The End Grain Cutting Board

An end grain cutting board is a wooden cutting board that has been made using end grain hardwoods.  While there are plenty of other wooden cutting boards out there, end grain cutting boards are the cream of the cutting board crop.  

To understand end grain wood, think of a tree that has been cut down, leaving only the stump.  Looking down on that stump you can see the rings in the wood.  The face of the stump is the end grain of the wood.  This makes for a very strong and durable cutting surface that is easy on your knife edge.

Advantages of the End Grain Cutting Board

There are several advantages to using an end grain cutting board.  This type of board is very durable yet will not dull knives as quickly as cutting on plastic or glass surfaces.  Additionally, knife marks are less visible on an end grain cutting board because the knife blade slips in between the grains of wood as you cut. The grains of the wood close again once you have made the cut, thus hiding any knife marks made.