Solid kitchen islands to make food prep a breeze
Dan S. Morris is the Chief Content Editor and founder of ChosenFurniture. He covers high-quality furniture products designed to last, so he is the best contact for house goods advice.
Beautiful, warm, and cozy kitchen islands with butcher blocks will help you two-fold: offer more workspace and storage options. Planning and preparing meals can be tricky, especially if you’re tight on space. Whether you prefer to cook, it’s not unusual to find yourself wishing for more space for meal prep.
A butcher block is a practical investment, especially when it sits on top of a kitchen island or a kitchen cart. From industrial and rustic to modern, you’ll find kitchen island butcher blocks in various sizes, styles, and finishes. Some are made with engineered wood, while others are constructed of sustainable natural wood.
Consumer Reports – Kitchen Islands Butcher Block Pros And Cons
Kitchen islands with butcher blocks have many advantages and benefits for your space. Here are some reasons you should or should not consider buying a butcher block for your kitchen countertop.
- It comes in a variety of colors and styles
- Adapts well to any kitchen decor
- It develops a lovely patina over time
- Ideal for cutting and chopping
- Won’t dull your knives like stone or concrete counters
- It has natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties
- It’s a long-lasting and durable choice
- Relatively simple to install and easy to repair
- Available at a wide range of prices
- Susceptible to scratches, dings, and stains
- Can swell and shrink under extreme dryness or humidity
- They are not heat resistant
- Vulnerable to rot and discoloration
- Requires routine maintenance and proper sealing
Best Kitchen Islands With Butcher Block Reviews
Here’s to all the veg and meat lovers. If it is time for you to buy a new kitchen island with a butcher block, this guide specifically caters to every requirement. We review the top 10 kitchen islands with butcher blocks for your convenience and ease of selecting the best product on the market. Read our care and maintenance guide primer and check out the best kitchen island butcher blocks below to find the perfect one for your cooking and baking space.
Amazon Basics Multifunction Rolling Kitchen Island Cart with Open Shelves
Stay organized and enjoy additional storage space with Amazon Basics Multifunction Rolling Kitchen Island Cart with Open Shelves. This convenient kitchen cart can place items such as utensils, dry goods, cookware, grilling or bar supplies, and much more. Whether you need extra counter space in your home or a mobile surface for outdoor entertaining, the AmazonBasics rolling cart provides functionality and an attractive, modern look.
You can easily roll the Amazon Basics cart between work areas to keep extra supplies and utensils at your fingertips. Chop and slice ingredients on the cart’s two-tone butcher block countertop. Stash other cooking necessities in the pullout drawer or on two removable open shelves. With pivoting caster wheels, you’ll enjoy a smooth range of motion and effortless mobility.
Made of durable materials in a compact design, this AmazonBasics kitchen cart is built to last. Features a robust composite wood construction, a solid wood countertop, and contemporary metal fixtures and hardware. This multi-rolling supply cart offers serviceability and an intelligent look that fits nicely with your appliances and kitchen decor.
It is easy to assemble and has enough top space to hold most pots and pans. Relatively stable and reasonably sturdy, given the price. It will take about two unhurried hours to assemble the kitchen cart. The instructions are entirely pictographic, so you must pay close attention to getting everything oriented correctly, or you will have to backtrack.
Size: 35.4 x 18 x 36.5 inches | Countertop: Solid wood | Weight: 33 pounds
Mainstays Kitchen Island Cart with Drawer and Storage Shelves
The beautiful Mainstays Kitchen Island Cart with Drawer and Storage Shelves is a storage solution and an additional work surface for your small kitchen. It is engineered to provide commercial quality, durable work surfaces, and intelligent storage space for your kitchen at a price you can afford. This exclusive system features a wooden counter for chopping vegetables, storing pots and pans, and other kitchen tasks.
It contains a drawer ideal for storing utensils and other cooking items, making it a convenient addition to any kitchen. An ample cupboard has a shelf underneath the drawer to facilitate the straightforward organization and storage of more oversized objects. The towel bar and the spice rack are both incorporated right into the sides of the cart for convenient storage. The cart even comes equipped with wheels, making it simple for you to maneuver it anywhere you want it to go at any time.
The full kitchen cart is sturdy and doesn’t move, even when rolling dough. The wheels can be locked, but it’s so heavy that they don’t move even when closed. It is easy to put all the parts together, but you probably need two people to bring it into the kitchen to assemble it. This durable solid wood state-of-the-art butcher block kitchen island will optimize your kitchen space and is an investment piece. And over the years, you’ll be glad to have invested.
Size: 19 x 32 x 35.5 inches | Countertop: Solid wood | Weight: 51.7 pounds
John Boos Cucina Culinarte Kitchen Cart with Maple Top Butcher Block
This is our recommendation for a premium island with a butcher block. It is perfect for anyone that has a small kitchen. If you don’t know, John Boos is America’s oldest manufacturer of premium quality kitchen equipment designed for professional chefs. Since 1887, John Boos has manufactured fine butcher blocks, cutting boards, kitchen workstations and carts, and other food preparation products. Thousands of professionals have used their products in restaurants, commercial and institutional, or government and educational food services.
John Boos Cucina Culinarte Kitchen Cart with Maple Top Butcher Block is the perfect place to prepare and serve food. They are single units that increase both counter and storage space. It is part of the Cucina Americana line and blends European design with John Boos’s trademark butcher blocks. This kitchen cart has a food service grade stainless steel base and a nice hard-grain removable butcher block working surface. The countertop is a standard Boos block in a cream finish with beeswax.
This steel base butcher block features two sturdy food service shelves. Good quality commercial grade 3-inch casters and locking brakes for easy roll around, while the wheels are soft and will not mark a wooden floor. This cart has been a huge timesaver in my large kitchen. It is used as a small food prep island to move pots/pans from the food prep area to the dishwasher and clear the dining room table after a meal.
When you have a stylish room, home, or citizen, you desire a modern John Boos Cucina Culinarte Kitchen Cart to provide even more style and perfection to the places. Easy to assemble, it comes with a one-year warranty against defects in craft and materials. Don’t think twice about the cost. Best purchased in the total kitchen redesign project. With proper care, these tables can last for many generations! The Cucina Magnifico carts are the ideal combination of style and efficiency to blend with and complement your home decor.
Size: 35 x 30 x 20 inches | Countertop: Yellow birch, pressed hardwood | Weight: 72 pounds
Winston Porter Wulfram Kitchen Island Cart With Butcher Block
This Winston Porter Wulfram Kitchen Island Cart With Butcher Block is an excellent storage addition to your kitchen. It is classically designed and ruggedly constructed. This rectangular kitchen cart butcher block is made from yellow birch in the Catskill Mountains and is accentuated with an oil finish. I would say it is a perfect fit for a modern kitchen setting, yet, this piece is practical and adaptable to many other styles.
The kitchen cart contains a butcher top, two slatted shelves, and a spacious drawer with full extension slides. The height of the shelves is adjustable, and it also features stainless steel towel racks on both sides to keep your kitchen towels handy. The butcher top can be used for cutting vegetables and meat while you cook food. This kitchen cart with butcher block top from Winston Porter also includes locking casters for easy mobility.
The butcher block cart is beautiful and measures 30 x 20 inches, with a thickness of 2.5 inches. The total weight capacity for this kitchen island butcher block is 200 lbs, while each shelf weight capacity is 80 lbs. A fantastic value, absolutely gorgeous, highly-grained natural wood, American-made, and portable. Wheel it away from the wall when you need more space to work on your meal from all angles.
The block top is finished with food-grade mineral oil. Assembly came together nicely but needed the patience to take the time to complete. It can take under 2 hours to put it together, but once it is done, it is well worth it. It will go great in your kitchen, and use it for food preparation and extra room for serving when you have guests.
Size: 36 x 30 x 20 inches | Countertop: Solid wood | Weight: 105 pounds
Origami Folding Kitchen Cart With Solid Wood Butcher Block
Let’s be honest: most of us either lack sufficient counter space or room in other areas where we require it. Beautify your kitchen with Origami Folding Kitchen Cart With Solid Wood Butcher Block. The three-tiered kitchen island cart, which can be folded up for storage but is still quite durable, functions as a mobile butcher block counter that rolls and is an ideal entertainment component.
Consider that a traditional island with butcher block placed on a kitchen island is weighty and immovable. The Origami Kitchen Cart is a portable option that can go anywhere you need. The caddy may serve as an additional place for food preparation next to your grill, a buffet station, a portable bar, or simply some extra room to prepare dessert for your company.
It is likely to look perfect at home in any residential design thanks to its robust powder-coated steel frame and wood top that give it an overall modern appearance. Because it is incredibly movable thanks to its four wheels, you may transfer it to the location in your home where it will be utilized to the greatest extent, whether in the kitchen, the dining room, the hallway, or even outside by your pool.
A built-in towel rack provides convenient access to the towel you need to facilitate a speedy cleanup. Two shelves can sustain around 100 pounds between them. It’s steady but reasonably lightweight, and the wheels make it a breeze to steer around the kitchen as necessary. Assembly is easy and screws together in minutes. Stay stylishly organized with the Origami Foldable cart in your home.
Size: 20 x 25.5 x 36 inches | Countertop: Solid wood | Weight: 38.3 pounds
Ebern Designs Sydney Kitchen Island Cart Butcher Block
If you love wood furniture, Ebern Designs Sydney Kitchen Island Cart Butcher Block is an excellent workstation for your kitchen. Designed by professional chefs for serious Chefs, this chop-and-drop system provides commercial quality, durable work surfaces, and intelligent storage space for your cooking space.
The butcher block includes a juice groove on the cutting surface to collect juices and direct their flow to the pig snout. The stainless steel chef pan fits snuggly below the pig snout to contain the liquids and cut products. It has two shelves, one of which is a removable wire basket shelf, a trash ring, a trash bag, a knife block, a removable pot rack, a spice rack, and a towel rack. A trash ring is designed to accept a standard plastic grocery bag or various size kitchen trash bags.
Hardware material is steel with a nickel finish. The total weight capacity is 125 lbs. The height is just perfect for food prep. The removable speed rack holds ingredients near the work surface. Features an oversized towel bar with four fixed S hooks to hang your favorite utensils close to you. This kitchen cart butcher block rolls on wheels, two of which have a locking feature.
The rubberwood countertop is non-toxic and can be conditioned with natural engrain oil and washed with a damp cloth. Assembly is required upon arrival. All the drill holes lined up perfectly, and all the parts and tools were included and clearly labeled. This one is perfect if you want a small but helpful kitchen cart butcher block for our new home.
Size: 35 x 30.5 x 24 inches | Countertop: Rubberwood | Weight: 82 pounds
Oxford Diamondback Rolling Kitchen Island Set Butcher Block Top
With ample surface space and built-in storage, the Oxford Diamondback Rolling Kitchen Island Set Butcher Block Top is well-suited to meet all your needs. The traditional styling is tastefully refined, lending itself to a complementary aesthetic. The butcher block top adds a rustic appeal to any kitchen decor. The wood veneers feature grain and hue that vary slightly from piece to piece, making each island unique. Put the finishing touches on the island by selecting a Black or White color finish.
Constructed of solid hardwood and wood veneers, this kitchen island with a butcher block top is designed to last. The handsome raised panel doors and drawer fronts provide the ultimate style to dress up any culinary space. Great for food preparation, the butcher block top is a plus in any kitchen. Fully functional doors and drawers on both sides of the cabinet provide beauty and convenience.
A massive PLUS is the storage space underneath, accessible from both sides. Behind the doors, you will find adjustable shelves and abundant storage space. Deep push-through drawers are great for holding essential items. Appliances (kitchen-aid mixer, food processor, blender, panini maker, or whatever else you have) fit nicely inside the cabinet; nice to have them out of sight. Style, function, and quality make this kitchen island butcher block a wise addition to your home and kitchen.
The set includes two 24-inch Schoolhouse stools; however, you can also buy Upholstered Saddle, Square, or X-Back Stools. You can also choose from antique brass or brushed nickel hardware based on cabinet finish. It looks great, solid – heavy but movable. It took about three hours to assemble. All the drawers and components are marked for easy identification. It came in 2 large packages that were protected very well. It’s the best three-piece kitchen island set you’ve found for such a price.
Size: 23 x 48.2 x 36 inches | Countertop: Wood | Weight: 132 pounds
Red Barrel Baca Kitchen Island Cart with Wooden Top Butcher Block
Bring function and flair to your kitchen with this piece of solid and manufactured wood rolling cart block. Its wood grain details pair perfectly with rustic decor, while its understated design blends effortlessly with any casual arrangement. You can add Red Barrel Baca Kitchen Island Cart with Wooden Top Butcher Block to the dining room to complement a traditional layout, then pair it with a wood table and ladder-back chairs to round out the look.
Layout everything you need to cook dinner on the large open worktop. If additional working or counter space is required, the surface can be expanded by adding the side panels. These panels add an extra length of 2 square feet and tuck away neatly by the side of the cutting board. Its interior storage space is perfect for stowing spare serveware, while its butcher-block top can be used to prepare fresh ingredients for dinner.
The clean-lined frame is crafted from manufactured wood and topped with a thick butcher block. This kitchen cart features one utility drawer, and the leaf capacity is 20 lbs for a total weight capacity of 60 lbs. Four locking swivel casters (2 lockings) keep the cart from slipping out from under you so that you can chop and mix worry-free to your heart’s content.
Assembly is straightforward, following the enclosed instructions. The quality of the materials is way beyond what you expected, and it fits perfectly in the middle of a kitchen and is easily rolled away when not needed. If you’re considering getting an island cart with a wooden top butcher block, do yourself a favor and pull the trigger.
Size: 33.27 x 43.27 x 20.16 inches | Countertop: Solid beechwood | Weight: 64.37 pounds
Casual Home Sunrise Hardwood Top Kitchen Island
Designed for significantly tighter spaces and those who value extra counter space, Casual Home Sunrise Hardwood Top Kitchen Island is the perfect companion to start any culinary projects in the kitchen. Its two-tone neutral color design gives it a modern appeal that highlights the natural beauty of the hardwood pine top while complementing any current home and kitchen decor. Solid wood construction ensures sturdy construction and years of lasting beauty that can withstand everyday use.
The smooth sliding drawer and two lower-slatted shelves provide space to store everyday essentials or supplies for today’s recipe or project. The side even features a stainless steel towel rack for convenient hanging or decoration. The shelves are just spacious enough for a microwave. The drawer is small and narrow, but it serves your needs.
Extremely sturdy and high-quality butcher block top table that doubles as an island and storage module. It comes packaged exceptionally well, protecting all of the wood. The assembly is quick and easy – the only part that might be tricky is the drawer’s back panel. You will need a small Phillip’s head screwdriver. The other tool you need is the L-wrench, but all these come in the package. All in all, a nice piece of kitchen furniture.
Size: 20 x 23 x 36.5 inches | Countertop: American maple top | Weight: 28.8 pounds
August Grove Herriott Kitchen Island Cart With Butcher Block Top
Simple, functional, and attractive, the August Grove Herriott Kitchen Island Cart With Butcher Block offers excellent storage solutions. This kitchen cart is a great option for expanding storage space in small kitchens or living spaces. It matches all types of interiors, from more neutral and traditional to more contemporary styles, always adding pure beauty to your kitchen space.
It’s sturdy and long-lasting thanks to the use of solid wood in its construction. This cart’s base comes in three colors, so you can pick the one that best complements your kitchen’s decor. This mobile kitchen island’s butcher block top is spacious, providing plenty of room for chopping herbs and laying ingredients. The cart itself has two stationary shelves.
The total weight capacity is 200 lbs, and the shelf weight capacity is 50 lbs. As a basic kitchen island cart, it does what is expected and is very easy to assemble. Unfortunately, it does not feature wheels for legs for easy mobility. Because it doesn’t weigh much, you can forget about the wheels, keep it stable, and use it as a prep surface to expand your counter space.
Excellent quality for the price range. Inspired by the country cottage, August Grove Island Cart With Butcher Block celebrates enduring farmhouse style and down-home comfort. A fantastic home gift for new young families that can be a meaningful gesture to show that you’re thinking of them!
Size: 36.5 x 40 x 20 inches | Countertop: Solid wood | Weight: 39.6 pounds
How to Take Care of Your Butcher Block Tops
Kitchen islands with butcher block countertops are elegant pieces of furniture that give character to your kitchen. If properly taken care of, wooden countertops can maintain timeliness and charm for many years. There are a lot of options to treat butcher blocks. And we need to consider simple goals when it comes to treating your butcher block countertop:
- It must be food safe
- It must be easy and convenient
- It must be low cost, obviously…
Finding a finish safe for food is common sense, and food safe for chopping means that everything in the finish is FDA-approved and edible. Mineral oil and organic beeswax finishes are in this category, 100 percent food safe, and designed to use for direct chopping.
Food safe for contact means the finish is safe for food contact and general prep work. This does not necessarily represent the finish is safe for direct chopping. Finishes safe for food contact often have wood-protecting chemical components that shouldn’t be ingested. If you chop food on this type of finish, the knife can chip out pieces of hardened finish. If that happened, small parts of the finish could be passed on to your food and ingested.
Maintenance depends on the type of butcher’s block top finish you have. After each use, wipe clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. Do NOT use harsh detergents, chemicals, and left-on surface puddles of standing water! After a period, you must sand light scratches, dents, and dings with fine sandpaper. Recondition or oil when wood gets dull or shows signs of cracking or aging.
Here are essential, regular maintenance routine practices that will keep your butcher block countertops looking stunning and healthy all the time.
Regular Oiling (Sealing)
Butcher block counters require regular oiling once a week (or whatever is needed), at least in the first year of installation. After the first year, depending on the wood type and manufacturer’s instructions, you can schedule the oiling routine twice a year. Since the countertop is used as a food preparation area, you must be careful with the oil you use. You need to use food-grade oils and sealers to be on the safe side.
Drying oils and sealers penetrate the wood and form a barrier against water during use or washing. Various commercial sealers are similar to thinned varnish (polyurethane or alkyd-modified polyurethane), and drying oils (such as linseed, tung, walnut, and diluted varnish) can also be used as sealers. Sealers and drying oils give the wood a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratching, plus it’s easy to apply.
Non-drying oils (vegetable and mineral oils) penetrate wood but do not cure it. They improve butcher block’s water resistance, but cooking oils are also food for microorganisms such as mildew or bacteria. Vegetable oils can also become rancid and may impart undesirable odors or flavors to food.
Below are some of the oils you can use on your butcher block countertops:
- Food-grade mineral oil
- Pure tung oil
- Walnut oil/almond oil
- Raw linseed oil
Mineral oils are usually favored by most homeowners because they are available in most stores and pharmacies. Mineral oils penetrate the surface of wood countertops, condition them, and help lock in moisture. It’s food-safe, inexpensive, and the only sealer you want to use if you plan to cut on your countertop.
Pure tung oil is a good choice for a food-safe wood finish. It’s easy to apply, non-toxic, and leaves a beautiful matte finish that fits almost any home style.
When choosing an oil to use on your countertops, stay away from cooking or vegetable oils. Even if these are organic oils, these oils can easily become rancid and contaminate the food prepared on the countertop’s surface. Other oils might contain chemicals and should not be used on butcher block countertops.
Also, you should avoid using stain finish on your wooden countertops. They also contain chemicals that can be harmful to your health. Moreover, it doesn’t matter whether you isolate your stained countertops; the seal will eventually come off and expose your food to the chemicals from the stain.
Paraffin wax is one of the simplest ways to finish wood countertops. Butcher block wax or conditioner is a mixture of mineral oil and wax, usually beeswax, carnauba, or a combination of both. It’s safe on cutting surfaces as plain mineral oil. The significant benefit is that the wax helps seal the oil into the wood, so you don’t have to apply it as often.
Buy a penetrating sealer if you want the best food-safe protection for your countertop. The point of a sealant is to absorb into the pores, fill them and harden them so that they cannot fill up with water and so that the hardened plastic makes the wood stronger than it is in its natural state. While it does offer a higher degree of protection than oil or an oil/wax combo, it’s much more expensive and can take a week to cure fully.
Did you know that most kitchen butcher block countertop
maintenance products rely on mineral oil?
We recommend Thirteen Chefs Food Grade Mineral Oil because it hydrates, seals, and penetrates deeply into wood to protect it from water and prevent cracking and drying. It is the highest quality white mineral oil for food contact with a tamper seal and works on ALL types of wood. Bottled in FDA-compliant facilities in the USA and undergoes regular testing.
Polyurethane is perfect for bartops and tables, but it’s not recommended for cooking surfaces. As much as it can protect your butcher block countertops, it contains harmful chemicals that should not be ingested.
Whatever you use, ensure the finish is safe and not toxic. To seal the butcher block with mineral oil, apply it generously, let it soak in, and wipe off the excess.
How To Clean and Disinfect Your Butcher Block Countertops
Butcher block countertops must be cleaned deeply using hot soapy water. When deep cleaning, scrub the surface using a scrubbing pad to get rid of food particles that may have stuck in the wood over time. After scrubbing, rinse the surface with hot water. You can sanitize the surface after cleaning using water and white vinegar.
To remove odors and stains, make a paste of lemon juice and 1/4 cup of salt and scrub it on the surface where you poured the vinegar solution. After scrubbing the surface, rinse it off with clean water and get off the water on the surface as much as possible.
Once you have removed water from the surface, pour mineral oil on the freshly cleaned surface and use a soft cloth or paper towel to rub it in. Keep adding more oil as it soaks in the wood until the surface absorbs all the oil. Once the wooden surface stops absorbing the oil, you can wipe the excess oil using a paper towel. At this point, your butcher block countertops are sparkling clean and well-sealed.
Occasionally, disinfect your butcher block countertop, especially after prepping raw meat, fish, or poultry. Clean the butcher block first. It’s crucial to kill germs, not just to reduce their count. So you’ll need a disinfecting solution. Use food-grade hydrogen peroxide by mixing one part with 11 parts of water. Pour the hydrogen peroxide onto the butcher block, spread it around using a clean sponge or cloth, and let it stand for 10 minutes. Rinse the solution off the butcher block surface by wiping it with a clean and wet cloth. Then dry the butcher block thoroughly with a paper towel or dishcloth.
Another disinfecting option is to fill a spray bottle with vinegar or a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water and spray your butcher block. Wipe with a clean cloth or paper towel, and allow to air dry for 15 minutes.
To remove stains, cover the stain with anywhere from a 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of baking soda, and use a wet sponge to scrub out the stain. Don’t be afraid to apply some force. Let the solution sit for 5 minutes before giving it a final scrub. Apply a hydrogen peroxide solution (one tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide per cup of water) with a cotton swab or cloth for even tougher or darker stains. This solution did the trick on challenging stains and also eliminated most of the lighter stains.
These tips are applicable any time of year. So remember to clean and disinfect the butcher block to keep you healthy and protect your investment.
FAQ
Does butcher block make a good island countertop?
Butcher block can make a good island countertop, as it is durable, attractive, and functional. Heavy use is no problem for this durable surface, which needs occasional oiling to avoid cracking, discoloration, and bacterial development.
Are butcher block islands in style?
Butcher block islands are currently in style, providing a warm and natural look to the kitchen. They can be made from various wood species and finishes to match design aesthetics.
What is the downside of using butcher block countertops?
The downside of butcher block countertops is that they are susceptible to scratches, dents, and cuts and can be damaged by heat and moisture. They also require regular maintenance, such as oiling and sanding, to prevent cracking, staining, and bacterial growth.
The Final Line
Beautiful and enduring, they are the workhorse of your kitchen. Kitchen islands with butcher blocks are timeless pieces of furniture that can transform your kitchen into a vintage, rustic, industrial, traditional look while maintaining a classic modern style. They are durable and multifunctional masterpieces that will serve you well for years to come.
If you are planning to buy a kitchen island with butcher block, you have an endless choice of wood countertops. Each has a distinct character, and the choice depends on your budget and preferences.
Overall, we recommend the Amazon Basics Multifunction Rolling Kitchen Island Cart as the best buying option for most needs and concerns. Its clean design, shelves storage space, and countertop material won’t disappoint you. And the price is more than compelling.
For a premium product, nothing can beat the Cucina Culinarte Kitchen Cart with Maple Top Butcher Block from John Boos. Ultimately, Oxford Diamondback Rolling Kitchen Island Set Butcher Block Top includes a highly rated island with butcher block and a pair of two stools at your choice – possibly the best deal on the market.
Invest in one of the reviewed kitchen islands with butcher blocks, so you can conveniently chop, cut, or slice your food. We are sure one will satisfy all your requirements; therefore, happy shopping!
