As promised, here's the deal with wood chop blocks and countertops. Truly, there is so much information about this topic that this blog could easily border on "informing you against your will", so I will try to keep it as brief as possible. However, don't hesitate to ask questions if I leave something out of if you have been advised differently.
Basically, I classify countertops into two broad categories - those that easily retain their "like new" appearance no matter how much you abuse them, and those that age gracefully and develop a patina with regular use. Wood countertops generally fall into the latter of those two categories because they are naturally produced products (as opposed to human engineered). Another factor that pushes wood tops into this category is the fact that different wood species, such as maple, cherry, teak, etc, have their own individual quirks that respond differently depending on the environment. As an example, maple - traditionally used for heavy food preparation - is often used for heavy traffic areas that one might use on a daily basis for actual chopping and dicing. Because of its natural density and hardness it can take a lot of abuse and still remain presentable. For those of you out there searching for that perfect well used former butcher's chop block, you're most likely going to stumble across a maple one. Other woods, such as pine, are less common for actual preparation surfaces because of its very loose and soft grain. In a high traffic area pine will start to show wear and tear much more quickly.
In the past decade, as we have begun to exhaust our options for that perfect countertop option, many have turned back to wood. This demand has pushed the industry in a whole new direction, one that includes a vast variety of interesting and beautiful wood species. Again, each of these types have their good qualities and their drawbacks. In the photo above from the King Street Kitchen Company showroom, you will see an island countertop constructed from a wood called Iroko, a wood very similar to Teak. What makes this species a wonderful choice for kitchen countertops is its naturally dense grain and high oil content which reduces the possibility of staining. Maintenance is very user friendly, only requiring an occasional rub down with a penetrating mineral oil to further reduce the possibility of staining. Another property common to Iroko, much like cherry, is its tendency to change color over time. Typically, fresh planks will have a distinctive yellow hew, but will transition to a beautiful rich brown over several months, particularly when exposed to direct natural light.
One of the most common misconceptions about wood countertops and chop blocks is that they are less sanitary than alternatives. This theory was introduced in the 1970's at the same time that many of the man-made countertop options, such as corian and formica, started being produced. Studies done during this period claiming that wood was a breeding ground for bacteria eventually lead to heavy government restrictions for commercial use of wood surfaces, however later studies have discredited these claims and have proven exactly the opposite in many ways. A solid wood surface in good condition without heavy cracks actually helps kill bacteria because the surface is self-healing, meaning any cuts close back on themselves and eliminate the opportunity for bacteria growth. In many of the man-made materials, scores created during food prep remain open and provide a perfect environment for bacteria to fester and grow. That being said, the logical question remains, much like eggs and milk being good for your one day and bad for you the next, who do we believe. My personal and professional opinion is that, assuming we respect basic kitchen cleaning routines, wood is the winner and is my choice to not only provide practical functionality, but to provide a physically and psychologically warm alternative for everyday countertops.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at info@kingstreetkitchencompany.com
A couple of great resources for more information are:
Each of these resources produce high quality wood products for kitchen use and are available at the King Street Kitchen Company showroom.
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