Butcher Block Restoration Advice

Hi folks,

This is a hard maple family heirloom that was neglected severely for 15-20 years.

It was stored in a non climate controlled environment and at one time had water sitting on the side of it.

I’ve sanded it down and removed most of that waterstaining.

I’d like to use this in my kitchen from now until I can pass it on to my kids, but it’s got thousands of tiny cracks in it, and my wife is worried about it collecting meat juices and breeding harmful things, as I think that’s a valid concern.

I have some hard maple wedges to add to the large voids, so those won’t be an issue.

How can I restore the wood to a point where it’ll swell those tiny cracks shut, and how can I maintain the health of the block as we use it?

Thanks in advance for any advice.