Comparing Surface Grain & End Grain Cutting Boards

Cutting Boards/Serving Boards

Surface Grain 
Surface grain cutting boards/serving boards are easier to care for than End Grain Boards. The surface grain consists of lesser exposed wood pores which are most likely to be found at the end grain. Pores from the timber work like a sponge and absorb water, thus creating the tendency for the wood the expand & contract even more so than Surface Grain Boards. 

Surface Grain Boards Explained

• Beautiful surface wood grains. 
• Easier to care for compared to end grain boards.
• More water resistance compared to end grain boards. 
• Less prone to warping & bending if exposed to water without cutting board conditioner. 
• It will create more scratch marks than end grain boards if used as a cutting board. 
• All wooden boards are more sustainable because they last longer & can be renewed & refurbished over time with proper care, compared to plastic boards thrown away constantly.

 
 
End Grain
End grain cutting boards/serving boards are considered the higher-end range of wooden boards in the market that are most sought after by cooking enthusiasts & professionals. It is not the most straightforward board to care for because end grain surfaces consist of a multitude of wood pores & fibers. They function like a sponge and will absorb water if not protected by the cutting board conditioner. We must use cutting board conditioners for activities that expose them to direct water contact; this will prevent your boards from warping, bending & having check lines way too fast.

End Grain Boards Explained

• Some species consist of breath-taking beauty e.g. Pinewood. 
• Scratch resistance compared to surface grain boards due to the surfaces of the fibers that will have "self-healing" capabilities. 
• Gentle on your knife, keeping the blade sharp & not quickly blunt compared to surface grain.
• It does not have small cavities like the plastic cutting boards, thus does not interrupts the flow of cutting activities with residues trapped.   
• Requires discipline & more time to care for compared to surface grain boards.
• Prone to absorb more water than surface grain boards if unprotected by cutting board conditioner. 
• Prone to warping, bending, and forming check lines too fast if exposed to water without protection with cutting board conditioner. 
• Heavier & thicker compared to surface grain boards due to technical reasons of the material constructions for quality purposes. 
• All wooden boards are more sustainable because they last longer & can be renewed & refurbished over time with proper care, compared to plastic boards thrown away constantly.