This $9.99 Aldi Find Is a Copycat of My Favorite $49 Crate & Barrel Product

My favorite cutting board is one I accidentally inherited from an ex about twelve years ago. We’d been living together, and when we broke up, that wood fiber cutting board ended up staying with me—probably because I was doing most of the cooking anyway.

Twelve years later, it’s still the board I reach for the most. I figured I’d eventually buy another one, but I’ve been putting it off because good wood fiber boards are expensive.

Welp, folks! Aldi just solved that problem for me. Their new Crofton-brand wood fiber cutting board for $9.99 is a dead ringer for the Crate & Barrel Epicurean boards that sell for $32.95 to $49.95, depending on the size.

Both are made from the same paper composite material, feature a signature matte finish, and have the same knife-friendly surface that professional chefs love. I’m not exaggerating when I say it performs just as well!

Why I Love Aldi’s Wood Fiber Cutting Board

What makes wood fiber cutting boards so brilliant is that they hit the sweet spot between traditional wood and modern convenience. Like the Crate & Barrel version, the Aldi board has that same smooth, matte surface that’s gentle on my knives but tough enough to handle daily chopping without showing wear.

Both boards are heat-resistant enough (350°F) to use as trivets and have non-porous surfaces that don’t absorb stains or odors. For example, comparatively speaking, my current board doesn’t hold onto those lingering garlic or onion smells the same way they seem to haunt other boards.

Unlike some boards that can develop deep grooves where bacteria can hide, this one stays hygienic and helps keep my blades sharper for longer. That’s dishwasher-safe, which means I can throw it in after prepping raw chicken without a second thought.

The grippy silicone feet—a feature of both—are a nice touch, too. I use the damp cloth or rubber mat trick I learned in culinary school to stabilize my boards. But with these feet, that extra step is no longer needed.

My wood fiber cutting board is, without a doubt, the most used in my collection. It’s lightweight, so I can easily move it around my kitchen, and the neutral color looks clean and modern, so I don’t mind leaving it out on the counter, either.

To care for it, I just rinse or scrub it with soap or pop it into the dishwasher to clean it. Unlike wooden cutting boards, this one can handle the (literal) heat of the dishwasher. I also don’t soak it or let it sit in water for longer than a few minutes. I’ve treated it like this for almost 16 years (including the four years I was with my ex), and it still feels new.

Looking at all the specs, this cutting board matches the Crate & Barrel boards in every way that matters—same material, same durability, same high-grade performance. The difference is that the Aldi version costs 70% to 80% less.

With a remarkable $9.99 price tag, I’m planning to grab a couple—partly to have one as a backup and partly because, after twelve years of relying on my accidental inheritance, it’s time to invest in something this good.

_{To learn more about our approach to product recommendations, see HERE.}