What to know about butchers board generally comes down to understanding that it is used in many kitchens these days as a tabletop or countertop surface and also more traditionally has a cutting board or chopping block. Most quality boards are created from extremely hard sugar maple, which is a wood prized for its durability and attractiveness. Butchers blocks first made their appearance in meat processing plants and butchers shops.
These days, the material is very popular in home use, especially in the kitchen. There are two basic styles of butchers board; end grain and edge grain. The end variety is manufactured by the process of gluing pieces of wood together in such a way that the wood fiber is perpendicular to the surface itself. Most commercial-grade blocks are usually greater than 4 inches thick.
Most professional chefs prefer using an end grain board, because the surface is able to withstand seemingly endless impacts from the edge of a knife. This is possible because the surface absorbs the knife edge, allowing it to go between the fibers of the wood. Consequently, knife edges remain sharper for far longer and the surface of the board is more resistant to gouging and nicking.
Edge grain butcher's board is created in much the same way (gluing of pieces of wood), but the difference is that the wood fiber is glued parallel, rather than perpendicular, to the surface of the board. And edge grain butcher board is much easier to make than an end grain butcher board. That makes them less expensive to purchase.
End grain butcher blocks can be refinished many, many times. Edge grain blocks, however, have a limited number of refinishing efforts within them. Both boards are glued under extremely high pressures. End grain locks are also generally more durable than edge grain boards. If the board has been built with what is called a natural oil finish, it will need to be re-oiled from time to time.
Today's homes generally feature some aspect of the kitchen that features butcher block. This may be on all the countertops, or just a few areas such as tabletops. Countertops are usually where they are seen most often nowadays, though the traditional chopping board with legs is also seen in more expensive homes. A board is generally lower priced and can last equally as long as a granite surface. - 31843
Most professional chefs prefer using an end grain board, because the surface is able to withstand seemingly endless impacts from the edge of a knife. This is possible because the surface absorbs the knife edge, allowing it to go between the fibers of the wood. Consequently, knife edges remain sharper for far longer and the surface of the board is more resistant to gouging and nicking.
Edge grain butcher's board is created in much the same way (gluing of pieces of wood), but the difference is that the wood fiber is glued parallel, rather than perpendicular, to the surface of the board. And edge grain butcher board is much easier to make than an end grain butcher board. That makes them less expensive to purchase.
End grain butcher blocks can be refinished many, many times. Edge grain blocks, however, have a limited number of refinishing efforts within them. Both boards are glued under extremely high pressures. End grain locks are also generally more durable than edge grain boards. If the board has been built with what is called a natural oil finish, it will need to be re-oiled from time to time.
Today's homes generally feature some aspect of the kitchen that features butcher block. This may be on all the countertops, or just a few areas such as tabletops. Countertops are usually where they are seen most often nowadays, though the traditional chopping board with legs is also seen in more expensive homes. A board is generally lower priced and can last equally as long as a granite surface. - 31843
About the Author:
Some things to consider before you buy butchers block furniture or cutting boards, is whether it is end grain or not. Generally, end grain makes the best butcher block and is better for using with heavy knives, because, although it is more expensive, it is far longer lasting.
