Friday, July 16, 2010

The Best Way To Maintain A Butcher Block

By Paul White

Everyone should have a butcher block in their kitchen, and for the most part a lot of people presently do. These blocks are made of wood materials and they are designed to allow easy cutting of things such as meats, and cheeses. Even though the blocks are great to use, there are some people that forget that these blocks also need to be maintained accordingly.

If you fail to clean your block on a continuous basis you are giving germs the chance to spread. These germs can cause you and members of your family to become extremely ill. Dirty blocks can also lead to gastric issues as well.

The best way to clean and sanitize your block is to use mineral oil on its surface. Since the block is made out of wood, this type of oil will help you disinfect its surface and it will not ruin the block either.

The block should always be wiped off with a damp sponge or towel after it has been used. Also, do not use an excessive amount of chemicals on the block when you are cleaning it. Overusing chemicals on the blocks surface can ruin the wood that the block is made from. Therefore, you should steer clear from using bleach, Clorox or anything of that nature.

To clean your block in a deep sense, you should engage in scraping off the top layer of the block. Try using a utility knife or a rather dull knife to engage in this task. Vinegar should then be applied to the blocks surface upon scraping off a single layer of wood.

However, the vinegar will need to be rinsed off after it has sat on the blocks surface for approximately five minutes. After rinsing the block, dry it off with a towel so the wood does not become distorted due to the excessive moisture that you are adding to the external surface of the wooden block.

About the Author:

No comments: