Among professional chefs, the butcher block is the preferred surface for cutting, chopping and slicing meats, vegetables and fruits because its durable surface is ideal for quick-moving knife blades. The practical beauty of butcher blocks makes them highly desirable for home use as well; however, it may be difficult to incorporate a standing butcher block or butcher block kitchen cart into a cozy kitchen design. In such instances, remodeling to add butcher block counters or a butcher block island may not be cost-effective either.

Butcher block cutting boards allow you to enjoy all the benefits of having a block work surface without a large financial investment. And since you can use butcher block cutting boards on top of any surface, they are ideal for kitchens of all sizes and layouts.

In recent years, the number of styles of cutting boards available on the market has increased significantly due to their practicality and aesthetic appeal. To help you sort through the array of choices offered by today's top block manufacturers, we created our Buyers' Guide to Butcher Block Cutting Boards. The guide reviews all of the major points of consideration that go into selecting the perfect cutting board. Read over it once completely and then bookmark the page to quickly return when needed.

Size

The size of your cutting board determines both its durability and usefulness for specific types of tasks and is a great place to start when thinking about the perfect butcher block cutting board for your home.

Length

The length of a cutting board corresponds to the distance across its front and determines the size of foods that can be used on its surface. Today's butcher block cutting boards fall within one of four size categories:

• Cutting boards that are 10 inches long or less are the smallest available on the market. Typically, cutting boards in this size are ideal for chopping and mincing herbs or small fruits and vegetables.


• Cutting boards that are 11 to 13 inches long can accommodate larger fruits and vegetables; however, you will likely have to empty the cutting board after you finish chopping or mincing one or two fruits or vegetables.


• Cutting boards that are 14 to 16 inches long are great for cutting large items and give you the convenience of not having to empty the cutting board as frequently. Butcher block cutting boards in this size category allow you to make attractive displays for serving as well.


• Cutting boards that are over 16 inches long are perfect for carving meats. They also offer the maximum amount of space as a work surface or a serving platter.

Thickness

The thickness of a butcher block cutting board relates to its durability. The greater the thickness, the more resilient the board is. Thicker boards can also be sanded easily if you develop a gash or blemish on their surfaces; however, some home chefs find it more comfortable to work closer to the counter top, opting for thinner styles that allow as much.

The three thickness categories for butcher block cutting boards are:

• Under 2 inches


• 2 inches


• Over 2 inches

Types of Wood

The type of wood used to make your butcher block cutting board affects both its appearance and its strength. All cutting boards are generally made from hardwoods that are somewhat resistant to scratching; however, differences exist among the hardness levels of the different woods that are commonly used to produce cutting boards. The hardness of woods is measured using a system called the Janka Wood Hardness Scale. The higher a wood's Janka rating, the harder and more durable it is.

Use this list as a guide to help you distinguish between the most common types of woods for cutting boards.

• Hard Maple
  Color: Maple wood has a light brown color and is the shade most people think of when they envision "natural" wood.
  Hardness:Hard maple measures 1450 on the Janka scale, making it one of the hardest woods available for cutting boards. Maple is the traditional material for butcher blocks due to its durability.


• Birch
  Color: Birch wood resembles maple very closely with its light brown shade.
  Hardness: The variety of birch wood most often used in cutting boards is a 1260 on the Janka Scale. As it is less hard than maple, birch is often less expensive, providing a great option if you're looking for an economic cutting board.


• Hickory
  Color: Hickory has a striking medium brown color.
  Hardness: Among hardwoods, hickory is one of the hardest, ranking 1820 on the Janka Scale. Often, hickory is used as an accent wood on striped or mixed styles.


• American Walnut
  Color: Walnut wood is known for its very dark brown coloring.
  Hardness: American walnut ranks at a 1010 on the Janka scale.


• Teak
  Color: Teak wood has a golden brown color that is darker than maple, but not as dark as hickory or American walnut. Many people love teak wood because of its unique variations in color that give a swirled appearance to the wood.
  Hardness: Measuring 1000 on the Janka scale, teak is one of the softer hardwoods used for cutting boards.


• American Cherry
  Color: American cherry wood has a medium brown color with a noticeable red tint.
  Hardness: With a Janka rating of 950, American cherry is the softest of the most commonly used woods for cutting boards.

Types of Grains

As you read the product descriptions for butcher block cutting boards, you will often see a description of the grain of the wood. The grain refers to how the rails or pieces of wood used to construct the block are arranged. Three types of grains exist:

• End grain cutting boards are created by cutting the ends off of the rails. The ends are then placed side by side in rows, similar to that of a checkerboard. The end grain offers a uniform, flat surface that is extremely durable with noticeable variations in coloring across its surface.


• Edge grain cutting boards are made by placing long rails one above the other, forming strips. In some cases, the strips use alternating types of wood, creating a striped appearance. High quality edge grain cutting boards are buffed to give an even, durable surface. The construction of edge grain boards gives the board a uniform appearance across its surface.


• Blended grain cutting boards feature smaller rails that are placed both end to end and top to bottom. The joints are visible over the surface of the board. Blended grains are similar in strength to edge grains.

Types of Styles

Today's cutting boards come in a variety of styles with features that enhance their utility and stability or make them well suited to certain types of tasks.

• Feet are four small posts that extend from the bottom of the cutting board. They may be made from wood or stainless steel. Cutting boards with feet rest firmly on the counter and do not lift or shake while you work. Some feet styles have rubber bottoms to keep them from sliding.


• Handles make it easy to lift your cutting board and hold it in place to scrape off chopped and minced foods into bowls. They can also make your cutting board easy to hang. Some styles have one handle that extends from one end of the board, while others have two handles that are located on either side of the board. The handles may be made of wood or metal.


• Juice grooves are narrow indentations that travel around the perimeter of the cutting board. As you cut fruits, vegetables or meats, any juice that is given off runs into the groove, keeping the surface from becoming slick. When you're finished working, you can then hold the cutting board over the sink to easily drain off the liquid.


• Finger Grooves are indentations in the sides of cutting boards that are intended to allow your fingers to grip the sides securely. The grooves make it easy to carry your cutting board to a serving area and to hold it while cleaning or removing foods from its surface into a bowl, pot or pan.


• Reversible cutting boards feature a finished edge on both sides that you can turn over while you work. This is convenient when you are preparing several dishes for a meal and one incorporates a pungent spice or vegetable, such as garlic or onions, but the other dishes do not. This allows you to perform all of your food preparation without cleaning your board, while still keeping strong flavors confined to their appropriate dishes.


• Bowl cutting boards have a round depression in their centers and are ideal for chopping spices with a mezzaluna.


• Counter savers are lips that extend over the front of your counter top and keep the cutting board in place while you work. The counter saver also keeps the front of the counter directly in front of the board clean.


• Pans are metal inserts that rest inside the surface of the cutting board. As you work, you can scrape chopped ingredients into the pans and then lift them out to easily transfer the ingredients to their respective pots, pans or bowls.


• Nesting boards are a set of cutting boards, where one smaller board fits inside of a larger one. Purchasing nesting cutting boards gives you two different sizes of surfaces to work on and allows for easy storage.