Board Care Tips & Tricks
Care for your BirchBarn Board in 4 easy steps
1. Everyday Washing
After using your wooden board, handwash it with dish soap and water. We recommend wetting all sides of the board, to keep the moisture content evenly distributed. After washing, place your board on it’s edge to dry overnight. (We typically set our boards on a kitchen towel leaning against the back splash.)
2. Neutralize Odors
Every now and again, you may need more than dish soap to remove odors from the board. To neutralize stubborn odors, rub your board with coarse salt and half of a lemon. For stronger deodorizing, sprinkle baking soda on top of the lemon/salt mixture. Let the mixture sit for 10-20 minutes and then wipe the board with a damp cloth.
3. Condition with Mineral Oil
Generously apply mineral oil all over your board. Be sure to add extra oil to the edges of the board. Let your board stand on its edge for a few hours or overnight. This allows the excess oil to penetrate deep into the wood. In the morning, wipe any remaining oil with a dry paper towel. You’re ready to roll!
4. Condition with Board Cream
For long-lasting protection, add a little board cream. Start by applying a small amount of cream to the board. (A little goes a long way. You can always add more later.) Use your fingers to spread the cream all over the board’s front, back and edges. The board will feel greasy during this step. That’s okay. 😉 Stand the board on it’s edge for a few hours or overnight, allowing the cream to soak deep into the wood’s grain. Then buff the board with a dry cloth, using circular motions. By buffing you are creating a thin protective barrier on the board, while removing any excess wax from the board. You’re ready to slice, dice and serve!
Common FAQs
Food grade mineral oil is the industry standard for maintaining wooden kitchen products, including cutting and serving boards. A regular application of mineral oil helps to prevent food odors from being absorbed into the wood and it blocks bacteria from hanging around in nicks that come with regular use. Mineral oil also conditions the board, reducing the appearance of wear over time.
Traditional cooking oils (olive, canola, grapeseed, etc.) are not great for board care as they can quickly go rancid. But good news! Coconut oil can be used in place of mineral oil for wooden cutting board care.
We recommend applying mineral oil (or coconut oil) once a month, or whenever your board feels dry/rough.
Apply 1-2 tablespoons of oil directly onto your cutting board, then use a paper towel to rub the oil over the entire board. Use more oil as needed, and make sure the board’s edges are coated with oil. Allow the oil to soak into the cutting board (roughly 10 minutes). Remove any excess oil with a dry paper towel or cloth.
For edge-grain and end-grain cutting boards, we suggest applying a thicker board cream once or twice a year. Our BBD Love Board Cream is a blend of mineral oil and beeswax, which allows the cream to penetrate deeper and condition the board longer than oil alone.
Do's & Dont's
The full list of wood cutting board care tips and tricks
- NEVER place in the dishwasher.
- Do NOT submerge your board in water.
- Hand wash your wood cutting board with soap & water, followed by a good air dry. If possible, prop your board on its edge to dry.
- To periodically sanitize your wood cutting board, wash with a solution of one part vinegar to five parts water.
- Remove odors by rubbing the board with coarse salt and half a lemon. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes, then wipe the board clean with a damp cloth. Air dry.
- Flip it over & switch it up! We do not put feet on our boards, which means you can chop on the top and the bottom. We recommend using both sides of your board to help it wear evenly.
- Everyone likes a good massage and our wooden cutting boards are no different. They need a regular rub down with food grade mineral oil to maintain adequate moisture levels. (See instructions above.)
- If you purchased an end-grain or edge-grain cutting board, we recommend applying a specialty board cream at least once a year.
Did you know? We also repair cutting boards
Does your wood cutting board need repair? We can help!
Drop us a line via our Contact Form or swing by the Showroom and ask about our cutting board refinishing services.
