Buyer’s Guide: End Grain vs. Edge Grain Cutting Boards
With a range of colors, style and price points stretching into the hundreds of dollars, it’s easy to get confused. We’ll cut to the chase and help you select the right type of wooden cutting board for your lifestyle.
If you’re on Instagram you’ve no doubt seen styled photos of beautiful hardwood boards on display in the kitchens on your feed (we are looking at you Joanna Gaines). Cutting boards are no longer lowly food prep tools, stowed away in drawers with the kitchen gadgets. Nowadays they’ve been elevated to a display piece and it’s no wonder, as the beauty of a piece of wood, especially richly hued hardwood boards, bring a pop of color and texture to kitchen decor.
For the most discerning: the end grain cutting board
Starting with the MOST expensive options allow us to demystify why the end grain cutting board commands the highest price point in the category (hint: it’s for good reason).
We warned you that they are expensive, but how much? Well, the price of an end-grain cutting board will set you back $150-$300 per board. Why the high price tag? Making an end-grain cutting board is a multi step process of assembling all the end pieces of wood into a checkerboard design. First, all the strips are cut and then the many pieces are glued together. This process is both time and labor intensive. The other consideration that will make for a higher price tag is factors like different sizes and a variety of shapes—round seems to be the most popular but some are square or rectangular. Again, more time goes into making a large, round board so those are typically on the higher end of the price range.
End grain cutting board in the traditional checkerboard pattern.
The end grain board's value goes far beyond aesthetics, thanks to the distinctive grain of the wood.
Why does that matter? To understand the value, you have to zero in on the cutting surface of the cutting board. “End grain” is the wood that is cut along the direction of the tree’s growth. This is unique to end grain and different from face grain and edge grain. The fibers of the wood are aligned vertically, which gives it the “self-healing” quality it is prized for. Because the fibers “stand” they can take the chopping motion with minimal damage (by damage we mean visible knife marks). As the knife cuts and makes contact with the surface of the board, rather than intersecting the fibers head on, it actually slides in between the fibers. Lift the knife blade, and they close right back again. This makes end grain board the best choice if you want to be kind to your knives!
So if you have the budget, need a board that can withstand heavy chopping and value the fact that you won’t have to sharpen your knife blade so often, an end grain board is the most durable selection you can make. That said, depending on the size, they can be quite heavy, so if you move your board from one area of the kitchen to another frequently, that may be a consideration.
While all wooden boards require regular maintenance, the end grain boards require it more frequently owing to the more porous nature of the straight wood fibers. Care instructions will call for regular conditioning and seasoning with a wood conditioner or natural oil to control moisture content and prevent microbes from taking up residence. See the section below: “Care tips”
End Grain vs. Edge grain
The grains refer to the part of the wood utilized in the production of the cutting board. Typically, once trees are harvested, they are cut into a piece of lumber that can be purchased to make any number of things.
In the image below, we illustrate the various parts: the top is the face grain, the length is the edge grain, and the width is the end grain.
Notice that the end grain part of the wood is where the growth rings are—these sometimes look like waves or ripples which enhance the character of a piece.
You can also think of the edge grain as the “side” of the board. It’s usually the side where we measure the “thickness” of a board.
These beautiful boards are generally considered to be better looking than their end grain counterparts. There are no shortage of styles, sizes, colors to choose from so you can select something that aligns with your personal preference. There is something for every taste and budget, you will no doubt find the right cutting board! These edge grain boards can be made from one type of wood (typically Maple) or a combination of different woods, often in contrasting colors (for example a caramel Maple with a chocolate-y hued Walnut makes a nice combination).
Edge grain cutting board featuring walnut, maple and purple heart.
No longer just a monochromatic butcher block for chopping only, the edge grain boards can easily double as a beautiful presentation piece. An edge grain board is the perfect centerpiece for any gathering you host (see our Snack board / Charcuterie board post for ideas on how easy it is to dazzle a crowd with a display of appetizers).
Another nice feature of an edge-grain board is that they are slimmer and lighter than end-grain cutting boards. So you can move from the sink to the counter, to the island or out to the dining room easily.
Unfortunately, unlike the forgiving nature of the wood fibers on an end grain board, edge-grain boards are not as easy on your knife blade. With frequent use, the knife’s marks, dents, and scratches will likely become prominent over time. That said, with proper care and maintenance, you can keep your edge grain cutting board looking like new.
The knife’s marks, dents are starting to show on this edge grain board.
What about face grain cutting boards?
If you prefer a more homogenous look, the face grain board may be for you. These boards are made from the widest and flat side of the tree so you see more of the wood grain and patterns compared to edge grain or end grain cutting boards. For this reason they also make an excellent choice if you’d like your board to pull double duty as both food preparation and serving boards.
While they don’t absorb as much moisture as end grain cutting boards, face grain surfaces are generally “softer” so they will absorb a fair amount of moisture and fast.
Price wise they are usually the most affordable of the three options but size, wood type and thickness will all be factors in the final price.
Care tips
Because wood is naturally antimicrobial, the surface of your board just needs a little proper care to keep it clean and looking good.
Follow only the steps that you need to from the list below:
Step 1: Use a pastry cutter or some other type of flat scraper for a quick cleaning. Scrape the remaining food remnants away and then give it a quick wipe down with either a dry or damp cloth.
Step 2: If you need a little more to clean, it is okay to rinse the board under running water, but do not submerge it completely. The wood will absorb the water and may warp.
Step 3: If you do have to use soap and water to remove stubborn stains or sticky food particles, opt for a scent-free mild dish soap, then rinse it and then towel dry immediately.
Step 4: Periodically condition your clean cutting board with a wood safe conditioner. While mineral oil is frequently used, we do NOT recommend it because “mineral oil” is actually a byproduct of petroleum production. We prefer a nontoxic choice like a beeswax, coconut oil blend.
Naturally antimicrobial
If the thought of raw meat coming in contact with your new wood cutting board worries you, fear not! Wood is naturally antimicrobial. The role of a tree trunk is to carry water from the tree’s roots to its leaves. So, the wood fibers have a strong “capillary action.” When a microbe (water-based lifeform) finds itself on a wooden board, the natural capillary action of the wood fibers will dehydrate it; killing it by desiccation. This is an important factor for microbes that come in contact with porous wood—while they may not be removed by a surface cleaning, they will not survive thanks to the chemical and structural properties of wood.
About the author
Husband and wife team Jason and Erin created Honest Woodcraft in 1999 with a simple goal of bringing nature home. At Honest Woodcraft our hardwood products are a natural choice for entertaining as they are durable, functional and stylish enough to take center stage. Visit our shop or give us a follow on Instagram or Facebook.
