Butcher blocks are specialized cutting surfaces made of assembled wood strips, popular among professional chefs and home cooks. Maple is a popular choice due to its durability and resistance to bacteria. Fine-grained blocks are better for heavy use, while lengthwise strips are cheaper and more manageable. Butcher blocks can be used as cutting boards or countertops and should be well-maintained with warm water, mild soap, and periodic mineral oil application.
A butcher’s block is a specialized cutting surface that was designed to be used in meat processing, with an especially thick and sturdy design that can withstand heavy blows from cleavers and similar knives. Professional chefs and butchers have been using these specialized blocks for years and they have become common among some home chefs, who appreciate their durability and the social cachet that comes with commercial kitchen products. Many kitchen supply stores sell butcher blocks, in a variety of designs and styles.
The defining feature of a butcher block is that it is an assembled wooden product, consisting of strips of wood that are glued together to create a solid wedge. This allows makers to choose the strongest, straightest, and highest grained pieces of wood to create a butcher block that will last for decades, if well cared for. A popular choice of wood for butchers blocks is maple, although a number of different woods can be used. Wood, incidentally, is a hostile environment for many harmful bacteria, making it a great choice for cutting boards, as long as they’re well maintained.
In a fine-grained butcher block, the pieces of wood are assembled with the cut ends facing up, creating a very thick and heavy block. The fine-grain blocks are better able to absorb heavy blows and distribute the energy from the knife strike, creating clean cuts and helping knives stay sharper longer. These blocks are also less likely to crack or gouge, giving them a long life in the kitchen.
The other type of butcher block is known as a fine-grained butcher block, and is made by laying strips of wood lengthwise. This creates a thinner, more manageable block, but also one that is less robust and durable. Many household products are fine-grained blocks, because they are cheaper and often perfectly suited for normal household use.
You can use a butcher block in a number of ways. These blocks can be used as cutting boards, designed to be moved around as needed, and they can also be used as countertops and to cover kitchen islands, turning the entire counter into a cutting surface. In all cases, you should take care of a butcher block, wash it with warm water and mild soap, and allow it to dry completely between uses. You should also periodically apply mineral oil to a butcher to keep the wood in good condition.
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