Cutting Board Care & Maintenance

The following is a specific guide on how to care for your cutting board. 

Please remember, your cutting board does require a variable amount of care depending upon your usage.  Please feel free to send me a message if you have any additional questions.

IDEAL Board Condition (Mineral Oil, and Mineral Oil/Beeswax Coating)
Your cutting board should be received heavily soaked (fully saturated) in Food Grade Mineral Oil.  In addition, the cutting board has been coated in a 50/50 Beeswax and Mineral Oil mixture.  This coating results in a more shiny surface to let you know that your board is sealed with this Beeswax mixture.
 
This is considered the “IDEAL” condition that will prevent stains and help your cutting board last for many decades!
 
To maintain this IDEAL state, the following Oil/Wax maintenance is recommended:
 
Heavy Usage
  • Daily Use
  • Several Hours+ Daily (Multiple Meals or Long Continuous Use)
  • Professional Chef to Avid at-home Chef/Personal Use
  • Cutting Board Maintenance = Daily (Oil & Wax)
Moderate Usage
  • Daily Use
  • 1 – 2 occasions daily for short/brief periods of time
  • Personal Use for Family, Friends or Entertaining
  • Cutting Board Maintenance = 1 - 2x weekly (Oil & Wax)
 Light Usage
  • About every other day or less use
  • Personal use as needed
  • Cutting Board Maintenance = About 1 - 2x monthly (Oil & Wax)
 
The cutting board wood surface should not be dry.  Rather it should not show dryness and look dark, wet and saturated with mineral oil.  There should be a full or near-full layer of beeswax and mineral oil covering the board.  
 
This “Ideal Condition” will:
  • Help minimize or reduce staining
  • Protect the board from absorbing food odors
  • Help provide an effective moisture barrier during food preparation
 
General Cleaning
Step #1:  After each use, wash with dishwashing detergent and warm water (NOT HOT).  The surface should be wet quickly, apply a small amount of detergent and gently wash with a soft sponge.  Rinse thoroughly and quickly with clean water.  Do not soak or submerge your cutting board and do not leave hot water running over the surface for an extended period time.  

Step #2:  Immediately and gently blot dry the entire cutting board with a cloth towel.
 
Step #3:  Place the cutting board on its side (NOT face up or face down) to dry.  This allows air to efficiently circulate and dry the cutting board faster.
 
Odor Removal
PLEASE NOTE:  The BEST method to pro-actively keep your cutting board from absorbing odors is make sure the Condition of the Cutting Board is in the “IDEAL CONDITION” (as defined above) after each use and therefore prior to its next use..

Sprinkle dry Baking Soda on the odorous area and let sit.  Avoid applying a Baking Soda and Water paste on the cutting board’s wood surface.  Baking Soda is rather caustic and may discolor your cutting board (CAUTION!)
 
How to Sanitize
After quickly rinsing the cutting board under warm water, remove from water stream and either:
  • Create a mixture of quality Bleach and Water (1 Tablespoon Bleach with 1 Quart of clean warm water)...OR

  • Create a mixture of vinegar and clean warm (1:4 to 1:5 Vinegar to Water Solution)

 Spray on either mixture, let it sit, then rinse completely with warm water.


Stain Removal
PLEASE NOTE:  The BEST method to pro-actively minimize your cutting board from staining is make sure the Condition of the Cutting Board is in the “IDEAL CONDITION” (as defined above) after each use and therefore prior to its next use.
 
Dab the stained area with Peroxide using a cloth.  The stain will be gently removed after several applications, depending upon the severity and stain composition.