Knives and prep

John Boos end-grain maple cutting board

Name: John Boos end-grain maple cutting board
Brand: John Boos

End grain wood: kind to edges, heavy enough to stay put.

Photograph illustrates the category, not this exact board.

What it is good at

Letting the knife edge sink between fibres instead of scraping across plastic
Staying in place because of its weight
Being resurfaced with a sander if it ever gets scored

Check before you buy

Thickness: under 3 cm it will cup; 4 cm and up stays flat
Whether the feet are screwed on and replaceable
Size against your sink and storage

Who it is not for

Anyone who wants to put a board in the dishwasher, or who has no space to store a large flat board.

End-grain boards are built from short blocks glued face-up, so the blade parts the wood fibres rather than cutting across them. That is why the edge lasts longer.

The maintenance is real but small: oil it monthly, never soak it, and keep a thin plastic board for raw meat.

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