A Quick Guide to Wooden Cutting Boards

It's possible, likely even, that you came to our website looking for a high-quality kitchen knife. We're proud to be the largest walk-in knife retailer in New England, and we're always happy to welcome a new customer to our shop. An important thing to keep in mind, though, is that a good knife is only the start; you're going to need something between your gorgeous new blade and your gleaming marble counters (unless you'd like to visit us for knife sharpening every week). A good cutting board is essential.

While we have many cuttingboardoptions for your kitchen, nothing performs quite so well nor presents as beautifully as a well-made wooden board. Wooden boards combine a classic aesthetic with unmatched durability and a knife-friendly cutting surface. When selecting a wooden cutting board, there are a few distinctions to keep in mind.

While you will sometimes see cutting boards that are carved from a single piece of wood (typically from small artisans), most wooden cutting boards will be assembled from multiple pieces of wood. The way these pieces are aligned determines the type of cutting board; these are either edge-grain or end-grain. The wood for edge-grain boards is cut length-wise, and end-grain is cut cross-wise. If you’re looking at a cutting board and you can see the growth rings of the wood, it’s an end-grain board. Both styles perform quite well, but there are several important differences.

The surface of edge-grain boards is a tighter grain, meaning that it’s less absorbent than end-grain. This makes it less prone to staining, and requires less-frequent oiling. Fewer pieces of wood are required to make an edge-grain board, and they require less labor to construct, which is reflected in the price.

While end-grain boards are more expensive, and do require slightly more maintenance, they make up for it by being gentler on your knife blades and less prone to scratching and knife marks. They are also heavier, making them less likely to move while you’re cutting.

Every kitchen is different, and every cook has different needs, which is why we offer a wide variety of cutting boards. We look forward to helping you find yours!