Afraid to throw out your cheap plastic cutting board and convert to wood cutting boards because they are intimating? Or do you have a hand crafted, gorgeous, hardwood cutting board but have no idea how to care for it? Our hope here at Unique Craft Works is that you would own and use multiple wooden cutting boards that allow you to make amazing food with a great starting foundation. This article is here to help you with a straight forward and easy-care routine.

Basics of Care

The only thing sadder than not having a wood cutting board is not using your wooden cutting board because of care issues! Wood does need some care but it is not difficult. When wood cutting boards are used and cleaned, the oils and wax can be stripped away leaving the board looking dull. So, what is next?

Do This

• Wash with warm water and soap
• Dry and allow to dry completely
• Set it flat or upright to reduce the chances of warping
• Add mineral oil and wax as needed (more details below)
• Optional: Keep one board for meat and one for vegetables

Don’t Do This

• No dishwasher or sink soaking! The wood will absorb all that water in and will become warped eventually
• Do not set other wet dishes especially pots, pans, or cast iron on your wood cutting boards. They will stain the wood
• The type of oil you should not use is plant oils like olive or vegetable because they can go bad and contaminate the food

What Oil and How to Oil

The biggest thing you can do to maintain a board long term is to keep it oiled and waxed. So, lets get into the details on how to do this when your board starts looking dry.

The gold standard is food grade mineral oil. The reason you want mineral oil is because it does not go bad. It is safe to be on a board that you will be cutting food on. It also goes deep into the wood grains giving more protection and is stripped from the board less quickly.

• Apply liberally and then wipe off excess the next day. This allows it to penetrate deep into the wood.

What about Wax?

Adding wax to the oil coverage gives an extra barrier protection for your board. This additional step will help the oil to last longer and it will even fill in some of the cuts that build up over time helping the board to last longer.

• A Bee’s Wax formula will usually be applied like a paste that you work into the grains. A little goes a long way.

What brands do We use?

The easiest way to care for your cutting boards is to get an all-in-one mineral oil and wax mix that can be used at the same time. One of our favorite easy to use products is called Howard Products Butcher Block Conditioner. This product contains both food grade mineral oil and wax that will bring a wonderful shine back to your cutting boards.