| If you've been shopping for a top-quality cutting | | | | Consider the grain pattern of a tree; is it easier to |
| board, you've probably encountered terms like | | | | chop a log in half or split it? There's a similar |
| "edge grain," "composite," and "end grain." By now, | | | | principle at work in the construction of cutting |
| you're probably wondering what these terms | | | | board - except that the purpose is not to split |
| really mean, and what advantages (if any) one | | | | your cutting board, but to keep you knife |
| style has over the others. | | | | collection sharp. When you cut across these end |
| Well, here's the 411 on these differing cutting | | | | grains, your knife slides through the connective |
| board styles. Edge grain and face grain boards are | | | | fibers rather than across them, causing less wear. |
| cost-effective and do showcase the beauty of | | | | Another advantage for fans of sharp cutlery is |
| the material they're made from. However, the | | | | the fact the end grain hides knife marks; an |
| grain pattern puts the material at sharp odds with | | | | important quality when you have a beautiful teak |
| your expensive knife collection. It's a little | | | | cutting board that you love to show off. In the |
| unfortunate, right? Since the whole purpose of a | | | | end (no pun intended), end grain boards last longer |
| cutting board is to hold items as you chop them. | | | | because the grain accommodates cutting, instead |
| Since edge grain boards take a considerable | | | | of resists it. That's why these boards are more |
| amount of punishment from your knife collection, | | | | valuable: They're incredibly long lasting and often |
| it's highly important that you choose the right | | | | become family heirlooms. |
| material. While bamboo is both strong and | | | | End grain isn't just the best choice for serious |
| environmentally-friendly, its construction involves a | | | | home chefs, it's a top choice for those with an |
| high level of glues and resins which wreak havoc | | | | eye for design. In general, teak cutting boards |
| on sharp knives. Plantation teak, on the other | | | | have a naturally eye-catching grain pattern. End |
| hand, is extremely durable and gentler on your | | | | grain blocks made from teak wood create a |
| cutlery. | | | | mosaic of contrasting grain patterns, alternating |
| Now, onto the piece de resistance: End grain | | | | between the dark heartwood and the honey |
| cutting boards and chopping blocks. | | | | colored sapwood. |
| As its name implies, end grain teak cutting boards | | | | Choosing a material is crucial, even when you're |
| are made from top and bottom ends of a block | | | | comparing end grain boards. Not only are some |
| of teak wood. The advantage to this design, as | | | | woods hardier and more durable than others, but |
| opposed to other popular construction styles is | | | | many hardwoods are harvested illegally in poorly |
| that the end grain has a slight "give" to it that | | | | regulated forests in the developing world. |
| reduces the wear on knife blades. As any serious | | | | Plantation teak, grown in an environmentally |
| cook knows, a sharp knife is worth its weight in | | | | responsible manner, is as beautiful to the eye as it |
| gold, or at least silver. | | | | is to the earth. |