Butcher blocks are the ultimate work surface and add incredible utility to kitchens of all sizes and decors, whether you select a stationary standing butcher block model or a rolling, portable butcher block cart. The durability and beauty of standing butcher blocks and butcher block carts makes them more and more in demand every year.

The incredible popularity of butcher block kitchen furnishings has led today's manufacturers to introduce a variety of wood types and styles into their lineups, with new designs being introduced regularly. Among the options available, birch butcher blocks and carts are favorites among many homeowners due to the light, neutral look of their wood and their many available features.

To aid you in shopping, we have created our Buyers' Guide to Birch Butcher Blocks and Carts. The guide was assembled by bringing together the most common questions that buyers like you commonly ask us about birch butcher blocks and carts. Use the guide as a starting point before you begin shopping, and then bookmark the page to return to as often as you like to assist you while you shop.

What is birch wood?

The birch tree family is a genus known as Betula that consists of more than 50 species of deciduous trees. All of the trees within the family have pale brown wood that is similar to maple. Birch wood typically has only minimal markings on its surface, giving it an attractive, even coloring.

For butcher blocks, the yellow birch or Betula alleghaniensis species is one of the most commonly used. The tree grows primarily in the eastern portion of North America from Canada to Georgia and from Minnesota eastward to the coast. The name of the tree refers to the color of its bark, not its wood.

On the Janka Scale, an internationally accepted method of comparing the durability of hardwoods, yellow birch rates at 1260 Janka. This makes birch the second hardest wood commonly used for standing butcher blocks and butcher block carts.

How do I select the right butcher block?

As the primary purpose of adding either a standing butcher block or a butcher block cart to your kitchen is to enjoy the benefits of a butcher block as a work surface, ensuring that you select the right butcher block top is crucial.

Fortunately, it's not difficult to select the right top if you keep two factors in mind: the grain and the finish.

There are three types of grains available. The following is a summary of each style and its major characteristics.

• Edge grain
  
  • Made from birch rails that are the full length of the block top
  
  
  • Rails are stacked one above the other to form the width
  
  
  • Visible seams show up as horizontal lines across the butcher block top
  
  
  • Uses the least number of rails
  
  
  • Has the least amount of color variation and the most unified look



• End grain
  
  • Made from birch rails that are held vertically and cut at the desired thickness for the block
  
  
  • Rails are placed one after the other to form the length
  
  
  • Rows of rails are placed one above the other to form the width
  
  
  • Features a distinct checkerboard pattern on its surface
  
  
  • Uses the greatest number of rails
  
  
  • Has the greatest amount of color variation and the most diversified look
  
  
  • Offers the most durable surface and is the gentlest on knives



• Blended grain
  
  • Made from shorter birch rails laid end to end to make the length of the butcher block
  
  
  • Rows of rails are stacked one above the other to form the width
  
  
  • Visible seams show up as horizontal and vertical lines across the butcher block top
  
  
  • Uses less rails than end grains, but more rails than edge grains
  
  
  • Has a moderate amount of color variation

To select the right grain for your butcher block table, you'll need to balance your aesthetic preferences with how durable of a block you need. The needed durability will vary based upon the types of tasks that you intend to preform at your birch butcher block or birch butcher block cart.

The finish of your butcher block is the outer covering that protects it against becoming too dry and splitting or cracking. The following is a rundown on the features of the two finishes available form manufacturers: the natural oil finish and the Varnique finish.

• Natural oil finish
  • Gives the wood a natural appearance and protection with a food grade mineral oil coating
  • Penetrates the outer surface of the butcher block to condition the wood beneath
  
  
  • Suitable for all food preparation tasks
  • Can be used as a cutting surface
  • Requires oiling or waxing every four weeks to replace the finish as it becomes absorbed into the wood
  • Scratches can be removed at home by sanding and refinishing
  • Must be cleaned carefully to allow no water or soap to remain on its surface
• Varnique finish
  
  • Has an attractive semi-gloss finish and is made from a food safe varnish
  
  
  • Remains on the outer surface of the birch wood to lock moisture inside and prevent drying out
  
  
  • Suitable for many food preparation tasks, such as rolling dough
  
  
  • Cannot be used as a cutting surface and requires the use of a cutting board
  
  
  • Does not require any type of regular maintenance to maintain the finish
  
  
  • Scratches must be removed with the help of a professional if they occur
  
  
  • Only requires basic cleaning with a mild cleaner and a method similar to what you would use on your kitchen table or counter tops

What styles do birch standing butcher blocks come in?

For a stationary, standing birch butcher block, you'll have your choice of three primary styles. Most birch standing blocks will have either have matching natural birch bases or contrasting painted bases.

• Standard standing butcher blocks have a square shape and are similar to the original butcher blocks produced in Europe during the 19th century. They have a thick, sturdy working surface mounted on four legs. The standing butcher block style typically offer towel racks for storage options. To expand the storage, you can purchase utensil hooks to hang a few items from these racks rather than a towel.



• Birch butcher block tables have a rectangular shape and a larger, but generally thinner working surface than a standing butcher block. Some butcher block tables are designed to serve primarily as centers for food preparation and offer one or more shelves and drawers. Others have more open bases to allow for legroom, allowing the table to double as a seating area either on a regular basis or for larger crowds.



• Butcher block kitchen islands offer the maximum amount of storage. Some also have drop leafs, which can be raised and lowered to add extra counter space while you work. Like butcher block tables, they are usually rectangular in shape. Most islands feature cabinetry with hinged doors as well as drawers. A few have an open area between the top and base that functions as a shelf.

What styles do birch butcher block carts come in?

Like standing butcher blocks, birch butcher block carts are available in three styles. They also may feature matching birch wood bases or painted bottoms to add color to your kitchen. Whenever you are comparing birch butcher block kitchen carts, it is vital that you consider a style with locking casters to keep the cart in place while you work.

• Standard butcher block carts usually have a square shape and are the most portable among styles of butcher block carts. Designed to be compact and easily moveable, birch standard butcher block carts usually have a limited amount of storage space, such as open shelves beneath their work surfaces and one or two drawers. Towel racks are also common on these styles.



• Rolling butcher block cabinets
are rectangular in shape and generally feature two cabinet doors and one drawer for storage. Drop leafs and towel racks are featured in some models as well. Birch rolling butcher block cabinets can be moved relatively easily, but are generally just transported from one portion of a kitchen into a central, open spot for working, unlike carts, which are easy enough to move to be stored in one space and used in another.


• Rolling butcher block islands also have a rectangular shape and are larger than rolling butcher block cabinets. Often, their counter tops extend over their bases. Like stationary butcher block kitchen island styles, the rolling models offer the maximum amount of storage with cabinets and drawers as standard features. Towel racks and drop leafs are very common additions to rolling island styles as well. Although they are mounted on casters, rolling islands are typically intended to be kept in one spot for the majority of the time, due to their large sizes and heavy designs. Adding casters allows the islands to be easily shifted to clean the floors, to turn the island for use as a serving station or to move it out of the way to expand a kitchen table for seating a large crowd.