What not to do!
– Do not put the board in the dishwasher. The heat and water will warp and splinter the wood.
– Do not submerge, dunk, or let the board stand in water. The wood will absorb water and potentially warp.
– Do not clean just one side. Cleaning just one side will cause the board to warp.
– Do not use bleach! This will stain the wood and/or excessively dry the wood. Plus the bleach will be absorbed into the wood.
– Do not lay a wet board flat to dry. If the board dries on one side it will cause the wood to warp.
– Do not use natural oils such as vegetable, corn, olive, peanut, or walnut oil in substitution of board butter made with mineral oil and beeswax. Natural oils can go rancid.
–Do not use to put hot dishes on. Such as pots and pans.
– Also do not put in the dishwasher.
– And one more thing, don’t put in dishwasher.
PROPER CLEANING AND WASHING
Wash your cutting board by hand only using a good sponge lint free rag, or a scrub brush with warm soapy water and scrub well on both sides. The volume of water matters more than anything, as it washes away bacteria and particles, so make sure you run it under lots of water and especially on scarred sections that are good at trapping food particles. After washing the cutting board, dry immediately with a lint free towel or a rag and let it air dry standing up on one side or on a raised rack with air flow.
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HOW TO APPLY CUTTING BOARD OIL
For the most part you can just apply the board butter. But when the board seems like it has dried out you can use food grade mineral oil to help keep it’s longevity. You can buy the mineral oil at most home stores.
To apply the oil the board must be clean and dry from the last washing. Place the board on a wire rack (best) or on a cookie sheet and pour a little bit of the oil at a time. Wipe the oil around until it covers all the surface facing up and the sides. Repeat this until it will not take anymore oil then flip and do the same with the other side.
Once the board will not absorb anymore oil, wipe off the remaining oil with a lint free towel or rag, let dry for a little bit and then apply the board butter.
HOW TO APPLY CUTTING BOARD BUTTER
Wait until the board is dry after washing or oiling, then apply a small amount of cream onto the board. Using a soft cloth, buff the board butter into the wood in a circular pattern, forming a thin coat. Repeat over the entire surface of the board and even the sides. It’s not necessary to let the wax soak into the board. We recommend you oil your cutting board every 3rd washing, after it has been oiled, or sooner if you feel like it needs it.
Why Use Cutting Board CARE Oils and Board butter?
The goal of board oil is to penetrate the wood and saturate the wood fibers in order to stop any bacteria and liquids such as blood, and moisture from soaking into the board.
A well-oiled cutting board will keep the same shape when the wood fibers are saturated. It will not expand and shrink compared to a board that is left to completely dry then exposed to water. This shrinking and expanding effect is the main cause of warped cutting boards. In other words, all wood cutting boards need to be cared for periodically.
While board oil penetrates the wood, board butter acts as a physical barrier on the surface of the wood that protects against stains and liquids. The board butter also aids in sanitation, as it fills and seals in knife scars and microscopic cracks where bacteria would otherwise gather.
Used in conjunction, cutting board oil and board butter provide an effective combination of protective outer layer and sealed wood that is sanitary, easier to clean, and won’t warp.
Moore crafts and woodworks recommends only the use of food grade substances on our cutting board, as it will be in contact with food. Board Butter is the primary wood conditioner/ top coat that we give with every cutting board sold. (More can be purchased from Moore crafts and woodworks.)
The board butter is made of food grade mineral oil and locally sourced beeswax that I pick up personally from the beekeeper.
