Bevel & Bond vs John Boos End Grain Maple Cutting Board Review
A quick note on transparency before we jump in: The team at Bevel & Bond sent me their end-grain hard maple cutting board to test out and compare against Boos Block. While the product was provided at no cost, this review is 100% honest and uninfluenced by the brand.
Last year, I wrote one of my first blog posts about cutting boards, specifically, my Boos Block cutting boards.
My move to Boos Block was predicated on my initial move from plastic to wood cutting boards and then selecting a brand (Boos), and then the type of grain (edge or end), and then a price point I could afford. The great thing about Boos is a combination of all of these things at a wide variety of price points that can meet one's needs. We ultimately picked up a few boards over time including one for me and one for Mary Beth, plus a small one we just use for bread. Shortly thereafter, our son Michael made and sold cutting boards for his Sustainable Product Design and Innovation major capstone course at Keane State College. Turns out, it is a very pretty board and lighter weight which Mary Beth really likes and is now her go to board.
Summarizing my Boos Block post, one of the areas I sacrificed was choosing edge grain over end grain. The primary difference is End Grain looks nicer (crosscut) and is softer and will preserve the sharpness of your knives. End Grain cutting boards are more expensive as a result. Conversely, Edge Grain cutting boards are less expensive.
As I had to make financial choices, I choose an Edge Grain cutting board and choose walnut as I liked the deep richness of the color more than anything else. At the time, I didn't get into understanding the differences in the type of wood (i.e. walnut, maple, cherry), as my primary focus was plastic vs. wood. Turns out walnut is a great type of wood to use for a cutting board, and is the second best next to a hard maple.
Hard maple goes by a few different names including Northern Hard Rock Maple (Acer saccharum) and Sugar Maple. As an aside, we had the most beautiful sugar maple tree in our front yard for about 20 years only to have it get severely damaged in a bad storm, we had to take it down.
End Grain Maple Cutting Board
The combination of End Grain and Sugar Maple brings me to the purpose of my post. I had an opportunity to review and do a comparison against my experience with Boos Block and a newcomer to the cutting board industry, Bevel & Bond. Started recently from two cofounders, James and Jeff, they are ultra focused on just one product, an End Grain Northern Hard Rock Maple cutting board.
The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip:
"A great cutting board makes cooking a complete sensory experience."
There are a few things that caught my attention. As I was doing research on their website and product, I found that they were very pragmatic about sharing that there are real reasons a person may choose Boos (and other cutting boards), including selection of size, wood type, etc. In fact if you go on Boos' website, you will probably see 25 cutting board options. It was actually the pragmatic nature of their approach that I initially related to as it reminded me when I was in a sales role and would discuss the customers' needs and determine, in a very honest way, if my solution was right for what the customer needed.
For the Bevel & Bond cutting board, it measures 17 x 13 x 1.75 inches and weighs 10 pounds. It has nonslip feet and a juice groove. Unlike the Boos boards, which I believe just came shrink wrapped, Bevel & Bond ship in a premium black gift bock with a welcome card and care instructions.
And here is the best part, you get all of this quality at a price point that is less than half of what you would have paid for a comparable End Grain Maple board with juice grooves at Boos at 18 x 12 x 1.75 inches. The Boos block costs $266.95 while the Bevel & Bond board costs only $129.99. As I shared in that initial post, it was the price point for the Boos End grain that was my deciding factor in going with the Edge grain options.
I have only used the Bevel & Bond cutting board a few times now, but my initial experience has been great. If you are in the market for a cutting board for yourself, or perhaps want to give it as a gift for a wedding, birthdays, or holidays, I would recommend Bevel & Bond. The combination of it being End grain, it's packaging, and it's price point, make it an ideal choice.
Here is a quick comparison of the two boards.
Brand | ||
Model | Maple Wood End Grain Chopping Block with Stainless Steel Bun feet, w/Groove 1-3/4" Thick (Bun Feet Series) | End-Grain Maple Cutting Board |
Wood Type | North American Hard Maple | North American Hard Maple |
Wood Grain | End | End |
Size | 18 x 12 x 1.75 inches | 17 x 13 x 1.75 |
Juice Grove | Yes | Yes |
Price | $269.99 | $129.99 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bevel & Bond offer an oil or wax?
Yes, they offer a Board Balm Cutting Board Conditioner & Wax (6 oz) made of food grade oil and bees wax.
How do I fix my warped cutting board?
A warped cutting board means the wood is dry. This is the best time to add wax to your cutting board. Rub it into the board and let it sit overnight. I place mine on top of a small cardboard box to let it air dry on all sides. I then wipe any excess off with a paper towel the next day.
Where are Bevel & Bond cutting boards made?
The boards are made in Hubbard, Oregon.
Start Your Own Bevel & Bond Cutting Board Sensory Experience
If you’re curious to start your own Bevel & Bond cutting board sensory experience, give it a try and let me know your thoughts in the comments!
For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use myself.
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