| End-Grain Construction also know as butcher block | | | | span the length of the board. These boards are great |
| This type of board helps maintain the sharpness of | | | | for average every day use and also make excellent |
| your knives because the blocks are glued in such a | | | | bread boards, cheese boards and presentation |
| manner that keeps the wood fibers parallel to the | | | | platters. |
| direction of the cut. Instead of your knife cutting the | | | | Oiling your Board |
| wood fiber, it goes in between adjacent fibers. This | | | | Olive oil or other vegetable oils are often suggested |
| causes the surface to show less cut marks than a | | | | for use on cutting boards, but I do not recommend |
| regular edge or face grain cutting board. As such, end | | | | them because they can eventually go rancid. Mineral |
| grain blocks are the preferred choice by professional | | | | oil avoids this problem, but only use food grade |
| chefs and for applications that require heavy | | | | mineral oil. You may also use one of the many fine |
| chopping. | | | | cutting board/salad bowl oils available on line or in |
| Edge/Face-Grain Construction | | | | kitchen stores that are specifically formulated to |
| This type of board is made by gluing pieces of wood | | | | protect wood and comply with the U.S. Food and |
| with the wood fiber parallel to the surface. When the | | | | Drug Administration (FDA) requirements. |
| edge grain is up we have an edge grain cutting board. | | | | I have no strong preference for one type over the |
| If the face grain is up we have a face grain cutting | | | | other in my experience the differences are personal |
| board. As a result, edge/face grain boards will show | | | | preferences. If you keep your cutting boards |
| knife marks faster than end-grain boards and are not | | | | sanitized and well maintained with a mineral oil and |
| recommended for heavy chopping use. Edge-grain | | | | beeswax treatment they will last a lifetime. Just |
| boards generally feature full length wood rails that | | | | remember your board loves oil. |