Care and Cleaning of Cutting Boards
From Catskill Craftsmen
Are wood cutting boards safe?
Recent studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Food Research Institute, prove that wood is safer for food preparation than poly or glass. Extensive tests show that all sorts of bacterium, including salmonella, disappear quickly on wood, whereas the same bacterium continue to live and thrive on plastic. These tests confirm that the idea of plastic being more hygienic than wood is a perception that is flat wrong and is due mostly to advertising. Nonetheless, always clean your wooden cutting board surface with soapy water, making sure to remove any food particles. Dry immediately!!
Do not soak or put cutting boards in the dishwasher!
What kind of oil should I use on my cutting board? How often?
We recommend Catskill's Original Butcher Block Oil. Drug store mineral oil can also be effective in sealing wood.
"Catskill's Original Butcher Block Oil" is a mixture of FDA approved ingredients of which the base is highly refined linseed oil with drying agents added. These additions as well as the refined oil allow for better penetration of the wood and faster drying. The linseed oil actually hardens within the wood for lasting protection.
Mineral Oil enhances the color of the wood and gives short-term protection. However, mineral oil imparts little lasting protection to your board. Also, be careful in selecting mineral oil to choose a non-toxic of FDA approved mineral oil. This is found at your drugstore or supermarket.
Boiled Linseed Oil is not recommended, since it is not highly refined and often leaves a tacky surface.
Vegetable Oil - This is as satisfactory to use as mineral oil and is normally readily available. However, as mineral oil, provides only nominal protection for your table.
If you use Catskill's Original Butcher Block Oil or other linseed oil based products, the old adage of once a week for the first month and once a month for the first year would be proper. After this point your cutting board will have developed a rich golden glow. From our experience we have found that once a month for the first few months is sufficient. After this point the wood is totally sealed and needs little further protection.
CAUTION: Rags with linseed oil are extremely flammable and can self ignite - washing rags does not eliminate this danger - Place rags in water and place outside the house until final disposal.
How do you remove a ding, dig or scratch from the cutting board?
For small scratches or dings the easiest way is to take a little water and put it on the ding or scratch. Wait a few minutes, then take a metal cap such as a bottle cap and place it over the water. Take your iron, on cotton setting (high), and place the tip on the metal cap. This will boil the water in the wood and rise the grain. Remove cap, let dry, and lightly sand with fine grit paper with the grain to remove raised grain and scratches. For deep scratches you may have to repeat process. For deep dents drive a series of deep holes with a needle into dent to allow the water to penetrate deeper. You can also iron over a damp cloth. Deep holes can be patched with a resin or plastic colored stick which is melted into the hole, scraped flat with a single edge razor blade and sanded with the grain. Darker colored sticks blend in better then very light colors. These darker colors look like mineral streaks.
I have small end checks or slight separations of the joints along the edge of the board. How can I correct this?
This is caused by excessive loss of moisture due to the dry atmosphere, etc. Use an equal mixture of mineral oil and melted paraffin on area, making sure paraffin fills the small cracks. Follow package instructions when melting paraffin - use a double boiler or microwave, as paraffin is flammable! You can also use beeswax.
Q. - How do I clean my butcher-block cutting board?
Most spills are easily wiped clean with damp sponge or cloth. Never soak or let water stand on your board for long periods of time as water effects the grain and even though the glue is water-resistant, it is not waterproof. Be sure to clean your board well with a mild detergent, rinsing it well with a damp sponge and toweling dry before applying new oil.
To remove dough, use a little salt on a sponge and rub with the grain or try using a plastic ice scraper.
Always Make Sure You Have a Good Supply of Oil!
As the instructions above point out, the worst thing you can do to your board is let it dry out. Make sure you keep it well oiled!
We sell three kinds of oil. All are FDA-approved food safe:
- The type that Catskill Craftsmen uses - a linseed based oil
(Click here for more info or to buy) - The type that J.K. Adams uses - pure mineral oil
(Click here for more info or to buy) - The type that Vermont Butcher Block Company uses - pure mineral oil
(Click here for more info or to buy)
