Buying a butcher block: what should you look for?
A good butcher block is thick, heavy and made of solid wood. Ours is 40 x 40 cm and 6 cm thick, made of beech and handmade in Friesland.
Four things that make a good butcher block.
Thickness
The thickness decides whether a block stays flat. Thin wood starts to move when it gets wet. Our butcher block is 6 cm thick, twice as thick as the cutting boards. That keeps it flat, even with heavy use.
Weight
A butcher block has to stay put when you chop on it. Solid beech of 6 cm is heavy enough not to slide. That is safer than a light board that slips away. If you mostly cut meat and want to catch the juices, take a look at the cutting board with juice groove too.
Wood
Beech is hard and has a fine, dense grain. It can take chopping and is still kind to your knives. It is solid, so after years of use you sand the surface and it is smooth again.
Care
You oil a butcher block twice a month, including the sides and the underside. It takes more oil than an ordinary board. How to do that is explained in Oiling a butcher block.
Every board gives someone a fresh start.
Our boards are made by hand in a training workshop in Friesland, where people at a distance from the labour market learn a trade.
- Made by handOne craftsman per board, no assembly line.
- Solid beechHard, fine grain and kind to your knives.
- Made in FrieslandMade and engraved by hand in Friesland.
Questions about the butcher block.
What is the difference between a butcher block and a cutting board?
A butcher block is thicker and heavier. Ours is 6 cm thick, against 3 cm for the cutting boards. For everyday cutting a cutting board is handier, for heavy chopping and large pieces of meat a butcher block.
Read the comparison →How big is the butcher block?
40 x 40 cm and 6 cm thick.
What wood is it made of?
Solid beech, made by hand in a training workshop in Friesland.
Can a butcher block go in the dishwasher?
No. Wash it with warm water, dry it straight away and stand it upright.
Can I add a care set?
Yes. On the product page you choose the butcher block on its own or with a care set.
View the butcher block →Butcher block or a cutting board after all?
The board finder asks three questions and tells you which board suits your kitchen.
Try the board finder