While cleaning your cutting board is probably not at the top of the list of chores you enjoy doing, it is an important one that should be done. With regular care your cutting board will stay in good condition, lasting longer and keeping your food safe. Wooden cutting boards need to be cared for and cleaned and it is easier to do than you think!
Wood Cutting Board Cleaning and Care:
Mineral Oil
Wood should be sealed with mineral oil so that it is sealed from the elements. You want to rub mineral oil on both sides of the cutting board about every 2-3 months.
Avoid the Dishwasher
You don’t want to put wooden cutting boards in the dishwasher. The reason for this is that dishwasher have a tendency to warp the wood and can also make the wood dry so it begins to crack.
Towel Dry
Anytime you get water on the board, you want to pat it dry with a clean, dry towel. You don’t want to have water trapped in the wood grains since mold can quickly grow. Drying off moisture right away will ensure your cutting board stays fresh and free of mold.
Disinfect
It is important that cutting boards are disinfected since this process gets rid of germs. It is recommended that you use 3% hydrogen peroxide. Spread the peroxide onto the board with a clean sponge, let it sit for 3-4 minutes so it can destroy the germs. Then, just wipe clean with a sponge.
Deep Clean
You can deep clean your cutting boards by making a paste with 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of water. Scrub this paste on the cutting board and rinse with hot water.
Deodorize
By deodorizing your board, you are making sure that there are no harmful bugs present like salmonella, staphylococcus and E.coli. Add white vinegar to a spray bottle and regularly spray it down. White vinegar is great for disinfecting, cleaning and deodorizing your cutting board.
justin tan says
thanks for sharing. we have wood cutting board at home too and definitely need to follow these great tips
Vera Sweeney says
I love these tips! I love how wood cutting boards look, especially when preparing meals.
diane says
Great tips…I am passionate about my wooden cutting boards. Mineral oil is an iffy choice for them, though. If you are going to use it, make sure it is FOOD GRADE but it is still a petroleum based product. A better choice would be bees wax or a homemade wood butter.
Ellen Christian says
I do this regularly. It’s so important to keep things free of germs and bacteria in the kitchen.
Melissa says
What a great post, I never thought about proper ways to clean my cutting board. I have ruined many cutting boards in my life, think next time I am following your tips!
Jennifer says
Thank you so much for this! I love the look of wood cutting boards, but I stopped using them because they got so funky and messed up. Now I can use them again!