When shopping for butcher blocks, it’s important to choose the best one for the meat you will be butchering the most such as pork. If you don’t do your research, you could end up wasting money.
The best butcher block for pork is a large, maple block. While much of the best choice depends on your wants and needs, there are a few things that are nearly universally desired in a butcher block, such as large size, strong wood, and a thick, end-grain.
When choosing the best butcher block for pork, it’s important to consider what the butcher block can handle. Read down below to see more in-depth explanations and recommendations.
What’s the Best Butcher Block for Pork?
As mentioned above, maple wood is a good option for butcher blocks. It is one of the strongest options, making it also one of the most common. When butchering pork, you need a strong butcher block that won’t damage easily.
Along with getting a butcher block made of maple wood, you should also find a butcher block where the end fibers of the wood are exposed which is commonly called the “end grain.” We will discuss this more later on, but the end grain is essentially stronger than the edge grain which is common in cutting boards.
When butchering pork or really any meat, you should have enough space for all of the steps that you’ll have to take to butcher the meat. This means a small countertop cutting board just won’t do.
Speaking of cutting boards, some people think they are the same thing as butcher blocks. In some cases, they are made similarly, but they certainly are not the same thing. Below will discuss that in detail.
Can Cutting Boards Be Used to Butcher Pork?
If you’re asking yourself if the cutting board collecting dust in your storage closet can be used for butchering pork, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, there are some companies that advertise their butcher blocks and cutting boards as the same product with the same purposes. That can make searching for the perfect butcher block even more confusing.
The most important distinction between the two is that they are used for different things. Butcher Blocks need thickness and more weight to them since they are being used to cut meat. A weaker and thinner board wouldn’t be ideal because they would often move around and get damaged easily.
Cutting vegetables seems easy enough, but butchering meats like pork involves a lot more than just cutting. It often involves deboning, quartering, chopping, and filleting which takes a larger and stronger surface than chopping up tomatoes and onions.
The most common wood used for butcher blocks is maple wood, and the reasoning behind that is it’s a stronger wood that can withhold all of the chopping that goes into butchering meats
Most butcher blocks are used with end grain which means the end fibers of the wood are exposed. This means that it is much stronger and resists damage caused by knives. It is even known to be self-healing over time. This isn’t usually the case for cutting boards as they are often made with the grain running the length of the board.
With all of this said, you’re probably thinking you have your answer, and for the most part, you actually do. Cutting boards and butcher blocks are made with different things in mind so cutting boards are usually not the best option for butchering. However, this isn’t always the case.
Some cutting boards can withhold everything that goes into butchering. They may be made with the end fibers of the wood exposed, and they may be at least 1 ½ inches thick which is normal for butcher blocks. If they are both of those things along with providing enough space for butchering, there is no issue with using it as a butcher block.
Getting a Bang for Your Buck
Butcher blocks aren’t always cheap. In fact, more money usually means better quality. That isn’t always true, but it is certainly held up as a decent motto to go by. It’s safe to say that you will probably get a better quality butcher block by paying $200 rather than paying $12. The cheaper option will be smaller and made of cheaper wood.
You can’t afford to pay less for butcher blocks because the quality of it is very important. You can usually go for the cheaper option with cutting boards, but butcher blocks have to be topnotch to withhold everything it’ll be met with such as sharp butcher knives and deboning of a meat.
It’s important to know that you will be getting something worth your money. You don’t want to pay hundreds of dollars and get something that isn’t even worth half of what you paid. Below, you will see three options broken down by its perks, pros, cons, and everything in between to help you choose what is best for you.
What’s the Best Butcher Block for Pork? Now You Know
One of the best woods for butcher blocks is maple wood which can hold up against the strongest knives. Though some may use butcher blocks with edge grain, end grain is the best for butcher blocks because it makes the butcher block stronger. Cutting boards are often edge grain because it doesn’t have to hold up against the conditions that butcher blocks do.