End Grain Cutting Board FAQs: Everything You Need To Know

What is an end grain cutting board?

An end grain cutting board is a cutting board that displays the end pieces of the wood on the top surface of the board. Think of a 2x4 board... you were to stand those boards upright, the tops of those boards are the end grains.

What does 'end grain' mean?

Imagine a tree.... the trunk of that tree is made up millions of long fibers of wood that stand upright. It would be like if you took a handful of long spaghetti noodles & glued them all together. Keeping those noodles standing upright, if you were to take a knife & chop downwards on the noodles, the knife would slide between them. Now if you take those noodles & lay them on their side, chopping downwards would crack the noodles in half. This is why Superior makes end grain cutting boards. When your knife hits the end grains of wood, it allows the knife to slip between the fibers of the wood, protecting both the knife & the board for longer use. A regular wooden cutting board that isn't end grain is chopping those wood fibers in half, like the spaghetti cluster laying on its side. This is why wooden cutting boards look like someone went wild with a hatchet after a few months of use, and end grain boards show far less scratch marks.

Why is end grain the best type of cutting board?

There are many reasons end grain boards are the superior (no pun intended) cutting board!

  1. Your Knives Stay Sharper: When you cut on an end grain board, you're allowing the knife to slip between wood fibers vs cutting them in half. This is less wear & tear on your knife. 
  2. More Sanitary: End grain absorbs liquids at a more rapid rate than the face or edge grain of wood. When the end grain absorbs liquids from your cuts, those liquids seep into the board, & the bacteria dies within the fibers of the board. You still need to clean your board properly!
  3. Self Healing: Since you're slipping between the fibers of the wood, the fibers will contract back into place when your knife is removed. This is why end grain boards show less cut marks - you're keeping the integrity of the fibers vs cutting them up.
  4. They Last Longer: When properly cared for, end grain cutting boards can last a lifetime! Alternative cutting boards don't stand a chance. Plastic cutting boards are cheaper, but typically do not last more than a year before getting knife marks, plastic falling off and eventually ending up in a landfill. Edge grain cutting boards also tend to get cut up with knife marks.
  5. They Look Cool!: There's no denying the elegant look of an end grain butcher block in the kitchen.

 

How to care for an end grain cutting board?

View this guide on caring for your end grain cutting board to get all the tips and tricks to making your board last a lifetime!

Quick Care Tips:

  1. Clean after every use with mild dish soap and water. Be sure to wet and dry both sides.
  2. Be sure you regularly use mineral oil and Superior Board Butter. This ensures your cutting board does not dry out, which can cause warping and even cracking.
  3. Do not expose to extreme temperatures. This can also cause warping and cracking of the wood.
  4. Try to avoid foods that cause staining or foods that will leave strong odors.