact is that both the surfaces of the board are usable for kneading. But when you are kneading you need to hold the board with one hand to keep it stable.
The pastry has rubber feet to keep it steady while you knead the dough with force. The board is 25 pounds which is heavy to lift for cleaning on the sink. Not to mention, it needs to be hand washed to remove the remnants.
8. Catskill Craftsmen Pastry Board
What do you think of a pastry board that comes with scale and measurement written on it? This type of board is hard to find but Catskill Craftsmen is manufacturing it. The pastry boards are inked with the scale measure on all sides. At the center, it has mentioned the dimensions of 8, 9, and 10 inches pie.
Not to mention, the circle showing the exact size of the pie helps to spread the dough without making it extra thin. To prevent sticking you need to use flour before rolling the dough. As it is made of hardwood, you need to hand wash it.
This pastry board would be a great option if it has non-skid feet or raised lips. When you use the board, there is nothing to keep the board stable. Due to the collision of the board, scratches can develop on the countertop.
Pros
Cons
9. Zelancio Pastry Board
Zelancio manufactured their pastry board with acacia wood. This wooden board is sturdy and will give lifelong service. The scale measurement is given in centimeters and inches on the sides. The diameters of tart and pies are also mentioned on the board for your convenience.
However, the rolling pin does not come with the board. You need to buy it separately. The feature we like most about this board is that both sides are usable. You can knead on one side and cut fruits or meat on the other.
For cleaning, the brand has recommended using warm water and mild dish soap. The soap will remove the smell of meat or fish as well as the oil added for kneading.
Moreover, the slips on two sides ensure that they are stable while you work on the board. To keep it in good shape, clean the board as soon as the work is done on it.
Pros
Cons
10. GladyStore Pastry Board
Lastly, we have the pastry board from GladyStore which is made of stainless steel. It is light in weight compared to the marble ones. This steel pastry board is used for chopping vegetables as well as cutting meat. The brand manufactures the board in different sizes allowing you to buy the one that you need.
The feature we like most about this board is that it can be washed in the dishwasher. It is easy to lift and carry. It has a lip to stick the board on the kitchen countertop. You can use both sides and the surfaces won't get any scratch marks.
Pros
Cons
Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Pastry Boards
Are you still kneading your dough in a bowl? If you are, then you need to stop it as the dough will take time to turn into a soft, squishy dough. All patisseries require a perfect dough to bake into delicious tarts, pies, or pizzas. A pastry board is very helpful not only for kneading but also for other things as well.
The material used in the pastry board
The markets are flooding with pastry boards made of various materials. The appearance of the board changes with the change of the materials. In our article, we have mostly discussed the boards made of marble. However, plastic, wooden, and steel pastry boards are also widely available.
The marble pastry boards have designs that are unique because of the stone. The pattern falls on the broad depending on the way they are cut. Marble is a heavy material and takes a lot of strength to lift. It will hardly get scratch marks for using knives on the surface.
Wooden pastry boards are mainly made of acacia wood. This wood has a beautiful grain pattern and resists scratches. This wooden board is durable and does not require much care for long-lasting service.
Plastic boards are very light in weight. The brands make sure to use BPA free food grade plastic but they are not durable. The plastic is prone to get scratch marks if knives or shape cutters are used to create shapes of cookies or pies. They do not require much care as they do not give long-term service.
Steel pastry boards are light which we love about it. They are strong and durable to use for multiple purposes. They are easy to maintain as well.
Dimension of the pastry board
Deciding on the dimension of the board is an essential task before going to buy a pastry board. The size of your pastry board should be compatible with your kitchen countertop. Apart from that, the size also depends on how much you knead regularly. Though the dough becomes softer if kneaded in smaller quantities, buying a 20 x 16 inches board would be an ideal one.
If you are buying a round pastry board then you need to consider the diameter before opting for one.
The shape of the pastry board
The pastry board comes in 2 shapes, rectangular and circular. The rectangular boards are widely used because they are easy to settle on the countertop and have enormous shapes. The circle ones are comfortable to use but might be confusing if you are new to using a round board.
Rubber feet on the pastry board
Whether you are using a marble pastry board or a wooden one, stability is necessary to safely knead dough. The marble boards are heavy but still, most of the brands use non-skid feet to keep the board firm in one space.
The wooden and steel boards usually have raised lips on the sides of the board. These lips hold the board in place while you knead the dough with all your force. However, the plastic pastry board does not have rubber feet. You need to hold the board with one hand to prevent the board from moving.
Measurements on the pastry board
It is unlikely to have measurements on the pastry boards. The marble board does not have any measurement marked on it. However, some brands like Zelancio, Catskill Craftsmen have measurements on them. They have a rectangular scale and also measurements in diameter.
These measurements help to roll the dough in the shape that is perfect for 6 inches, 8 inches, or 10 inches crust.
Weight of the pastry board
The weight of the board varies for the material used to make the pastry board. The heaviest pastry board is made of marble and the lightest one is plastic. The marble pastry boards are so heavy that you can't lift them easier to wash in the sink.
On top of that, the marble board needs to be hand washed. The plastic boards can be carried anywhere and can be stored in the kitchen cupboard without effort.
The wooden boards are not heavy. And so choosing a wooden pastry board is better than the other ones.
Reversible use of the pastry board
This feature means that both surfaces of the pastry board are usable. Some of the pastry boards have rubber feet or anti-skid feet to prevent falling on the ground. Due to the rubberized feet, only one side can be used for kneading or any other purpose.
The choice depends on you if you want a board that has 2 reusable surfaces or a board with safety feet.
Versatile use of the pastry board
The pastry board is similar to cutting or chopping boards. Those who do not want to spend money on buying similar products, consider buying a pastry board that serves multiple purposes. Most of the pastry boards are suitable to use for chopping veggies or cutting meat.
However, if you are using the same surface for cutting meat as well as kneading dough, the dough might smell like raw meat. It is better to use alternative sides for alternative works.
Cleaning process of the pastry board
Cleaning is the job that no one likes and in the case of pastry they need to be thoroughly cleaned as kneading is done. Wooden, plastic, and stainless can be hand washed easily as they are not heavy. The steel and plastic boards can be washed in the dishwasher to reduce the work.
On the other hand, a marble board is not suitable for a dishwasher. In addition, the marble ones cannot be regularly washed as they are too heavy to lift. You need to read the instructions for cleaning the pastry boards given with the packets.
FAQ
Does a rolling pin come with a pastry board?
No, it is very unlikely to get a rolling pin with a pastry board. You can order a rolling pin separately from the brand’s page.
Can I use oil on a wooden pastry board?
Yes, you can use oil on a wooden pastry board.
How to remove the smell of raw meat from the pastry board?
Wash the board with dishwashing soap 2 to 3 times to remove the unwanted smell.
Conclusion
What have you decided to buy to knead the dough at home? It can be overwhelming to decide on which pastry board will be better for you. If you are looking forward to using it at home, a wooden pastry board would be a better option as it is manageable and has versatile functions.
On the other hand, marble pastry boards are not bad to buy. They are aesthetic-looking and can be used to serve food at lunch or dinner parties. However, the marble boards will be heavy to carry. After considering all the required features, you need to choose the one that will be the best pastry board for your kitchen