Kitchen / Dining Room Blog, Cutting Boards Blog
Longitudinal or end grain cutting board?
Jun
When buying a cutting board for the kitchen, you are often faced with the choice between end grain and longitudinal grain variants. Both have their advantages and disadvantages that must be taken into account. Since solid wood Cutting boardIf they are not cheap and are intended to be used for a long time, the choice should be carefully considered. In addition to many videos and other blog articles, we want to go into the decisive advantages and disadvantages here so that you know whether you should choose a longitudinal wood or end grain cutting board.
End grain advantage
- Durability: End grain is known for its robustness. The wood fibers stand upright, which makes the board much more resistant to knife cuts and scratches. The entire surface is significantly harder.
- Self-healing: Due to the upright fibers, small cuts and notches can close themselves, which means the board stays clean and smooth for longer. If moisture comes into contact with the cutting board, the fibers swell and close themselves. This effect is only no longer possible with really deep cuts.
- Gentle on knives: The upright fibers are gentle on the knife blades, as they are cut lengthways rather than crossways. This makes an end grain cutting board perfect for extremely high-quality and expensive knives.
End grain disadvantages
- Price: End grain cutting boards are significantly more expensive than longitudinal grain versions. This is primarily due to the higher effort involved and the use of stronger and more expensive machines. A high-quality end grain cutting board requires a basic stock of professional machines for production and is only of limited use in the ambitious hobby sector.
- Care: End grain boards require regular care to maintain their quality, such as oiling the wood. Occasional sanding is also crucial and ensures a permanently smooth surface.
- Several Don'ts: There are several things you should not do. First of all, waterlogging at the glue joints will cause the board to crack.
Video on the topic
Here we show you in a short video the difference between a longitudinal wood and a end grain cutting board
Longitudinal wood advantage
- Price: Longitudinal wood cutting boards are cheaper to purchase.
- Availability: They are often available in different designs and types of wood. Since end grain is a special type of processing and therefore does not allow for all wishes, not all possible variants can be implemented
- Easy to maintain: These boards are easier to maintain than end grain boards. There is also less need to pay attention to things.
Longitudinal wood disadvantages
- Less durable: The cross-running fibers cause cuts and notches to appear quickly, and these do not disappear on their own. If you want it to look good again, you will need to remove a few millimeters of material.
- Protecting the knives: The transverse fibers can blunt the knife blades more quickly.
The choice between end grain and longitudinal grain cutting boards depends on individual needs. We recommend a high-quality large end grain board and a smaller everyday longitudinal grain board. This means you are well equipped and have maximum flexibility. If you are looking for a durable, knife-friendly board and are prepared to invest more and carry out regular maintenance, an end grain cutting board is a good choice. For the price-conscious buyer who is looking for an easy-care yet functional board, a longitudinal grain cutting board is the right choice.
