Once again, clean all the dust and particles from the wood with a rag. Wash off all the salt and lemon with warm water. That’s too bad. Over time, its water-repellent qualities will start to diminish, and water droplets will spread further and further out, clinging to the wood. I certainly think so! References. Mineral Oil Mineral oil (sometimes called liquid paraffin) is a non-toxic, non-drying product derived from petroleum that is colorless, odorless, and flavorless. Will this work on the cutting boards that are the pull out built in the counters? Not only is it extra kind to your knife blade, it's also the safest material, and it's gorgeous, too. 4. You can buy mineral oil online or at a local department store or drug store. Here are the steps I followed: Buy a piece of wood. It is preferred over other cutting-board materials because it is less likely to collect and grow bacteria. Make sure it is food grade mineral oil, the cost is about the same as board oil. Maybe I will try one of those out. The cutting board oil we bought was about 9 dollars, but after using it several times, it doesn’t even look like we used it. After each use, wash, then thoroughly dry your cutting board and apply a fresh coat of board conditioner. For this reason, it’s best to oil your cutting board at the end of the day or when you’re sure you won’t use it for the next few meals. If you want to learn how to dry your cutting board after you clean it, keep reading the article! Like good knives, or a sturdy cast iron pan, your wooden boards are investments that require proper care and maintenance. They can get dirty from cutting raw meats and need this same lemon/salt and oiling to keep them looking good. We LOVE this DIY butcher block countertop & cutting board oil finish! Use a clean rag or a sponge to apply a liberal coat of the oil to the wooden board. If the surface is too damaged or that the marks are too deep, you can use a more aggressive paper (100-120 grit) with a sanding machine. I think I will definitely be doing that now. I haven’t tried that! Are there any other ways to clean a cutting board without mineral oil? Use a rag to apply a heavy coat of mineral oil to your cutting board, following the direction of the grain. To maintain a wood cutting board, season it every few weeks by wiping it with mineral oil and let the oil soak in overnight, wiping up any excess oil after it has dried. Otherwise you could make your counter top kind of messy by flipping the cutting board over before you get a chance to wash it and let it dry. Here I review several options and talk about trade-offs. Sand your cutting board with a 220 grit sheet sandpaper. Out of all of the projects I’ve done with wood, making my own cheese board had the best payoff relative to the amount of work. However, wood cutting boards should be cleaned off with hot, soapy water after every use. I don’t know if your board would look completely like new, but I think it could definitely help. Wipe the board dry immediately after washing and reapply mineral oil after every ten uses. My favourite food safe wood finish is Clapham's Beeswax Salad Bowl Finish. To maintain a wood cutting board, you should season it first. What You’ll Need: 1/3 cup coarse salt (or a mixture of salt and baking soda, if you’re not using a lemon) + 1/2 a lemon. When you first get a wooden cutting board, clean it and—just as you might a cast-iron skillet—season it, coating it with a thin layer of mineral oil or any other food-safe oil (I use veggie), pushing the oil into the board with a cloth or paper towel. Instead of buying expensive cutting board oil … use mineral oil. For a deeper clean before seasoning, rub the board with some pure white vinegar to kill any odours or … A few years ago my father gifted me a really gorgeous cutting board that he had made. Then, rinse it off, sprinkle coarse salt over the board, and rub the salt into the wood with a towel. To properly maintain the cutting board, hand wash the board after each use. When you're done, rinse and dry the board. 5. Tip: As with most food-safe finishes, the cutting board finish will need to be reapplied regularly. It's best to use mineral oil to season a cutting board. If you're worried about using chemical cleaners, clean your board by sprinkling salt over the board. Can you use this technique on bamboo boards? Be sure to clean your board after each use with a damp cloth and mild detergent, or rub the surface thoroughly with salt and a lemon. I hardly use it because it’s to hard to clean and I think that would make it better. 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