With just a little time and elbow grease, you can keep your wood cutting boards attractive, smooth and sanitary. Regular seasoning and an occasional sanding are all it takes.

Here is a primer on how to care for your wood cutting board to ensure a long working life.

A Protective Finish

All wood, even hardwoods like maple, walnut and cherry, are porous. They can easily absorb the juices from fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood.

The result of excess moisture on a wood cutting board is warping, cracking, staining and odors. That’s why it needs a protective coating when you first buy it and occasional re-oiling on a regular basis throughout the year.

Oil and Elbow Grease

The simple process is simple, requiring just a small investment of time and elbow grease. The first step is to buy mineral oil that is marked food-safe, available at a drug store or grocery store, or cutting board oil, available form IKEA and other major outlets.

For the first seasoning, saturate the board with oil. Don’t worry about putting too much on. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rub it in using a clean cotton towel. After the first rubbing, you will still see a coating of oil, which is normal. Let the board sit for another five or ten minutes.

If you still see the oil, rub it again with the towel. Wait another five minutes and the oil will be absorbed into the wood. For good measure, add more oil and repeat the entire process. Doing the entire process two or even three times gives your new board water-repelling protection.

Maintaining Your Board

In the future, reapply the oil on a schedule. For busy cooks, this can be once a month. If you use your board less often, it can be once every three or six months.

Oil the board like you did when you first seasoned it and rub with a towel. When maintaining the board, you just need to apply the oil once.

Not Sure How Often to Reapply?

There is a simple way to test your board if you aren’t sure how often to apply the oil. Simply sprinkle a few drops of water on the surface. Does it bead up? Your board is fine. It shows that the surface isn’t absorbing the water.

If the drops of water spread and cling to the wood, it is time to reapply the oil.

If Your Board Is Scratched?

Over time, every hardwood cutting board will show signs of wear. If you see a large number of nicks and cuts on your cutting board’s surface, consider sanding it.

Use fine sandpaper that is made for wet and dry surfaces. This is available at any home improvement center. It is categorized by a grit number. The higher the grit, the smoother the surface. For example, a grit of 220 will get rid of nicks and even out the surface. A grit of 400 will give the board to a soft finish.

After sanding the board, wipe it off and let it air dry. Then repeat the seasoning process.

Call or email Wholesale Cutting Boards for a free, no-obligation quote.