Beauty And Function, Butcher Block Work Surfaces
Saturday, October 17th, 2009The butcher’s block was originally designed for cutting meat in a butcher’s shop. It is made of wood that has been bonded with glue together. Sugar maple is commonly used as the wood for butcher’s block. The best butcher block is invariably made from hard woods.
Butcher blocks can be made with the wood grain perpendicular to the top of the block (end grain) or with the grain of the wood parallel to the top of the block (edge grain). Both methods make a durable butchers block, although end grain is to be preferred.
The reason for preferring end grain buchers block is that they keep your cutting tools and other cutting instruments sharper. Most end grain blocks are at least four inches thick, thus they are both tough and durable. Repeated blows by cleavers do no significant harm to these blocks. Occasionally, the surface has to be re-planed and re-oiled, but with the great thickness, the block continues to be useful for a lifetime. This invariably makes the best chopping board.
Edge grain butcher’s blocks use rails that are full length, although at times there may be jointed construction. Although these blocks are also durable, they are not as durable as blocks made with the end grain surface.
Until about one hundred thirty years ago, butcher’s would use a cross section of a tree, called a tree round, which was set on legs. With repeated use, the rounds would crack and split allowing meat particles to collect in the tree round. This became a breeding ground for bacteria and was not sanitary. butchers blocks are unlikely to crack and maple is durable so that it is long lasting without dulling knife blades. Even in the age of awareness of germs, the butcher’s block is considered sanitary.
