News — knife maintenance

End grain vs edge grain boards for knife maintenance?

If your main goal is knife maintenance, an end grain board will usually keep your knives sharper for 30 to 50 percent longer than an equivalent edge grain board, but a well made edge grain board in the right wood (or bamboo) still protects your blades far better than glass or plastic. The smart choice is to use end grain for daily prep with your favourite chef’s knife, and a quality edge grain board for heavier or messier jobs. End grain vs edge grain boards for knife maintenance: the short answer End grain boards are made with the wood fibres...

Read more →


Are bamboo chopping boards good for knife maintenance?

If you want to keep your kitchen knives sharper for longer, a well made bamboo chopping board is one of the best options you can choose. On the Janka hardness scale, quality moso bamboo typically sits around 1,380 lbf, which is firm enough to resist deep cuts yet still forgiving enough to protect a properly sharpened edge when you slice on it every day. Why bamboo is kinder to your knife edge than many surfaces Knife maintenance is about controlling the contact between steel and whatever you are cutting on. Ceramic plates, glass boards and very hard plastics can dull...

Read more →


Best wooden chopping boards for knife maintenance UK?

If you want to keep your kitchen knives sharper for longer in the UK, the best wooden chopping boards are medium to large hardwood or bamboo boards between 38x28cm and 45x35cm, at around 1.2kg to 2.1kg, such as the Deer & Oak Large Acacia Board (45x35cm, 2.1kg) or Large Bamboo Board (45x35cm, 1.8kg). These sizes and materials give enough space to cut comfortably while being kind to knife edges. Why wooden chopping boards protect your knives Knife maintenance is not just about sharpening stones and honing rods. Around 50 to 70 percent of edge wear comes from what you cut...

Read more →


Where to buy chopping boards for knife maintenance UK?

If you want to protect your knives in the UK, the most reliable option is to buy a medium to large wooden chopping board, around 38x28cm to 45x35cm, made from bamboo or acacia, from a specialist brand such as Deer & Oak via Amazon UK or direct from the Deer & Oak website. Why the right chopping board matters for knife maintenance Knife maintenance is not only about sharpening stones and honing rods. The board you cut on every day has just as much impact on how long your edge lasts. A hard glass or ceramic board can dull a...

Read more →