Home Removal Services Blog

If you are a serious chef, or you want to become one you should consider using butchers block as a cutting surface. This material is tough, long lasting and beautiful and works amazingly as a way to save your counter tops and other kitchen surfaces. There are some specific advantages to using butcher block that you need to know about, as well as how to take care of one properly.

Butcher block is a very heavy, very durable cutting surface that is made from pieces of wood that have been stuck together. It got its name because it was originally used in butcher shops and meat processing facilities because it can withstand repeated blows from very heavy knives without being damaged. If the butcher block did become damaged, it was simple to resurface it and the block was so sturdy that you could resurface it many times without weakening it overall.

If you are trying to decide how you want to incorporate butchers block into your home, you have several different options and it is up to you which you select. You should think about how much cutting space you want to have and this can be a guide to your plans. There are a number of different options, including entire counter tops, kitchen islands with a butcher block top, or a piece that is used as a stand-alone board.

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How is the block formed? This can be an influence on how you will use the board in your home. If you will be doing a lot of prep work, consider an end grain board. Because the wood fibers in these blocks are perpendicular to the surface of the block, they absorb the force of knife blows and will not dull the edge of the knife. They are also harder to mark on the surface. This can be great if you are someone who does not want to have to worry about resurfacing and conditioning your block any more than is necessary.

If you want to incorporate butcher’s block on a budget, consider edge grain boards. These are less expensive than end grain but they are not as durable and may not be desirable to serious cooks. Consider trying a separate board first to see if you like how you care for your board.

When shopping there are more things to look at than just end grain or edge grain. You need to make sure that the pieces of wood making up the block have been securely fastened together and that the wood is in good shape. The last thing that you want is for the adhesive keeping the pieces of wood together to let go so that all you have is a bundle of wooden sticks. You also need to speak with an expert who can give you good information on how to treat and condition the wood and keep it looking beautiful.

You need to know what kind of oil the wood has been treated with. Butcher block needs to be treated with oil to keep the wood pliable and conditioned so that it does not break or splinter. There are a number of different oils that wood can be treated with and some can be toxic if they are ingested. That is the last thing you want if you are using it to prepare food on.

If you are looking at getting butcher block counters, you need to get them from a reputable dealer. Although they can be shaped with regular woodworking tools, you need to make sure that they have been assembled using glue that is food safe and treated with food safe oil as well. Learning as much as you can about butcher’s block can help you avoid costly mistakes and get you the product you have been looking for.

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