Things You Should Know about Butcher Block
Butcher block is a block of wood that is been used for chopping meat or other things. Earlier, it was used in the shops of the butcher for the heavy duty cutting and chopping by nowadays these are been used in the homes as well. These types of blocks are very convenient for the everyday cutting. Those kitchens that are small in size have these blocks as a part of their kitchen counter. Food preparation is considered as a very important part of cooking and to prepare for cooking you need to cut the raw items in to small pieces of appropriate sizes. The butcher block is usually of two types, one is the edge grain type and the other one is the end grain type.
The end grain type of butcher blocks are been made by gluing the pieces or stripes of wood together so that its fiber is perpendicular to the surface. The edge grain type of butcher blocks are made by sticking the wooden pieces in such a manner so that the wooden fiber is parallel to the surface. It is much easier to manufacture the edge grain type of butcher block and it is much cheaper. These are thinner as compared to the end grain type of it so it is usually used for the household purposes. The thickness of it is usually less which then does not allow to be resurfaced. Both these types of blocks are very durable but the end grain type of it more durable as compared to the edge grain type.
These types of blocks are usually made up of hardwood and it comes in various shapes and sizes to meet the needs of an individual. The countertops made of it also have storage space for keeping equipment like scraper, axe knife and others which is useful for cutting meats and other things. It is very important to keep the surface of these blocks clean because the food particles that are present in the block can cause bacteria which then cause food poisoning.
You should oil all side of the panel very carefully. You should consider using a Proterra mineral oil. This oil helps to give protection in the areas which deal with humidity. You should apply it by the help of a soft brush. You should always brush away and scrape away any food residues that are present on its surface to keep the wooden top clean. You should clean the surface with warm soapy water and dry it with the help of a paper towel or a dry cloth. Warping and cupping appear on it if there is a significant difference of moisture between both side of the panel, top side as well as bottom side. If it is possible for you then you should place the top of it on a hard and flat surface. The concave side of it should face downward. You should place a fairly heavy object uniformly on the convex side of it. It will take around 12 hours to straighten the panel completely. If there is any cut marks, stain marks or food stains on the surface then you can easily remove it by sanding it uniformly.