A wooden cutting board will last for years with proper care and conditioning.
Heres how to care for it!
My favorite one is about 45 years old, a hand-me-down from my parents.
Alison Bickel
So, whats the best way to clean a wooden cutting board?
How do you keep it from cracking?
Wooden cutting boards do require a little maintenance, but it all pays off.
Alison Bickel
A conditioned boardcan also help protect against bacteriaand keep your cutting board from splitting and warping.
The reason?Rancidity.
Even a very stable oil like coconut oil will go rancid over time.
Alison Bickel
The biggest problem with this is the smell.
If youre wondering what thats like, go to a thrift store and find an old wooden salad bowl.
Stick your nose right in there.
Alison Bickel
Itll probably stink like wet cardboard mixed with a closet full of stale clothing.
That smell is oil thats penetrated the wood and gone rancid.
Do not lead your cutting boards to the same fate!
Alison Bickel
Stick toeither mineral oil or a beeswax and mineral oil blend,and youll be in good shape.
Keep in mind that youre using it to seal and condition your board, not to cook with.
Youll find bottles of mineral oil there, because mineral oil is also an old-school laxative.
Alison Bickel
Since its taken internally, you know its food grade.
A bottle usually costs less than five bucks and will last you years.
IMPORTANT:What youdontwant to do is use industrial mineral oil, the kind made for lubricating machinery.
Its not food grade.
Get your mineral oil from the grocery store or a specialty retailer, not the auto parts center.
I primarily use mineral oil on my boards, and then board cream just a few times a year.
Use whatever youre intothe main point is to condition the boards as often as they need it.
Are you vegan, and avoiding beeswax?
This might seem like a lot, but it can absorb a lot of oil.
2 Rub it in: Use the rag to rub the oil in small, circular strokes.
Do this all over the board, including both sides and the ends.
verify the oil permeates all the crevices.
Keep adding more oil, if needed.
Prop the board on its side so its upright, and let the board absorb the oil overnight.
If using a board cream, once again use a clean, lint-free rag.
Dip it in the cream then work it into the wood grain in circular movements.
Use a different rag to buff the wood to a shine.
3 Oil your wooden utensils: If desired, oil your wooden utensils with the now-saturated rag.
Then throw the rag away or use it for dusting or furniture polishing.
When to Oil Your Cutting Board
Theres no magic formula for how often to condition your board.
Look at your board and youll know when its time.
Itll look dry and grayish, with a light-colored patch in the center.
If you absolutelymusthave a magic formula, do ittwice a seasoneight times a year.
I probably oil my boards once a month.
Climate is another factor.
If the board is badly splitting anywhere, its time to get another one.
Food and moisture can get into those parts and become bacteria farms.
Bonus: Oil Your Wood Spoons and Utensils!
Ugh, furry spoons.
Do you know what Im talking about?
A furry spoon is a wooden spoon thats dry and feels shredded rather than smooth.
Wooden utensils get like that over time if theyre washed in a dishwasher, or simply not conditioned.
I usually oil my cutting boards and wooden utensils all at once: board first, then tools.
And you wind up with a semi-manicure while youre at it.
Not Into the Maintenance?
Try an Epicurean Board.
All this upkeep too much?
If you dont think youll take care of a wooden cutting board, try anEpicurean cutting board.
Theyre made from reused cardboard, paper, and wood fiberso theyre gentle on knives.
You also dont need to oil them.
They have a handsome look, andbest of allthey are dishwasher-safe.
Cambria, Simply Recipes Product and Lifestyle Director,loves these boards.
