How to Care for a Wooden Cutting Board

A well-maintained wooden cutting board can last for years.

A wooden cutting board is a great addition to the kitchen but it requires some special care. You can't toss it in the dishwasher or leave it soaking in a sink of hot soapy water, but otherwise it is easy to clean.

Things You'll Need

• Mild soap
• USP-grade mineral oil or
• Butcher-block oil
• Coarse salt
• Lemon

Instructions

1. Rub a new cutting board with high-quality, USP-grade mineral oil or butcher-block oil. Let it sit for a while and wipe off any excess. Repeat this process about every six months to protect the wood from stains and prevent the wood from drying out.

2. Clean the board soon after use. Use a mild dish soap in warm water. Sponge off any debris and rinse it thoroughly. Set it aside in a vertical position to air dry.

3. Weekly, sprinkle the dry, clean cutting board with coarse salt. Cut a lemon in half and use it to rub the salt into the wood. Rub for five minutes. Rinse the salt away with water. Dry the board and put it away in a vertical position.

Tips & Warnings

• This process should be repeated every 6 months to year to keep the cutting board in great shape.

• Do not soak the cutting board as this may remove all the mineral oil.

• Do not cut raw poultry, meat or fish on a wooden cutting board -- use plastic.

References

• Organic Authority: How to Clean Wooden Cutting Boards
• University of Wisconsin-Madison: Care and Cleaning of Butcher Blocks and Wooden Cutting Boards