How do you prepare a cutting board?

Question

I found an old wood cutting board that I will need to sand down to remove some stains. It is about 2 in. thick. After I have finished sanding it, do I put some kind of oil on it or what? I want it to be more or less water proof, but still able to cut food on it. Who knows how to do this?

Answer 1

I do. My father always made his own cutting boards.
The problem with wooden boards is this...you can not put anything on the surface of the board. Wood has a natural agent in it that fights bacteria. If you surface it with any type of wood finishing product, you are opneing yourself to bacteria...the finishing products will grab hold of it and not let go!
Wood can be easily resurfaced with various woodworking tools, such as scrapers or planes. Sandpaper should be avoided however, as it leaves residual abrasives in the surface, which will dull knives.
Cutting boards should be treated when they start looking dry to prevent cracking. We always used poppy seed oil or olive oil, giving the board a good wipedown with it then leasving it to air for a few hours.. Anything else, such as linseed or mineral oil, unless its food grade which is devilishly difficult to find, contains metallic drying agents. A properly oiled wood board will also help resist staining to some degree, but prompt washing is always the best policy to follow. Oiling protects the board from soaking up too much moisture and cracking or warping. It also protects against the absorption of some bacteria.
Washing takes only a mild bleach/water solution.

Also, take a look at the site below...it gives a really good bit of info on wood boards.

Answer 2

You need to cure it. Caution with old wood the it is very porous and can hold in a lot of bacteria. A lot of restaurants have stopped using them to serve food on for this reason.

You should use it for only vegatbles or meat not both.

We had a food grade polish that we used if my memory serves me correctly. I think it was beeswax.

Do however be careful with wooden boards. They need to be bleached or dissenfected. they also need to be kept dry.

Water will cause them to warp or crack.
If water gathers underneath it can cause toxic mold to form as well.

Check on line for more facts .

Maybe easier to buy a new one for safety sake.
In some cases however they just do not make them like they use to so it might be worth the effort.

Bon Apetit.

Answer 3

After you have done all your sanding and prep work, wash with a light bleach/water solution (one part bleach to 10 parts water) Wipe lightly with this solution to kill bacteria. Dry and coat with a light coating of food grade mineral oil. Cooking oils are not recommended as they can go rancid. Coatings such as Polyurethane, varnish or shellac can flake off into your foods so do not use these unless you are going to use the board as a decoration.

Answer 4

I treat my boards with Peanut oil every year. Soak the hell out of it....Let it set over night. Wipe off the excess and you are in business..

Answer 5

Whatever you do, make sure you disinfect it. Wooden cutting boards can harbor bacteria.

Answer 6

this is the BEST (mystery oil) made by john boos& co
check and see if they have web? if not the address



315s first st. effingham ill. 62401 this is all you need
ps sand only this will take several coats good luck
PLEASE DO NOT USE ANYTHING ELSE

Answer 7

Stain id and paint it with a gloss

Answer 8

plain ol' mineral oil is all you need. now they sell high priced salad bowl finishes and all that stuff. you dont need it. when it starts looking dry wipe it down again...

Answer 9

make sure its nothing toxic like wood polish, good luck