Kitchen

[house_cat]

I added a couple of kitchen cabinets to my small kitchen. They have a butcher block top on them. Can I really chop and prep food on them, or do I still need a cutting board?

Thank you.

[justathought]

You should use a cutting board.

[ECBG]

Don't cut them up sweetie. You will need cutting boards. Congrats! I'm sure they're beautiful!

[denisemb]

Yeah, I have to go with the majority. You'd eventually have to sand and refinish them, and what about sterilizing? I have one of those Origami kitchen carts with the butcher block from HSN and I always used a cutting board over the top of it to keep it nice.

[house_cat]

Thank you. That's what I thought, but DH said, "Why did you buy butcher block if you can't cut on it?"

[Danky]

My husband was a executive chef....we have a professional home kitchen. One of the counters is an 8' long, 3" thick and 3' wide oak butcher block (all one piece of wood). It was installed 40 years ago.

We have never refinished it and it has never had any kind of sealer or finish on it.....It is nothing but sanded, natural wood. We wipe it down with a little bit of bleach in water and we cut and prep EVERYTHING on it. It has , among other things, rings from hot pots, stains from beets and tons of little knife marks that you can see but not feel. It is a history, of sorts, of the thousands of meals that have been prepared and served to hundreds of people over the years.

[luvsbulldogs]

My husband and I owned a store that sold all different kinds of Butcher Block tables and counter tops. You were able to get them with a finish on them or unfinished. Without the finish you had to treat it after cleaning it with bleach. You treated it with mineral oil to prevent splitting and cracking. With the finish you just cleaned it like any other table or counter top. We did not recommend cutting on the finished ones as it would be cut into the finish and ruin it. I had a thick cut board that I placed on top if my counter to use for cutting and had it for many years. It does stain and will show knife marks so I would not recommend cutting on your counter tops. I highly recommend your purchasing a butcher block cutting board especially for cutting. You will have it for many years to come. A good company to purchase is ""John Boos"". They have been around for many years and make an excellent product. Enjoy your new counter tops.

[Tigriss]

If you do cut on it, use mineral oil after cleaning with bleach or vinegar. I like the look of a good used butcher block counter as it adds character to the piece and will be a hand-me-down over the generations. A new one that is shiny and unmarked just doesn't have the same antique feel of what butcher block counters are known for, but do as you wish with your. I would only chop veggies on it and use a plastic cutting board for meats as not to spread bacteria so badly, but even those animal juices add the coloring, aging, and antique flare that they are known for.