Finishing a butcher block

[41magsnub]

On this game cleaning cart I am working on part of the deal is an unfinished hardwood butcher block.  I'll be cutting to fit and sanding.  What I plan to do is oil it with this stuff:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00280MY7M/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Anybody have a better idea?

[never_retreat]

Aren't you just supposed to mineral oil butcher blocks?
I personally would never cut meat on wood, What about getting a big piece of the plastic cutting board material.

[Bob F.]

Mineral oil's non-toxic and won't go rancid as will cooking oils. 41 magsnub's right. Helleva lot cheaper than your link!

[41magsnub]

I'm getting reimbursed for most of the hardware by the guys and they really really want the fancy hardwood cutting board.  I'm not getting it there, it was just an easy link.  Locally that is within about a buck of plain old mineral oil.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Counterintuitively wood is a better choice sanitation wise

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[AJ Dual]

Counterintuitively wood is a better choice sanitation wise

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This. The wood itself is anti microbial. Plastic is inert and much more hospitable to bacteria.

[roo_ster]

Just finished up a few canes with real tung oil.  Food safe.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

This. The wood itself is anti microbial. Plastic is inert and much more hospitable to bacteria.

i remember the hoopla when they made us switch from wood to plastic. the experts knew it was best    oops

want another fun fact?
places that use the plastic gloves have a higher rate of food borne illness than places that don't   another victory for the experts and phds

[French G.]

I've seen the same studies, leave the boards alone and the wood comes out with way less microbes. I segregate my boards and if i cut meat I rub them down with a paste of kosher salt and leave them sit.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

if i am working commercial i use bleach to sanitize. and at way higher than .gov recommended concentrations. i am a mite nervous about food borne illness. had a buddy who killed 2 folks.  even though the problem was traced further up the the chain of supply those folks were dead and they had faces and names to him. hes still messed up over it  left the biz.

[T.O.M.]

Curious...I've read the wood studies, but don't know if they apply to bamboo.  I use a bamboo as a general work surface, so no eat cutting on it, but I have considered replacing my old wood/meat board with a bamboo.  Anyone know?

[vaskidmark]

if i am working commercial i use bleach to sanitize. and at way higher than .gov recommended concentrations. ....

This!

And bleach will create an oozy mess on your oiled wood that will make you want to throw it as far away (several states, at least) as possible.

Learn to use a grill scraper (something like this - http://www.target.com/p/oxo-stainless-steel-scraper-cutter-black/-/A-14286213#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink - thicker & stiffer the blade the better) to clean off the top of your cutting board before you wipe it down with bleach.  It also cuts off split ends where germs like to hide.  If you use too much bleach (as in soaking/saturating the wood) you will get split ends.

http://for-sale.yakaz.com/antique-butcher-block-for-sale#lo=4&docid=0009ut27e2e6legs  Notice that the dishing never got in the way of good butchering - don't fall for the notion you have to sand it flat.  Also notice the sheen/patina from keeping the top smooth.

stay safe.

[lupinus]

Mineral oil is standard and just plain works. Cheap to boot. Flax seed oil is also an excellent choice.

And yes, wood is actually better than plastic. Clean it off, give a spritz with 50/50 water/vinegar as a spray on cleaner, dry off when done. The tannins in wood act as a natural anti microbial agent. The oil finish repels most of the nastiness anyway. Wood is also self healing and since it gives a little grip to the knife is actually safer to cut on.

Plastic got the nod because of perceived advantage since it can go in a dishwasher hot enough to sanitize or hold up to various chemical sanitizers you don't particularly want on wood. The fact wood doesn't need such in the first place was lost on the "experts".

[Northwoods]

For butcher blocks you can melt some food grade wax and mix it with the mineral oil or tung oil.  Let it penetrate, do additional coats if desired.  Then just refresh it by flooding the surface with mineral oil, let it soak overnight then wipe off the excess.