Noodleboards - Your New Kitchen Workhorse
If you've ever struggled with limited counter space in your kitchen or lamented the latest scratch on your stove from a slipped pan, it may be time to bring a noodleboard into your home. This versatile wooden slab has evolved far beyond its traditional use for handmaking noodles into a multipurpose kitchen hero ready to be the next must-have for cooks everywhere.
With origins dating back centuries, the humble noodleboard offers an array of benefits for modern kitchens. From providing extra real estate for food prep and protecting your stove, to serving as a rustic decorative accent, this simple kitchen tool has been transformed into a culinary workhorse. Let's explore everything today's noodleboards have to offer.
What is a Noodleboard?
Also referred to as a stove top cover or wooden board, a noodleboard is a large, sturdy wooden slab that can be placed on top of a stove, countertop, island, table, or any flat surface in the kitchen. Historically, noodleboards were used for the traditional technique of hand rolling and cutting pasta dough to make homemade noodles. The long, wide board provided ample workspace for this process. However, in recent years, the noodleboard has evolved into a multipurpose kitchen necessity far beyond its noodle-making origins.
In addition to still being occasionally used for its namesake purpose of noodle production, noodleboards are now commonly used for:
- Protecting the stove and creating extra usable space when not cooking
- Serving as an extra-large cutting board, prep station, or serving tray
- Adding a decorative accent to the kitchen with its rustic wooden aesthetic
Sturdy, Kiln-dried woods like teak, maple, acacia, and bamboo are often used to craft noodleboards. The result is a versatile, durable slab ready to serve all your kitchen needs.
Benefits of Using a Noodleboard
It's easy to see why noodleboards have experienced a resurgence in popularity thanks to their functionality, versatility, and visual appeal. Let's explore some of the top benefits this kitchen multitasker has to offer.
Creates Extra Counter Space
One of the biggest advantages of the noodleboard is that it instantly adds usable surface area in the kitchen. For cooks dealing with small, crowded counters, that extra real estate is invaluable. Simply placing a noodleboard on top of the stove when not in use creates space for meal prep, staging platters, or appliances like the microwave or standing mixer that take up room on countertops. During dinner parties or buffets when counter space is prime, a noodleboard can provide supplementary serving and staging room when you need it most.
Protects Stovetops and Counters
It's inevitable - despite your best efforts, stoves and countertops accumulate scrapes, stains, and dirt over time. Spilled ingredients, slipped pots, and cutting directly on the surface all damage stove tops and counters. This is where the noodleboard swoops in to save the day. When placed on top of the stove, counters, or tables, noodleboards create a protective barrier, keeping surfaces shielded from cooking splatters, cuts, and scratches. This helps maintain stove tops and countertops in pristine condition for longer.
Noodleboards can also protect surfaces when guests are over. Placed on the stove or counters, they keep areas clean from accidental spills or scrapes when people are cooking or mingling in the kitchen. Easy to remove and wipe clean, a noodleboard is an ideal protector.
Multifunctional Kitchen Tool
While noodleboards were originally a single-use item for noodle production, today they serve as multifunctional kitchen superstars. The most common alternate uses include:
- Cutting board - The large surface provides ample room for chopping, slicing, and prepping ingredients
- Serving tray - Noodleboards can hold appetizers, breads, desserts, or cheese and charcuterie platters for guests
- Dough station - Provides a spacious surface for rolling out pie crusts, pizza dough, bread loaves, and pastries
- Cooling rack - Cookies, cakes, and breads can be transferred to a noodleboard after baking to cool evenly
- Trivet - Use to set down hot pans and pots while protecting counters
The food-safe, Kiln-dried wood prevents bacteria growth, while the generous size accommodates whatever kitchen tasks you throw at it. Forget flimsy plastic cutting boards - a hefty wooden noodleboard is your new kitchen prep workhorse.
Decorative Aesthetic
In addition to their outstanding functionality, noodleboards also pull their weight in the aesthetic department. Made from gorgeous woods like maple, acacia, teak, and bamboo, they bring natural warmth and beauty to any kitchen design. The wood grain and color provide a rustic yet refined accent whether placed on the countertop, mounted on the wall, or leaned against the wall when not in use.
Noodleboards complement both modern and farmhouse kitchens equally. More elaborate versions even come with hand-carved designs or custom edges. Whatever your personal style, a noodleboard is sure to give your kitchen next-level visual appeal.
Materials and Safety Tips
With a quality noodleboard becoming a permanent kitchen fixture, it's important to choose the right materials and care for it properly. Here are some key considerations when selecting and safely using a noodleboard:
- Opt for durably kiln-dried wood types like teak, acacia, maple or bamboo. Avoid soft porous woods.
- Confirm the noodleboard has a food-safe finishing to prevent bacteria growth.
- Select a thicker board (at least 1 inch) that won't warp or crack under pressure.
- Handwash gently with mild soap and warm water. Avoid soaking.
- Oil occasionally with food-safe mineral oil to maintain the wood grain.
- Avoid cutting directly on the board surface to prevent deep grooves.
With proper selection and care, a quality noodleboard will serve you reliably for years to come.
Selecting a Noodleboard
Ready to add this kitchen must-have to your home? Keep these tips in mind when selecting the perfect noodleboard:
- Consider the size - larger boards around 2 feet long suit bigger kitchens, while more compact 12" - 18" sizes work for tight spaces.
- Determine the shape based on your existing space - round boards save room in corners, while rectangular ones maximize surface area.
- Match any decorative carved edges or wood finish to your kitchen's overall design aesthetic.
- Consider placement - most people use noodleboards on the stove, countertop, or kitchen island.
- Compare craftsmanship, wood type, and pricing to choose the right board for your budget.
Original Use for Making Noodles
While noodleboards have been repurposed as kitchen heroes, they still hold appeal for their original use - hand making noodles. Before electric pasta makers, pressing and cutting dough into noodles was done by hand. The process involved:
- Kneading flour and eggs into an elastic dough
- Shaping dough into a loaf
- Using a rolling pin to flatten dough to desired thinness
- Cutting dough crosswise into long noodles
- Letting noodles air dry before cooking
A noodleboard provided ample workspace for rolling and cutting the delicate dough. The long, flat surface enabled cooks to easily maneuver large portions. And preparing noodles from scratch offered a satisfaction that modern cooks making fresh pasta can still experience today.
Beyond Italian-style noodles, a noodleboard's flat surface can help create dumpling wrappers, ravioli, tortellini, or any other homemade pasta. Don't be afraid to revisit the tradition and put your noodleboard to work crafting homemade noodles.
Any doubts about joining the noodleboard fan club should be silenced after learning about this kitchen workhorse multitasker. With benefits ranging from extra prep space and stove protection to serving double duty as a cutting board or rustic decorative accent, the noodleboard's versatility is unmatched.
While noodleboards had fallen out of favor with the advent of electric pasta makers, their resurgence is no surprise given the multitude of problems they solve for today's cooks. From tiny apartments to sprawling luxury kitchens, the noodleboard is at home in any space. Combine that with its functionality, aesthetic appeal, and traditional roots, and it's clear why these wooden slabs are becoming mandatory additions in modern kitchens.
So whether you seek extra counter real estate, need a hardy surface for food prep, or want to add some farmhouse charm to your space, introducing a quality noodleboard into your kitchen is a decision you won't regret. Let this workhorse help you cook, create, and style while giving your counters and stove the protection they deserve.