Sealing Butcher Block Countertops with Dark Tung Oil, A Food Safe Stain for Butcher Block


sealing butcher block with dark tung oil.

When we decided on wood countertops for our diy kitchen remodel two years ago, I did so much research on sealing butcher block. I was concerned wood counters would be high maintenance and get stained easily. I wanted to naturally darken the Ikea butcher block we purchased to look more farmhouse rustic, and wanted to use a finish that was completely food safe. The finish that met all our needs was dark tung oil.

It has been nearly two years since sealing butcher block counter tops with dark tung oil, and they still look amazing. Since it’s been awhile since we applied the finish, I wanted to share what we did to seal the counters, and how well they have held up to the abuse! Post may contain affiliate links.

Butcher block treated with Tung oil close up

What drew me in to using raw tung oil is that it is completely non toxic and food safe when applied with citrus solvent. The dark tung oil I used from Real Milk Paint beautifully darkened the IKEA butcher block. It really provided that rustic farmhouse charm I wanted for our kitchen.

Tung oil dries nicely to a matt finish. After the tung oil finished curing, there was no dealing with oily counter tops. Once the initial several coats are applied, the finish lasts and lasts. I have done very little maintenance to keep the counter tops in top shape!

Materials used:

Sealing Butcher Block with Tung Oil

On one side of the kitchen, I lightly sanded the entire surface before applying the tung oil. On the other side, it was one simple slab and I oiled it just how it came out of the box.  I definitely felt that the oil soaked up faster on the side we sanded and still has a bit more color variation. This is the unsanded side for comparison.

The tough finish from the real milk paint Tung oil makes butcher block care easy.

To apply the oil, mix the tung oil 50/50 with citrus solvent. A solvent is necessary to help the oil penetrate the butcher block. Mineral spirits is another solvent option that is locally available, but it is not food safe while it is evaporating. Plus, citrus solvent has a way better aroma than mineral spirits! I applied one coat to the underside of the butcher block before installing, because I read that sealing both sides helps to prevent warping.

Apply a coat of oil to the underside of the butcher block

With gloves, I applied the mixture to the counters with a rag, then let it sit on the counters about an hour before wiping off the excess with a clean rag.

Note: Don’t leave visible excess oil for days at a time, because it cures hard and you might have streaks. If this happens though, you can always sand a bit and reapply. (Lesson learned!… I oiled another coat on ours right before a week vacation and I had a little spot to fix when we came home.)

I waited a day or two in between coats to let the oil start to sink in. Once the butcher block is completely saturated, water will bead up on the surface. The oil dries to the touch in about a week, and fully cures in about two. Tung oil cures to a smooth hard finish. The counter is safe to use right away, just don’t leave papers on it that first week until it dries or they may absorb some of the oil. It was a really simple application, which was a mercy for me after the exhausting job of painting the kitchen cabinets! This is a photo of the countertops after one heavy coat.

Apply the oil to the butcher block and wipe the excess

The initial coats of dark tung oil gave the rustic finish I love. Now, I use clear tung oil for the rare maintenance coats I apply to keep the color consistent. I have done just one “maintenance coat” in the last two years.

kitchen with butcher block countertops

At first I wanted to be extra careful, but now I don’t baby the counters at all. I have left coffee drips and food splashes galore and it always cleans right off. And if something ever happens to hurt the finish, it can be fixed by sanding and apply more dark tung oil. I am glad that we went with tung oil over other options we considered like waterlox or mineral oil. It feels like we are getting the best of both worlds. I have really enjoyed having butcher block in the kitchen so far. Hopefully it will last us a long time. If you have butcher block in your kitchen, I’d love to hear how it’s working for you!

Check out this post for a safe natural cleaner for butcher block. Or, you can click here to read more about our kitchen remodel!


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79 thoughts on “Sealing Butcher Block Countertops with Dark Tung Oil, A Food Safe Stain for Butcher Block

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Thanks Kim! 🙂 To clean our counters, I use plain dish soap and water, Clorox wipes, or an essential oil vinegar cleaning spray. Thankfully tung oil finish is pretty tough, so I haven’t had any problems with cleaning.

  • Kayla

    These are beautiful and we are also considering the Ikea butcher block for our DIY kitchen remodel! Can you share any insight on how you installed your counters? It looks like our kitchen layout is similar to yours. Specifically, how did you handle the seams between slabs?

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Hi Kayla! Thank you so much! We used the Ikea hardware to attach the butcher block to the cabinets. We had help with the cutting that wasn’t in a straight line. I was so afraid to mess that part up! I tried both wood glue and sawdust, and wood filler and sawdust. I preferred the look of the wood filler mixed with sawdust to fill the cracks. It blended more seamlessly. Both worked great as far as sealing though! We sanded lightly until smooth after the joints dried. I hope that helps. 🙂

  • Molly

    I love your countertops! I have always loved butcher block counters. We plan to install them in our new house once we move in, and are installing pine floors as well. We plan to use tung oil on the counters as well as the floor. Will let you know how it turns out. I love tung oil, and used it on a butcher block table I sanded and refinished – looks so beautiful 🙂 We also plan to use it to seal our cedar deck once it is built.
    Great job on your kitchen! Thanks for sharing.

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Hello Molly!

      Thank you so much. I never knew tung oil was great for floors and decking! I would love to hear how they turn out! 🙂

      • Lindsay

        I finished my butcher block counter top as you described, it has been 3 weeks of use after the curing time and it is already looking dull and wearing. Any insight on what I did wrong?

        • Joyeliz57 Post author

          Hi Lindsay!

          I am so sorry the finish is giving you trouble. I am wondering if you used enough coats of the finish initially? It is not a high gloss finish in general. Does it seem uniformly dull, or just in certain spots? How is it wearing exactly? I do remember initially the finish looked dull in spots where the counter soaked up the oil unevenly and still needed more. It took several coats for the initial application. I hope this helps! You might also reach out to Real Milk Paint for more suggestions!

  • Connie Powell

    Lovely job! Am curious; is your Ikea butcher block solid or is it the quarter inch laminate? We installed the walnut laminate in our pool house kitchenette and love it, but it doesn’t get daily use by any means. After our first guests were there, we did find water ring marks, but I used mayonaise and the white spots came right out. Have been trying to decide if I should go ahead and treat with the tung oil. Thanks!

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      It is the old solid wood kind, but I believe the new laminate type is still real wood exterior for that 1/4″. If so, it can be treated just like regular butcher block! You don’t have to sand first, and it protects the wood so it will be easier to clean. 🙂

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      If the countertop has a real wood exterior, it can! For example, the Ikea butcher block that has a lightweight core, with 1/4″ real wood exterior.

  • Christine Dodson

    That looks beautiful in your kitchen. How old is your house? I live in a farmhouse that was built in 1901.We have remodeled some areas of the house, but have a lot more to go. My husband put granite in our kitchen, but it just doesn’t look right for that period of house. I love the butcher block look. Thank you for sharing.

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Thank you , Christine! Our home was built in 1962. I agree, butcher block is perfect for an old farmhouse! I love old homes too. We looked at several old farmhouses on our house search, but to fit in our budget they all sadly needed more work then we could manage. This home was all original, but mostly cosmetic changes. 🙂

  • Kelly

    Your countertops are beautiful! How many coats did you apply total? Did you sand in between coats? Also how much drying time in between coats?

    Thanks in advance!

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Hi Kelly! I believe I initially applied 4 coats total, until I didn’t see any dry spots left in the wood. I only waited a day or two in between the first few coats when the wood was absorbing the oil easily. Then I applied another coat after the oil was nearly dry, about 10 days later I believe. I hope this helps! 🙂

  • Vanessa Rising

    You have the exact countertop color I’ve been trying to achieve! I have a birch BB countertop and used Milk Paint dark Tung Oil mixture (6 coats) but mine are super orangey and not smooth. Is your countertop birch? When you originally used dark Tung Oil, were they orangey?

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Yes, we also have the Ikea Numerar birch! They were definitely more orangey on the side we didn’t sand. The color deepened more over time. We did about 4-5 coats initially.
      Doing a thorough sanding with a palm sander first really seemed to help the stain absorb further to get a deeper color.
      I remember if I left any oil sitting on the surface, it would dry hard and not be smooth. Very light coats worked best. Any rough spots can always be sanded out though, that’s what I love about butcher block! 🙂

  • Urban Rogers

    A friend of mine just made us a butcher block top for our kitchen island. It’s small (25 1/2″ x 42″) and he used pine. I wish he had used a hardwood, but when it’s free you accept it as a blessing. Anyway, There isn’t much differential in any of the wood planks as far as color goes, but I’m hoping that once I begin the sealing process that some will be noticeable. Would you recommend using the Dark Tung Oil/Orange Citrus on pine? It’s really light colored and we want it darker. I’m going to be making cinnamon rolls on this surface, so hope it holds up and doesn’t stain from the cinnamon/butter, etc. Thank you for your input.

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      I think the Tung oil would work fine, and certainly darken the wood! I am not sure if it would add any variation, but it would definitely work well as a sealer. I use ours pretty often, and sometimes roll out dough on top and I never had any issues!

  • Whitney Lawrence

    I know this is an older post but I was wondering how many coats of the dark tung oil did you apply? You’re countertops are beautiful!

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Hello Whitney!
      Thank you so much! I believe it was 4 coats initially. I did one more coat recently as a maintenance coat. If I remember correctly, I applied two coats two days in a row, then another couple coats a few days to a week apart after the oil was nearly dry. You could see where it needed more each time. By the last coat, the appearance was very smooth, and water beaded on the surface. 🙂 I hope that helps!

  • Abby

    We used the tung oil and citrus solvent after reading your blog and a few others. I love the antique finish it’s given us but it’s not sealing like it’s supposed to! It seems to just keep soaking into the wood no matter how many coats I put on it. I think maybe we’ve used it too much before it was really dried and we rubbed off the oil? Did you use your counters before they were cured? Any suggestions would be very much appreciated! We’ve had the most trouble around the sink – it’s definitely not a water barrier yet. It’s been almost 3 weeks since we started the oiling process and 1 full week since i did what i thought was going to be the last coat and it’s not what I was expecting.

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Hi Abby!

      Im so sorry the tung oil isn’t curing right!
      The tung oil took about a week to 10 days to cure. Until it dries out, it feels tacky and oily. I did use the counters, but tried to as little as possible while curing.
      I’m not sure if this made any difference, but I also let the oil sit really thick on the countertops for a few hours or overnight before i wiped off the extra to try to let it absorn as much as possible.
      Are you using it 50/50 with the citrus solvent? The solvent helps it penetrate the wood. What type of wood is your butcher block?
      Also, try to reach out to Real Milk Paint too. They probably have lots of tips to help!

  • Amanda

    Hi, I love your color. I purchased a butcher block from hoods. It looks like a birch color. I want them to be similar to your color, but some of the dark Tung oil I’ve seen are too dark. I wasn’t this tone or lighter. Not yellowish. Do you recommend the dark Tung oil or pure Tung oil. Any tips? Looks like sanding first might help too? Thank you.

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Hello Amanda,

      Do you have a small scrap piece to try it out? The dark tung oil I used looks very dark brown out of the bottle, but it just tinted the butcher block to the dark golden finish we ended up with. If you are looking for a finish similar to ours, I highly recommend the dark tung oil. 🙂 See if you can try it out on a scrap piece, or the underside first to make sure you love the color!

  • Jocie

    We just bought the stock, unfinished butcher block countertops from Lowe’s, and I’m super excited! I love the color of your countertops, in the pics you posted they don’t appear too, too dark… but another user posted a pic and hers appeared much darker, they looked nice, but I want to stay on the lighter side. Any thoughts/suggestions? Thanks!!

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Hi Jocie!

      Yay for new countertops!
      The more coats I applied, the deeper the finish gets. So I’d recommend applying the dark oil until you get the color you want, then clear tung oil after.
      It can also depend on the type of wood. Our counters are birch, which is a pretty light tone unfinished. I hope that helps! 🙂

      • Katy Mathis

        Quick question, did you ever sand in between applying your coats of Tung Oil or just apply the finish straight on? I purchased Birch butcher block from Lowe’s also 🙂 I plan on ordering Real Milk’s Dark Half so I do not need to mix the Tung oil and solvent.

        • Joyeliz57 Post author

          I did not sand in between coats initially. Just right before the first coat.
          I love how the dark half is pre mixed. I hope your counters come out amazing! 🙂

          • Joyeliz57 Post author

            Hello! It’s a mixture. 🙂 I often use a cutting board, like while preparing dinner or doing lots of chopping. However, I also frequently cut or prepare food on them directly for lunches and quick slicing.

  • Melody

    What do you use to clean off the butcher block counter? Just a wet watered cloth? Should we avoid using sanitizing wipes? we are considering using butcher block but it’s a first time experience with it. Is it ok to stain the wood with the red-brown color we want before applying the tung oil?

  • Connie Waring

    The end result is beautiful! I have Ikea butcher block and have applied mineral oil, but have not reapplied for six months or so, can I apply the dark tung oil on the countertops now?

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Hello Ginna,

      I did 4 or 5 coats total, with no sanding in between. Most of the kitchen area was sanded initially during install, and the countertop coloring I think looks deeper in the areas that were sanded!

  • Jeanette Jackson

    Hello ,
    I was wonder what kind of wood these counter tops are?
    I am getting ready to seal an island counter that is birch so I was curious if yours were tbe same kind of wood?
    Thank you 🙂

  • Meagan Oneal

    Hey I hope you’re doing well! Your countertops look absolutely beautiful.
    My husband and I are renovating our kitchen and just bought some burch butcher block for our kitchen counters. I would love for them to look like yours! Did you use the whole container of the 32oz dark tung oil? I was just thinking that it seems like a lot, but I’ve never used it before. How many coats of dark tung oil would you recommend? We probably have the same amount of counter space as you do. And do you only use the clear tung oil for maintenance or do you apply it in the initial process too after the dark tung oil?
    So sorry for the MANY questions! I just LOVE yours!

      • Joyeliz57 Post author

        Hi Megan! Thank you so much! I did not use the entire bottle initially, although I did use most of it! I finished off the bottle of the dark with the first maintenance coat, now I have moved on to the clear tung oil for maintenance. 🙂

  • Jerae Knutson

    I also decided to use The Real Milk Paint Co. Tung Oil and found they have one pre-mixed, called half & half with Citrus Solvent. I’m sitting here letting the 3rd application soak in as much as it can before wiping with a clean cloth. So far I’m impressed and I’m so happy I found your information. I feel like I’ve chosen well. Thank you!

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      I am so glad to hear it is working well for you so far, Jerae! Thank you so much for sharing your experience! 🙂

  • Susan

    Have you noticed if your counters have darkened over time? I used dark tung oil on my island and was hoping for darker finish- but was maybe hoping it would happen naturally like I’ve heard?

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Hello Susan! They did darken slightly over time. Another thing I noticed was sanding first gave better absorption and a darker finish. The color also builds slightly with each application. Once you reach the color you want, you can switch to clear tung oil for maintenance.

  • Samantha

    I’m using Real Milk Paint 50/50 with citrus solvent and my counters are maple. I applied the second coat 2 days ago and it’s still pretty wet. I wipes it with a clean rag but it’s still wet. Should I still go ahead with another coat now or wait?

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Hello Samantha!
      I’m sorry this reply took a few days! You can apply another coat while it’s still damp. For our counters, it takes a solid week to completely dry. I only waited about a day in between coats, to let the oil absorb into the dry spots.

      • Megan Allen

        Hi! I am trying this and I came out to do the 2nd coat, and there’s like foggy spots. Almost like I tried to whitewash but not to that extreme. Any idea what this is??

        • Joyeliz57 Post author

          Hmmm…that sounds odd! There are often “dull spots” after the first coat where the oil completely absorbed and still needs more. I wonder if this is what you are describing? Depending on the type of wood the countertops are made of, I imagine it could look slightly different than mine did. I hope this helps! Hopefully it will all darken evenly with the next couple coats.

        • Joyeliz57 Post author

          Hello Christine! It was just a few hours if I remember correctly. Not long at all. Just long enough so the underside was not too wet when we placed it on the top of the cabinets.

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Hello, I am not sure exactly how much I used per square foot, but I purchased the 32 oz bottle of the dark for our entire kitchen, and had a small bit left at the end! For the half and half where it is pre-mixed, that would be 64 oz size.

  • ann

    Hi! Love your countertops. We just bought butcher block for our island and I’ve ordered the Milk Paint half/half dark tung oil My question is, how will humditiy affect the drying? Were in North TX where it is very humid and I will be applying the tung oil in the garage before we bring it in. Do you think it will take much longer for it to dry/cure? Thank you for your help.

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      I do believe the humidity will extend the drying time a bit. Even without being fully cured yet, they are completely safe to use! They just feel slightly oily while they are curing, and things like papers laying on them may absorb some oil.
      Our counters were actually installed in winter, so I can’t say exactly how much longer it may be to dry!

  • Dodi

    You said to saturate it. I just used it on a rag and put it on then wiped it. Does it have to be a lot on the counter when applied?

    • Joyeliz57 Post author

      Hello Dodi! I just applied enough that there is a bit sitting on top wet, and let it soak in, as the fresh butcher block soaks up the oil a lot at first! Several thin coats works well also!