END-GRAIN GUIDES
How end-grain cutting boards are built, chosen and used.
Guides to end-grain cutting boards: how the patterns are built, why they treat knives differently, and how to pick one for the way you cook.
What this site covers
An end-grain cutting board is built from short blocks set so the wood fibers stand on end. The knife slips between the fibers rather than cutting across them, which is gentler on edges and quieter under the blade. It also makes the board heavier, more expensive and more demanding about oiling.
To understand construction, read how 3D patterns and brick patterns are built, and why end grain is quieter. Then choose for how you cook: a cutting board for Japanese knives, cleaver work, left-handed cooks, two-cook kitchens, arthritis-friendly boards and over-the-sink boards.
We also compare it with edge grain, including what to look for in an edge grain maple cutting board, and cover the knife skills that go with a good board.