Butcher Block cutting boards / countertops are manufactured from wood. The structure of wood is designed by nature as a transportation system for moisture and nutrients within the living tree. This transportation system remains in place once we create a cutting board or countertop from the raw material. This must be kept in mind when caring for a cutting board or butcher block countertop. Wood is hygroscopic, meaning it gains moisture as the relative humidity around the board goes up and it looses moisture as the air dries out. As the board gains moisture it swells slightly and as it dries out the board shrinks. This action can make a board or countertop fail. This is the very reason we do not want a board soaked in water. In doing so the owner of the board or counter top is risking severe moisture gain, swelling and board failure.

The finished product has a mineral oil finish on it. The reason we finish the product is to inhibit the movement of moisture in and out. Mineral Oil is a completely food safe finish. Unfortunately mineral oil is not permanent. It can be washed off with normal maintenance and can dry out through evaporation (although at a much slower rate than water). It is therefore necessary to maintain the mineral oil finish. We do ask you to give a new cutting board or countertop a thorough oiling as soon as received or installed. This will take care of any drying that might have occurred during post production. The general rule of thumb is a new board or countertop should be oiled once a day for a week, once a week for a month and once a month forever. All surfaces should be liberally coated.

So keep a few rules in mind. First, don't immerse the butcher block in water. Instead, sponge it off with warm, soapy water. If the surface needs disinfected a 1 part bleach to 10 parts water can be used. Dry it thoroughly. Never store a cutting board flat (no air flow) or near a high heat source. Do not prop a wet board up and allow the water to sheet off after washing the water collects at the bottom of the board and the edge then is soaking in water. Finally, oil the surfaces on a regular basis to preserve and restore it. Oiling it every few days to once a month, as needed, will keep it looking like new.

A home recipe for a good butcher block preservative follows: Mix 10 parts mineral oil to 1 part paraffin. Carefully warm the mixture in a microwave just until the paraffin melts.

Mineral oil can be purchased at the local drug store. It is cheap and available. For those customers wanting a top of the line product for butcher block care, we suggest our Emmet's Elixir. It is a combination of pure food grade mineral oil, bees wax and essential oils from rosemary and lemon. Each ingredient serve a purpose: The oil, as mentioned above, keeps the board protected, the bees wax stays with the board coating the surface keeping water out and the oil in and the essential oils (besides smelling wonderful) are naturally anti-microbial.

Apply the solution to your butcher block with a clean, lint-free cloth. Use several coats if the block is extremely dry.