A butcher block or butcher's block is a heavy duty chopping block, typically

laminate Lamination is the technique/process of manufacturing a material in multiple layers, so that the composite material achieves improved strength, stability, sound insulation, appearance, or other properties from the use of the differing materia ...

d of hardwood. Traditionally made of hard maple, it was commonly used in butcher shops and meat processing plants but has now become popular in home use. The term “butcher block” can also refer to the pattern or style of a traditional block adapted to other functions, such as table tops and cutting boards. There are two basic styles of butcher block: end grain and edge grain. Besides maple, popular contemporary woods include

teak Teak (''Tectona grandis'') is a tropical hardwood tree species in the family Lamiaceae. It is a large, deciduous tree that occurs in mixed hardwood forests. ''Tectona grandis'' has small, fragrant white flowers arranged in dense clusters ( pan ...

birch A birch is a thin-leaved deciduous hardwood tree of the genus ''Betula'' (), in the family Betulaceae, which also includes alders, hazels, and hornbeams. It is closely related to the beech- oak family Fagaceae. The genus ''Betula'' cont ...

, or walnut, sometimes in alternating patterns. A simple variant of the function of a chopping block is made out of a several-inch-thick cross section of a wide hardwood log.

Use

Butcher blocks have been used in butcher shops for centuries, and still are in many European countries. Increasingly, a version of butcher block is also being used in domestic kitchens as an alternative to stone and laminate countertops. This has created a new industry in the kitchen design arena and many furniture manufacturers and hardwood flooring companies are getting into the production of butcher blocks and butcher block countertops, in part because the countertops can be constructed from left-over wood that would otherwise be discarded.

Basic care

Proper care of a butcher block is important for longevity of the material and, to a degree, food safety. If the material is regularly exposed to water and not well cleaned mold can form. The seams where the wood is joined can buckle as the wood expands and contracts. Keeping the material well oiled allows it to maintain a rich color and its water repelling properties. To properly care for the butcher block any foreign material should first be removed, it can be disinfected with vinegar (or in extreme cases, bleach), allowed to dry well, and refreshed with

mineral oil Mineral oil is any of various colorless, odorless, light mixtures of higher alkanes from a mineral source, particularly a distillate of petroleum, as distinct from usually edible vegetable oils. The name 'mineral oil' by itself is imprecise ...

or other food safe sealant.

References

External links

Butcher block care (PDF)
Food preparation utensils Meat industry Kitchen countertops {{material-stub