How to Care for Wooden Chopping Blocks

Learn how to season and care for wooden chopping blocks.

If you love to cook, a wooden chopping block is one of the most essential tools in your kitchen. Your wooden chopping block can provide a comfortable and safe surface for chopping, slicing and cutting vegetables, meat, poultry, fish and other foods. However, if a wooden chopping block isn't cared for properly, the wood can warp, break, crack and become a breeding ground for potentially harmful bacteria. Learn how to care for your wooden chopping block to maintain the quality of the wood for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• USP-grade mineral oil
• Clean cloth
• Spatula or steel scraper
• Coarse salt
• Lemon
• Sponge or washcloth

Instructions

1. Season your new wooden chopping block before use to prevent food stains and help inhibit the growth of mold, germs and bacteria. Warm a small amount of USP-grade mineral oil in a pot, but don't bring it to a boil. USP-grade oils are those approved by the United States Pharmacopeial Convention. Apply the oil with a soft, clean cloth onto the top of the chopping block in the direction of the wood grain. Repeat four or five times for the initial seasoning, making sure to wait four to six hours between treatments to allow the mineral oil to thoroughly soak into the wood. Wipe off any excess oil that the wood didn't absorb with a clean, dry cloth. Repeat every few weeks, depending on how frequently you use the chopping block.

2. After you've finished cutting food on the chopping block each day, scrape all food particles and foreign matter from its surface with a spatula or steel scraper.

3. Add a small amount of natural liquid soap to a damp, clean sponge or washcloth and scrub the surface of the chopping block. Avoid washing your chopping block with harsh detergents that could harm the wood. Rinse the sponge in warm water and go over the surface of the chopping block again.

4. Sprinkle coarse salt over the top of your chopping block and then rub the cut side of a lemon half along it to remove any odors, tough stains and any remaining bacteria. Rinse the chopping block with water and dry with a clean kitchen towel.

5. Store your wooden chopping block at room temperature in an area with a low amount of humidity. Extreme temperatures of either cold or hot can cause the chopping block to break or crack. Stand the chopping block on its edge during storage to help prevent moisture from forming underneath the bottom and prevent warping.

Tips & Warnings

• Never allow any type of moisture from food to stand on the chopping block for extended periods of time, as doing so can damage the wood.

• Avoid cross-contamination by using a separate chopping block solely for cutting meats. Use a different board for cutting non-meat items, such as vegetables and breads. Cross contamination from raw meat bacteria can cause serious illness.

• Wooden chopping blocks that develop deep cuts or cracks should be replaced or resurfaced, because bacteria can thrive in such crevices.

References

• Martha Stewart: Take Care of Your Cutting Board
• What's Cooking America: Cutting Boards, Chopping Blocks and Butcher Blocks
• Condells: Wood Care

Resources

• Readers Digest: Clean a Yucky Cutting Board
• Chef Knives to Go: Cutting Board Care
• Men in Aprons: 3 Keys to Wooden Cutting Board Care