Yes. Wood counters can be stained. But whether you CAN and SHOULD are two different questions, entirely. While stain companies may say it's ok to stain counters, and perhaps it is, I don't think that stain and a food prep surface sound like things that should go together. IKEA offers their butcher block counters in several types of woods and finishes now. When I installed mine 20 years ago, the options were more limited. But today, you can purchase these counters in birch, oak, ash and even walnut, so there's likely a look that you'll love without dealing with messy (and potentially toxic) stains.