The last place I lived, we had a very used breadboard in the kitchen…like, very, very used. It was original to the house, which was built somewhere during the 1950s’. Lucky for me, I work at a hardware store and know just how easy breadboard replacement is. And now you will, too.
How to Use a Breadboard
Breadboards were not originally designed as cutting boards. Instead, a pull-out breadboard was used to knead bread dough and slice bread. In the modern kitchen, breadboards are more likely to be used to dice fruits and vegetables. It’s perfectly fine to use a breadboard in this way, as long as you clean it properly after use. Don’t use a breadboard to cut raw meat, though, as you may not be able to clean it adequately, and bacteria could grow on the wood.
Our Pull-Out Breadboard Replacement Recommendations
If you’re living in an old house, as I was, finding a replacement breadboard is simple. You need to find a pull-out breadboard replacement at your local hardware store that matches the dimensions of the hole in your cabinets where the breadboard lives.
At Hardware Hut, we carry a solid hardwood breadboard replacement by Woodfold in three widths: 16”, 18”, and 24”. All Woodfold breadboard replacements are 22” long and 3/4 “ thick, with a finger pull on both ends to easily pull out the breadboard.
Kitchen cabinets come in a range of colors, so Woodfold makes it easy to match your breadboard to your kitchen décor. The two ends of a Woodfold breadboard are made from two different kinds of wood: alder and oak, so you can choose which end to display.
Woodfold applies an FDA-approved sealant to help resist moisture penetration (a common reason people need replacement breadboards). Both sides of Woodfold breadboards are finished, so you can just flip the breadboard over when one side gets worn down with knife cuts and food stains.
Breadboard Hardware
Most kitchen breadboards jut out from their cabinet housing slightly so that you can pull the board out. If you’d rather your breadboard be flush with the front of the cabinet, you can install a knob on the breadboard edge. The knob allows you to pull the board out of the opening easily.
The Hardware Hut carries mini knobs with wood screw ends which can be installed directly to the head of the breadboard. We also have a combo screw that is #8-32 on one end and a wood screw on the other end. You can then affix any cabinet knob that fits a #8-32 screw to the breadboard.
Maybe you’re lucky enough to be putting together a brand new cabinet. If that’s the case and you want to include a breadboard, you’ll want to grab a pair of slides. They have a 13/16″ channel to accommodate the 3/4″ thick breadboard.
Installing a Breadboard
Installing a breadboard replacement in an existing space is simply a matter of sliding the new board into the cabinet slot. If the breadboard space isn’t the same size as one of our Woodfold breadboards, purchase one size larger than you need and cut the board to fit. Don’t have a saw? Neither did I, since I live in an apartment. I simply brought it over to my parents’ house to have my dad cut it while Mom and I talked about their upcoming vacation.
If you’re installing a breadboard in new kitchen cabinets, you can ensure the breadboard hole is the size you want. Be sure to account for metal slides when measuring, and you’ll be fine.
Whatever you choose, look at the selection of bread boards and cutting boards that we offer at hardwarehut.com. No one should use a breadboard from the 50s. I learned the hard way.
