How to Care for and Maintain Your Wooden Cutting Board

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Have you ever admired a gorgeous wooden cutting board and imagined what it would look like in your kitchen? Did you feel the smooth surface and fall in love with it, but then worried you wouldn’t know how to take care of it so you shied away from it? If so, I completely understand.

I’ve had bamboo cutting boards and composite cutting boards, but they seemed so much more manageable than a wooden block cutting board. There’s something so intimidating about them. Maybe it’s the fact that they’re basically a piece of art. Maybe it’s the cost. Whatever it is, we need to get over this fear.

My sister gave me a wooden block cutting board for my wedding present years ago. I had it listed on my registry because I loved it so much. The truth was, I didn’t expect to actually get it. This cutting board has traveled with us on our last move and it reclaimed its place in the kitchen—as a pretty piece of art.

When I worked on my kitchen for my 100 days of simplicity, I realized that I needed to get over my fear and just start using it. I took the leap and I’ll tell you, I love this thing. I’ve put together some simple steps for proper care of your wooden cutting board. If you’re looking to purchase one, I would recommend getting one with feet. This helps keep moisture off the bottom of the board and holds it safely in place.

4 easy steps to maintain your wooden cutting board

1. Never soak your board in water.

Please never do this. This will ruin your cutting board so fast and you’ll be left with a dried out and cracked piece of wood.

2. Wash your board with soap and hot water after use and dry immediately!

3. If your board starts smelling of food, apply salt onto your cutting board and with half a lemon, scrub the surface. This will remove the smells.

4. Once a month, apply a mineral oil or cream—I use Boos Board Cream—to keep your board looking clean and to moisturize. Do not use vegetable or canola oil as they will go bad and your board will start to smell rancid. I prefer the cream because it’s a mixture of beeswax and mineral oils and works wonders on my board and any other wooden kitchen item I have. Water skids right off the surface and food particles rarely stick after I’ve applied this cream.

So there you have it! You see, maintenance is not so scary! As long as you keep your board dry and use an oil or cream, your cutting board should last for years and years. Your knives will thank you (wood is so much better for knives than plastic or glass), and you’re bringing a beautiful piece of nature into your home.

Do you have a wooden cutting board that you’ve never used? What has kept you from using it? Write me a comment down below or send me a tweet at @apronwarrior