Wood 101
All of our wood products are crafted with aesthetics and durability in mind, but how do we choose which species to use? What is the difference between a charcuterie board and an end grain cutting board? Let us break down what is what when it comes to wood.
Creating a great cutting board or kitchen utensil requires more than just looks. It starts with choosing wood species with just the right characteristics. Wood that isn’t hard enough can cause warping and leave knife marks. If it is too porous it can lead to bacteria or mold growth. Some more exotic species may contain toxins so it is best to use woods that produce edible fruits, nuts, or sap.
Cutting Boards and Charcuterie
The difference between a charcuterie board and a cutting board lies in the orientation of the wood. From face-grain to end grain, we’ve got you covered
Face-Grain
Used primarily in charcuterie boards and light-duty cutting boards, face grain boards are often described as the best looking boards out there. They are also the easiest to make and therefore cheaper. However there are some draw backs. Face grain boards easily show knife marks and are not as durable as edge grain or end grain boards so it is not recommended to use these for heavy cutting or chopping.
Edge-Grain
Something of a compromise between the aesthetically pleasing face grain and the workhorse end grain boards, edge grain boards are created by cutting strips of wood and gluing them so that the edges of these strips are exposed rather than the face. These boards can resist knife marks well and will resist warping, but aren’t quite as tough as end grain.
End-Grain
Also known as butcher block, end grain cutting boards are the toughest boards you can buy. They are made by first creating an edge grain board and then cutting and rotating the wood again to expose the growth rings as seen in the picture above. End grain can resist knife marks better than the other types and as a bonus it won’t dull your blade. End grain boards aren’t cheap, but no other type of board will last longer in your kitchen.