Do It Yourself - CUTTING BOARD CARE

Many times people buy a nice wooden cutting board (or chopping board) but after a few months it goes to waste because they don’t look as nice as before, or because it starts getting dry and cracks appear. But this can be changed! Wooden cutting boards need some extra care! And you can do it yourself to conserve them always beautiful and clean.

Despite the fact maple wood already have its own natural barriers against microbiological growth (because the bacteria are absorbed in the wood, and they get oxygen deprived, resulting in their inability to multiply or survive), it also needs some extra care beyond only washing and drying it. The cutting boards need to be washed or rinsed after every use (please DO NOT submerge or put wooden items in the dishwasher!) and eventually disinfected, conditioned and get the stains removed in order to last a lifetime always nice and clean.

Cleaning

To clean your board, simply wash it with a soapy sponge and water, rinse and let it air dry. This have to be done after every use.

Conditioning

Apart from just regular cleaning, sterilization & deep cleaning, your wood cutting boards also need to be oiled regularly. This will help in moisturizing the cellular structure of your cutting board and will also help in preventing cracks, wrapping and splitting from occurring. Depends on how often you use your cutting board, oil should be applied regularly. You can use beeswax, mineral oil food-grade mineral oil, or a professionally formulated oil or conditioner.

•  Edible mineral oil:

Please make sure you use food grade mineral oil, or edible mineral oil. It can be very effective when it comes to conditioning your cutting boards. When you are done with chopping or cutting, clean and dry your board and then simply apply some edible mineral oil on your cutting wood. Let it soak for several hours (I like to keep it overnight) and then wipe the excess off using clean cloth or paper towel. This will make your wood cutting board look nicer and like new.

• Mineral Oil and Beeswax:

Mineral oil is an economical and prominent choice, and you can undoubtedly discover bottles in most kitchen supply stores – (there are likewise cutting board creams and oils accessible in kitchen supply stores). Some people prefer a homemade mixture of beeswax and mineral oil as it is amazing for conditioning you kitchen cutting board at home. Apply the mixture on your cutting board in the evening before you go to bed and then gently wipe it off the next morning or wash it away using warm water to take off any excess oil.

Disinfecting

• Chlorine Bleach - Diluted:

Good to sanitize your board after cutting raw meats. Bleach contains very effective cleaning properties. Blend 1 tablespoon of chlorine dye with 1 quart of water in a shower bottle and generously splash the whole surface of your cutting board. Let the solution stay on your cutting board for 10-15 minutes, and then gently scrub the surface using soft brush. After cleaning, wash away the solution using warm water.

• Hydrogen Peroxide (Ideal is 3%):

Good to sanitize your board after cutting raw meats. Hydrogen Peroxide is also very effective when it comes to killing germs and bacteria. In order to kill all germs and bacteria living on the surface of your cutting board, simply pour some hydrogen peroxide on the surface of your cutting board in a very small amount, let it stay there for 10-15 minutes and wipe it off with a paper towel or a dry rag.

Remove Stains and Deodorizing

• Lemon:

Lemon Juice contains citric acid which is anti-bacterial and has strong cleaning properties. Simply mix few teaspoons of water with lemon juice and apply it all over your cutting board. This will not only clean your cutting board but will also removes unwanted smells from it.

• Vinegar:

Vinegar is a highly effective liquid which is not only used in food items, but also used for skin care and other cleaning purposes. Apple cider vinegar has strong cleaning properties and it is anti-bacterial. Simply apply some vinegar on your cutting board when you are done chopping. This will clean your cutting board by killing germs and making it appear shiny. Don’t forget to wash it afterwards.

• Salt and lemon Juice:

Salt and lemon-juice contain acidic elements and cleaning properties, which are effective in cleaning and removing stains. Simply mix some salt in lemon juice to make thick paste, gently rub it all over your board and wash it off using warm water. This will make your cutting board look clean and shiny.

• Baking Soda:

Like lemon and vinegar, baking soda also contains cleaning properties which are very effective in killing germs and bacteria. It is also very effective on stains; it can be used to remove stains from your cutting board. Baking soda when mixed with lemon juice becomes an amazing stain remover. Things like baking soda are also effective when it comes to getting rid of lingering odors left behind by food items such as onions, garlic, seafood items, animal proteins or herbs.

• Mixture of Lemon juice and baking soda:

Mixture of lemon juice and baking soda is very effective when it comes to cleaning and killing germs. Simply mix both these items and apply the mixture on your cutting board, rub the mixture gently in circular motion. Let it stay on the board for 20 minutes then wash it away using warm water.

Not Recommended – Vegetable Oils

Olive oil, corn oil and sunflower oil should NOT be used to maintain a cutting board because they are prone to rancidity (a process which yields a rank smell and unpleasant taste).

Not Recommended – Rubbing Alcohol

Despite being a great disinfectant, rubbing alcohol is NOT recommended because it is extremely drying. And it will make wooden products to be more prone to cracks.