Butcher Block Kitchen Island Countertops Add a Touch of Real Class to Your Kitchen
When designing your kitchen you might want to give some thought towards the practicality of installing a butcher block countertop for food preparation such as a John Boos kitchen island. Butcher blocks are heavy duty wooden worktops or countertops which are dedicated to food preparation and remove the need for separate chopping boards.
The most common way to include a butcher block counter top in your kitchen would be to install a butcher block kitchen island which would probably sit in the middle of your kitchen with good walking access all round it. This may depend upon the size of your kitchen and for smaller rooms you may want to consider a smaller rectangular or square butcher block kitchen cart on wheels or casters which can be moved out of the way when not in use.
If you have the room, the plumbing, and the resources to fit a built in butcher block kitchen island rather than a free standing island it can be a big advantage to have one with a sink. This makes food preparation a far more practical experience on your butchers block island and would mean that you won't have to swap to and from your main kitchen sink dropping and dripping all over your kitchen floor!
Commercial butcher blocks tend to be at least four inches thick but for a home kitchen it's fine to install a 3 inch thick butchers block. You should select a hardwood butcher block countertop typically made from maple, oak, cherry, birch, or walnut because the surface will need to stand up to some heavy use in food preparation and chopping. maple butcher blocks. Hard maple butcher blocks are thought to be the best because maple is one of the hardest and most durable woods.
In order to keep them in prime condition butcher block counter tops require care and treatment with a special mineral oil which is sometimes blended with a little paraffin wax for additional protection from moisture and staining. Generally mineral oil treatment for butchers blocks once every month is recommended. Try to avoid placing hot pans or pots on the block because this can discolor, burn or even warp the block. Keep vinegar away from it because vinegar may warp and crack your butcher block countertop, and don't use bleach, detergents or abrasive cleaning fluids on your block. Wash your butcher block kitchen island with warm soapy water, rinse with clean water, then wipe down with a dry cloth to remove any excess moisture. If the surface of your butcher block becomes scarred or gouged it can be sanded down to a smooth surface again and re-treated with the mineral oil / paraffin wax blend.
Although John Boos butcher blocks are highly recommended, butcher block kitchen islands are also available from other kitchen furniture manufacturers such as IKEA Covington, Home Styles Furniture, Catskill Craftsmen, etc.
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