Cutting Board Care Instructions

If you've purchased one of my boards, or if you have a wooden cutting board you got somewhere else, and are unsure of how to care for it, you've come to the right place. Check below for my do's and don't when it come to wooden cutting boards.

Do's

This is natural wood and it will warp and/ or crack if water is allowed to soak into the board. A properly conditioned board using board butter will help with this.
Use my Board Butter, or a commercially available cutting board conditioner to help prolong the life of the board. If the board is used as display only then condition a couple of times a year. If your board is used regularly then condition after every couple of weeks. More or less may be needed depending on how dry the board gets. For best long term care, use conditioner anytime the board is starting to look and feel dry.
Oil the board completely on all sides and edges every time. Consistent one-sided application will let the dry side breathe more than the conditioned side. This can cause warping. This is the same with washing.
To clean, scrub with hot soapy water without submerging, rinse and towel dry. Make sure and at least dampen both sides of the board even if you are only using one side consistently.
Let dry for a few hours in a rack or on its side standing up.
It is best to store in a perfectly flat area, once dry, or standing it up on its side to prevent warping. If left lying flat it is best to have feet on the board so both sides can breathe.
If your board develops stains or odors use a combination of kosher salt and half of a lemon to scrub the board. This will remove the odor and the stains.

Don'ts

Do not use edible type oils for conditioner (olive oil, vegetable, sunflower etc.) as they spoil and get rancid.
Never wash the cutting board in the dishwasher. Do not use it in the microwave, oven, or as a hot plate. Placing hot items on the board can cause burns and warping
Do not let the board sit flat on a counter to dry. Allow air to circulate around the board while drying.