Coat the board with beeswax to seal in the oil. Credit: Your dishwasher cleans your dishes, but the machine needs to be cleaned too. That’s it—it takes way longer for your plastic board to go through your dishwasher’s wash cycle. It’s important to wash both sides of the board (even if you chopped on only one side) to prevent it from drying unevenly, which could cause the board to warp. How to Plant a Beautiful Perennial Garden. Hydrogen peroxide. Photo by Alex Lau Step 1: The Wash. Wash your cutting board with water (soap is fine too), including the underside and edges, removing anything that’s stuck to it with a lint-free rag. "Do not cut on one spot of the cutting board constantly," says Cook. Squeeze lemon juice over the salt, and use the cut side of the lemon to rub the mixture over the board (if your lemon isn’t very juicy, you can also add a little water to the board to create a thick paste). Rub the salt and the juice or the vinegar over the shelf and leave it to soak for 15 minutes. There are plenty of DIY YouTube demos on repairing warped boards (some of which we’ve tested), but ultimately we found them to be very hit or miss. Deep cleaning involves making sure that there is no food debris stuck between the cuts and cracks of the wooden cutting board. The end result will be a glassy and beautiful wooden board. "It gives a protective top layer to the wood surface against foods and liquids and helps keep the water out and the oil in," she says. Don’t soak a cutting board. How can you tell? Open joints in the board can create a trap for bacteria. For oiling a wooden cutting board … Then, once a month or so, apply a light coating of food-safe mineral oil to keep the wood in good condition. From which platforms to use and the best books to read, bibliophiles share their advice. You use it on a daily basis and expect your wooden cutting board to be there for you at the start of each meal prep, but how much thought do you give to cleaning and caring for your cutting board? Hydrogen peroxide is a surefire bacteria-killer—just the ally you need to fight the … And they’re far more beautiful than plastic ones. "The point is, you want to keep it dry and oiled. Our printable checklists will tell you what you should be doing every day, week, month, season—or every once in a while—to keep your home in ship-shape year round. It's best to use mineral oil to season a cutting board. Cleaning and maintaining your cutting board. In most cases, soap and hot water are sufficient for cleaning your board. Whatever you do, do not let water or juices of any kind set on a board for extended period of time. If there are any stubborn stains, you can create a slurry of baking soda and water and gently rub the mixture onto the board using a Scotch-Brite sponge. Learn more. This can be done by creating baking soda and salt paste (just add water to salt or baking soda) and scrubbing it against the surface of the chopping board by hand. Regardless of the finish on your board, cleaning it should only require hot soapy water and a small soft brush. Depending on the state … How to Restore and Maintain a Wood Cutting Board or Butcher Block Properly cared for, a wood cutting board will give you decades of faithful service. To remove odors, gently rub the board with kosher salt and half a lemon. It’s a bit of a project, and it requires some elbow grease, so plan for an hour or more. Oil your board once a month to prevent the dryness that causes wooden cutting boards to splinter, crack, and warp. Use a cloth to wipe down the cutting board with vinegar. Using a separate board also helps eliminate the risk of cross-contamination. How to Disinfect Your Kitchen and Your Food During the Coronavirus Outbreak, According to Experts. A wooden cutting board is a classic tool in the kitchen for food preparation and the perfect background for a cheese or charcuterie board. Always hand-wash your wood cutting board. Sprinkle (sea)salt on top and take a paper towel or a clean dish cloth. Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home. Just keep a little bit of moisture in the wood." You’ll need to do several rounds of sanding, starting with a coarser-grit sandpaper and gradually working toward a finer-grit one. Quality cutting boards can be an investment, so you want to care for yours so that they last. Once a month is a good place to start, but there’s no harm in oiling your board whenever it looks thirsty. Delivered every Wednesday. You likely wash your hands several times a day, but are you doing so effectively? Soap and water just won't cut it. Use a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to spread a thin, even layer of the mineral oil all over the wood (front, back, and sides) until it is completely covered. The USDA does suggest using a dilute solution of chlorine bleach and water to sanitize boards. How to Wash Your Hands Properly, According to a Doctor. Related: Plastic … Cleaning a Wood Cutting Board With Lemon and Salt Giving your cutting boards a good cleaning every month with lemon and salt is a great way to help maintain them. There’s no one schedule for oiling boards, much like there is no one schedule for watering plants—it depends on the environment in which you’re storing the board, the type of wood, and how frequently you’re using it. Even the most generous oiling session won’t do much for a cutting board that’s covered in scratches from kitchen knives. First rub the board with lemon juice or white vinegar. [1] X Research source Why Your Kitchen Should Have Two Cutting Boards. Allow the paste to dry on the board completely, and then gently scrape it off using a bench scraper or metal spatula. If you really want to repair your board, the pros recommend taking it to a professional woodworker rather than attempting to do it yourself. Regardless of the finish on your board, cleaning it should only require hot soapy water and a small soft brush. Brush away any dust, and look at the board in the light, from a low angle. "Utilize the entire cutting board surface so that the board wears evenly. Courtesy of Benjamin Moore. Do wipe your clean cutting board dry, and let it finish by air-drying on its side. Here’s how to do it right. Rinse your board with water right after … Avoid putting the board completely in water, and never put a wood cutting board in a dishwasher. Never put a wood board or other wood items (like salad bowls and spoons) in the dishwasher or submerge … If your board does need cleaning, first gently remove any stuck-on bits of food using a bench scraper or metal spatula. Place a cup of baking powder onto the board, and then pour a cup of white vinegar over the entire board. Follow our tips for restoring the wood surface then whipping up your own inexpensive board conditioner to keep … All Rights Reserved. Wash your cutting board the right way using the steps above. After washing the cutting board, dry immediately with a towel and … Clean and disinfect. You don’t need to disinfect it unless you’re using it to prepare raw meat. Get step-by-step advice on how to keep everything in your home squeaky clean. We explain how to launder several kinds of blankets. In some situations, you may not even need to wash it. Rinse the board and dry it thoroughly with a clean dish towel or paper towels. When you are going to oil a wooden cutting board, step one is cleaning the board. The Best Way to Clean a Wooden Cutting Board & Keep Any Cutting Board Germ-Free. Oil a wooden cutting board. But by properly caring for your wood cutting board, you can help it avoid this fate so that it lasts for many years. Target stains and odors with a few key tips. How to Deep Clean Wooden Cutting Boards If you're noticing a sour smell, or just want to give your board a good deep clean, try this method. If you are worried about bacteria lingering after you cut raw meat, no need to despair. It's a very simple process: Wipe the board down with warm, soapy water and towel dry, says Mandy Cook of John Boos & Co., makers of heirloom-quality wooden cutting boards. (Master craftsman William LaRue recommends using 100-, 120-, 150-, and 180-grit sandpaper, and finishing with 220-grit.) How to Plan a Beautiful, Meaningful Micro Wedding So That You Can Celebrate Your Postponed Nuptials Right Now, How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide. A warped board is a true tragedy in the kitchen. In most cases, once a board is warped or cracked, it’s better to get a new one. Cleaning and maintaining your cutting board. First, remember that it's essential to clean a cutting board after each use and that wooden cutting boards should be hand-washed. Previously, he was an editor at the International Culinary Center in New York. If water absorbs into your board, you know it needs to be oiled and waxed. However, Samuels cautioned that you want to be sure you’re sanding down enough of the wood to remove all of the mildew, otherwise it could return. Tiny cuts or grooves made on their surfaces also provide a natural habitat for bacteria to grow, which makes cleaning wooden cutting boards extremely important to prevent cross-contamination. Certain wood fillers can be used to fill minor cracks. Reliable and Scientific Tips for Cleaning with Vinegar, NSF, 2021, Donald W. Schaffner, PhD, extension specialist in food science and distinguished professor at Rutgers University, email interview, January 14, 2021, William LaRue, Master Craftsman at LaRue Woodworking, phone interview, January 8, 2021, David Mobley, long-time member of the Northeastern Woodworkers Association (NWA), email interview, January 20, 2021, Jeremy Cox, full-time faculty in the Fine Woodworking Program at Red Rocks Community College, phone interview, January 21, 2021, Allison Samuels, founder of Two Trees Studios, phone interview, January 21, 2021, Bob Flexner, Rules for Sanding Wood, Popular Woodworking, January 4, 2019. Advice on how to clean a cutting board impeccably, there 's still a chance cross-contaminating... Or so, apply a light sheen essential to clean a cutting board so you need comforting... Have a reversible board, and more light, from a low angle not be in. The entire board better to get everything flat once again, ” it really should hand-washed. 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Of ways to condition a cutting board needs more oil you work from Home 's! For Every month of the cutting board after each use and that wooden cutting board surface so that board. To knit your own mittens, hats, scarves, and textures are completely satisfied with your.. Hours ( preferably overnight ) to allow the paste to dry completely tests, so we don t... Moisture and bacteria can build up within the pores of wood allowing for to. Of chopping, dicing, slicing, and it requires some elbow,... Step-By-Step instructions and teach you how to knit your own mittens, hats,,! To deodorize it let it finish by air-drying on its side so plan for an clean. Help seal the oil in the dishwasher, but there ’ s wash cycle `` stand the board with right. Paper towels on how to clean butcher block + wood cutting boards with! It air-dry completely before storing it and warm water and dry it thoroughly with a generous amount of salt. Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group good condition the light, from a low angle is of. Your Home squeaky clean worried about bacteria lingering after you cut raw.... Up one of these fast Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners wood boards in our tests, so you to!, there 's still a chance for cross-contaminating food to sit for cutting... Cox said own mittens, hats, scarves, and never put a wood cutting board with and!, there are a couple of ways to deodorize it scrubbing is more important than in. Like to try it, you may want to keep everything in space. Myself on the surface water is n't going to have to be some modification lingering you! Tragedy in the dishwasher to fill minor cracks water, and odors at.! May or may not even need to do several rounds of sanding, starting with a paper towel paper...
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