Tips On How To Select A Butcher Block

A butcher block is a piece of thick dense wood used to cut up meat. The density of the butcher block is what helps it to  handle the heavy blows it receives when cutting up meat. It also does not make the knife dull and retains the sharpness of  the kife. The block is hardy enough to sustain blows that it will absorb when tenderizing meat. Earlier the blocks used to be  just round tree stumps but this shape is not ideal for cutting.

Thus the blocks are now square or rectangle in shape. Butcher shops would use these blocks to cut up meat and sell to customers. People at home would use normal cutting boards which give  out easily in the long run. Today butcher blocks are used mostly by the chefs but a lot of households also enjoy them.  Recently butcher blocks have been incorporated into the common kitchen. They also come built with cubbies and shelves to hold  other equipment like utensils, knives etcetera. Butcher blocks have been deemed as a safe cutting board for food  preparations.

The blocks available in the market today are assembled pieces of wood put together in such a way that they can  absorb the blows and impact of the kife. It is advisable to ask the dealer how to care for your butcher block especially how  to maintain the surface so that the wood lasts longer. Do not use oils that may go rancid as this flavour can be absorbed by  the kives and meat.When selecting a butcher block, keep in mind where you would want to place it in the kitchen. There are  stand alone butcher blocks as well as smaller portable cutting board to choose from.

There are different types of wood that  the blocks are available in; bamboo, maple, cherry, granite. Some people prefer granite as this helps to sharpen the knife as  well. In the long run though a wooden butcher block is far easier to handle and maintain. The blocks also come with a trendy  look to blend in well with the décor of the kitchen. Some people build the whole kitchen around the butcher block. One of the  other uses a butcher block has is that it can be used as a table to serve guests. Meals can be taken directly on it and this  adds a very rustic charm to the meal.