Butcher Block Cutting Board

I’ve wanted to purchase a new cutting board for home use for quite some time and this week was the week. I’ve had my eye on a specific cutting board from John Boos & Co. This also happens to be a brand that I have recently contacted, with hopes of carrying at Old Station Craft Meats. 

I’m a big fan of cutting boards made of wood. While they may be more work to take care of, I believe they will last a lifetime, if well cared for. I decided to go with one of the larger cutting boards that John Boos & Co. offers. The cutting board I chose is 24” by 18” by 1 1/2” and is made of Northern Hard Rock Maple. What I appreciate about this cutting board is its simplicity and durability. I prefer larger cutting boards because they accommodate larger cuts of meat, such as Boston butts, ribs, or briskets.

After obtaining my new cutting board I was very eager to use it, but wanted to make sure that it was properly seasoned before use. While John Boos & Co. does have their own butcher board oil and conditioner, I was unable to locate any near me, so I purchased several other brands. I ended up using Goddard’s Butcher Block Oil and Howard’s Butcher Block Conditioner, both of which I was able to obtain from my local hardware store.

If you decide to purchase a butcher block cutting board, I highly recommend that you properly season it with a food grade oil and conditioner. Be sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the board, oil, and conditioner. I know there are products out there that you can purchase to clean your board as well, but a mild dish soap is safe for use on your butcher block cutting board and works just as well.

Pro Tip. Do not use oils such as vegetable oil or canola oil to season your cutting board. These oils can become rancid and make your cutting board smell bad.