Oiling a Wooden Board: How to Properly Care for Your Cutting Boards

Oil the wooden board – this is how the oil cure works

At the latest as soon as you notice that your cutting board feels brittle and seems to be cracking, it’s time to oil it. It is optimal if you oil your wooden boards at intervals of 3 to 4 weeks.

• Regular oiling increases the life of your cutting boards.
• Because an oil treatment ensures that the wood becomes smooth again and protects it from penetrating moisture.
• Edible oils such as linseed oil, olive oil, walnut oil, rapeseed oil, or sunflower oil are not suitable for oiling wood.
• Edible oils not only dry poorly or not at all, but also contain suspended particles and mucilage that can promote mold growth.
• It is better to use a special wood oil. Before you buy, check the packaging to make sure the wood oil is food safe.

This is how you proceed when oiling wooden boards

Before oiling, you should make sure that your wooden board is clean. To do this, rub the board with salt and lemon juice. To ensure that the board is germ-free, you can then treat the board with baking soda or vinegar while it is still wet.

• Allow the wood to dry thoroughly after cleaning your cutting board. If you apply the wood oil to damp wood, your cutting board may become moldy later.
• To oil, your wooden board put a small dash of wood oil on a cotton or microfiber cloth. Alternatively, just use a piece of kitchen paper.
• Use the cloth to distribute the oil over the entire wood surface by rubbing the board thoroughly several times. Then simply dab off excess oil with a clean part of the cloth.
• Now stand the board upright, for example by clamping it between two cups or leaning it against a wall.
• Wait for the oil to dry. The drying time may vary depending on the manufacturer. Therefore, follow the information on the packaging as closely as possible.