What to Look for When Shopping for wooden cutting board

The quality of a cutting board depends not only on whether it's made of the best wood for cutting board but also on how the product is made. Keep the following features in mind when shopping for a wooden cutting board.

• Grain

Every piece of wood has three grains. The face grain is the pattern along the main length of the board. The edge grain runs along the long, narrow side of the board. Finally, the end grain is found along the short side of the board. A wood cutting board can be made of any of these parts of the board.

Of all of these options, end-grain cutting boards are the most prized because they are the strongest. They are the most resistant to cuts and marks.

Edge-grain cutting boards are the next strongest type. Face-grain boards are the weakest and don`t usually stand up nearly as well to the sharp blade of a knife.

• Thickness

The thicker a cutting board is, the less likely that it is to warp or split over time. Thick boards also have plenty of weight, so they don't easily slip and slide around on your counter while you're chopping or slicing. Many of the best wood cutting boards are at least 2 inches tall.

Of course, the thicker a board is, the heavier it is. For boards like this, it`s sometimes best if you can afford them a permanent place on your counter. Keep in mind that you may prefer to clean a heavy board in place rather than lugging it to the sink and back.

• Style

Wood cutting boards come in a variety of shapes and styles. Many are designed to sit on your countertop. They may be round or rectangular. Some are quite small, while others are large enough for carving a large turkey or chopping all the vegetables for a dinner salad.

Other cutting boards have feet or legs. The ones with short feet are still designed to sit on your counter. This is partly an aesthetic feature and partly a practical one; the raised board allows you to clean under the board without having to move the whole thing. Even more importantly, a board that sits up on feet gets air circulation on all sides, which is good for maintaining its quality. This style is best for heavy boards that have enough weight that they won`t slide around on the feet.

Boards with long legs aren`t intended for countertop use. Instead, these are freestanding cutting surfaces. They can be quite beautiful and can afford you additional prep space in the kitchen. Of course, your kitchen must have plenty of floor space in order for this to be a good option; otherwise, the unit will just be in the way. This type of cutting board can also be known as a chopping block.

• Special Features

Some cutting boards are designed with features that are intended to make your cooking experience easier or more enjoyable. These may include:

• Troughs for liquids: Some cutting boards have a shallow channel around the outside edge. This well can help collect runoff when you cut juicy meat.
• Non-slip surface: A cutting board may have grips or textures on the back to keep it from sliding around.
• Holes or handles: These features are not only useful for helping you pick up a cutting board, but they also increase your storage options since you can hang the board on a hook.