
What is an edge grain cutting board?
End grain cutting boards have a “self-healing” factor, as the fibers close up after they have been cut by the knife. The edge grain cutting board is made from parallel pieces of wood that have been fused together.
What are the different types of wood cutting boards?
There are two distinct models of wood cutting boards and those are the end grain cutting boards and edge grain cutting boards. The end grain cutting board is made from end pieces of wood. It usually comes in a checkerboard pattern, which is the main characteristic you’ll need to be able to recognize that it is indeed an end grain cutting board.
What type of cutting board is best for knives?
While these types of wood cutting board are a bit more expensive, some people deem it worthy, as it is better for the knives. End grain cutting boards have a “self-healing” factor, as the fibers close up after they have been cut by the knife. The edge grain cutting board is made from parallel pieces of wood that have been fused together.
Will mineral oil fix knife marks on my cutting board?
More susceptible to knife marks – all wood cutting boards will show knife marks, however knife marks are more visible on edge grain boards over end grain boards. Nothing a little bit of food grade mineral oil won’t fix! See our Care Guide here.

Why do people like end grain cutting boards?
An end-grain cutting board has the benefits of being both attractive and easy on your knives. This cutting board construction creates a distinctive looking checkerboard pattern. An end-grain board also has a very fibrous cutting surface, so a knife's edge is likely to sink into the wood fibers while you are cutting.
What type of wood cutting board is best?
Maple. Maple — specifically, sugar maple or hard maple — is the most popular choice for cutting boards. Maple is a hard, closed-grain wood. This means that it's durable, able to resist bacteria, and features just the right amount of hardness.
What finish is best for cutting boards?
What Type of Oils are Safe to Use on Your Cutting BoardMineral Oil. Mineral oil (sometimes called liquid paraffin) is a non-toxic, non-drying product derived from petroleum that is colorless, odorless, and flavorless. ... Beeswax. ... Coconut Oil (Refractionated) ... Carnauba. ... Baking Soda. ... Lemon Juice. ... Tung Oil. ... Linseed Oil.More items...•
What kind of cutting board do chefs use?
Even softer than wooden cutting boards, rubber cutting boards are most commonly used in restaurants. For all chopping tasks, including raw meat, these boards are Cupps's top pick. “They're durable, sturdy,” and easy on your knife, she says.
What type of cutting board is most sanitary?
Hardwoods (like this maple cutting board from Boos) are better at resisting bacteria. “Hardwoods like maple are fine-grained, and the capillary action of those grains pulls down fluid, trapping the bacteria—which are killed off as the board dries after cleaning,” says Ben Chapman, a food safety researcher at NC State.
What oil is best for cutting boards?
Food-grade mineral oilWhat Cutting Board Oil to Use. Food-grade mineral oil is transparent, has no odor or taste, and is the best cutting board oil. The best oil to use on your cutting board is mineral oil (also called liquid paraffin). Although there are many elaborate, brand name options out there, mineral oil is still the best.
How do you seal an end grain cutting board?
0:464:35Fastest Finish - End Grain Cutting Board - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo in that long grain cutting board finish I basically use mineral oil three coats of mineral oil toMoreSo in that long grain cutting board finish I basically use mineral oil three coats of mineral oil to to seal it and then I use a wax mixture.
What is the best way to seal a cutting board?
0:1910:11Cutting Board Finish - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd I'm gonna start by imbibing that cutting board with mineral oil this we're going to apply theMoreAnd I'm gonna start by imbibing that cutting board with mineral oil this we're going to apply the mineral. So it soaks in if you're doing a lot of cutting boards you can make yourself a little
What kind of cutting board does Gordon Ramsay use?
Boos BlockCutting board (The board Gordon uses is a Boos Block. We recommend any substantial wooden cutting board that is at least 24” x 18” in size and not prone to slipping.)
Can any wood be used for a cutting board?
All wood cutting boards are made from one of three types of grains: face grain, edge grain, or end grain. The main types of wood for cutting boards are maple, walnut, cherry, beech, teak, and bamboo (which is actually a hard grass).
What kind of cutting board is best for vegetables?
5 Fabulous Cutting Boards for Cutting VegetablesOXO Good Grips Cutting and Carving Board. Polypropylene (plastic)VUMM Organic Heavy-Duty Large & Extra Thick Bamboo Cutting Board. Bamboo.Nicole Home Collection Flexible Cutting Board Mats. Plastic.Seville Classics Easy-to-Clean Bamboo Cutting Board. Bamboo board.
What woods are food safe?
Maple, linden, birch, and beech are all food safe woods. They're ideal cutting board material, or to make wooden spoons, and other food-contact items. Because they inhibit bacterial growth, maple trees are the best choice. Avoid open-structured wood and wood that emits toxic chemicals.
How much more expensive is an end grain cutting board?
An end grain cutting board is 4 to 15 times more costly than an edge grain block. They are usually thick, durable, and warp-resistant.
What is end grain wood?
The terms end grain wood and edge grain wood actually refers to the part where the wood is used to design the chopping board. Edge grain cutting boards are those boards where the edge grain is up. While end grain cutting boards are those at which the grain is perpendicular to the chopping surface. And each pattern has a different level ...
What is a butcher block made of?
Almost all the butcher blocks you can find on the market are made of end grain wood. The drawback about end grain cutting boards or butcher blocks is that they are heavyweight and absorb moisture easily. If you have an end grain butcher block or an end grain wooden board, make sure you always season and condition them.
What is face grain board?
Face grain term refers to the upper and most obvious part of the wood. A face grain board is usually made by using glue on the edges of narrow wood boards, and they are typically eye-catching and elegant. A face grain cutting board isn’t as durable as an edge grain cutting board or end grain wood board.
Why do you need to know what cutting boards to use?
First, to save your hard-earned money and stop spending it on useless cutting boards that will only ruin your precious knife set. And second to make sure you are protecting your food from bacteria ...
Do dents on end grain boards fade?
you need to know that while cutting or chopping your food, some tiny dents form on the surface of end grain boards. but later they will fade away, as the open wood-cell structure is self-healing. ( you may also like Forged Knives vs. Stamped Knives: What’s the Difference?)
Can you dull blades over time?
Dulling your blades over time is a problem you will face when dealing with an edge grain board.
Why are end grain cutting boards good for carving?
Due to the structure of wood fibers in end grain cutting boards, they have a sort of self-healing attribute to them. As the knife’s edge makes contact with the surface of the board, it goes in between the fibers, and they close right back in after you lift the blade. This characteristic makes them an excellent cutting board for butchering and carving.
What is end grain wood?
The end grain is the wood that’s cut along the direction of the tree’s growth. This is unique to end grain and different from face grain and edge grain. The wood fibers are exposed with a checkerboard pattern with end grain cutting boards, showing the growth rings. As the wood fibers stand vertically, they can take a beating quite well and make the most durable cutting boards.
What is face grain?
The face grain is the piece of wood with one side wider than the other. It’s where you see most of the grain of a tree and with different colors and patterns, sort of like the face of the wood, hence the name. This part of the wood is also softer and will absorb moisture faster than edge grain cutting boards. When taken as a cutting board, the wood fibers run horizontally, added with being on the softer side, these make face grain cutting boards susceptible to showing knife marks.
How do knife edges go through wood?
The knife’s edges go through the wood fibers when in contact with the surface, making edge grain cutting boards dull the blade faster.
Why are cutting boards so expensive?
As more pieces of wood are required to be put together to form a cutting board, they are generally more expensive.
How much does a cutting board cost?
You can find many sizable ones on the market for as little as $10.
Which cutting board has the most scratches?
Face grain cutting boards show the most amount of scratches and knife marks.
HOW ARE CUTTING BOARDS MADE?
The best way to understand the differences are to consider the “grain” in any piece of wood. Any piece of lumber that woodworkers use has three surfaces that we refer to as 1) face grain, 2) edge grain and 3) end grain. The face grain is what you’d normally see on the “outside” of the board.
WHICH TYPE IS BETTER?
There is no right answer here. You just have to weigh out the pros and cons of each type of board.
