Caring for your Wooden Cutting Board

I've shown you how to clean your cutting board with just salt and lemon, now I'd like to share with you a way to preserve your wooden cutting board with just one ingredient from your cupboard. Coconut oil.

Coconut Oil is magic. I'm serious, it has magical powers. Have you read all the articles about how it's good for your skin and your gut? I can save that for another post, but food grade coconut oil is good for your wooden cutting board because it is highly resistant to rancidity. If you use any other cooking oils like olive or canola, it will form bacteria. Coconut oil does the trick.

Take approximately a teaspoon of coconut oil and gently spread it into every inch of the cutting board, rubbing in the direction of the grain. Apply 3-4 coats and let dry for 6 hours. I reapply the oil every month or so - mostly when the wood is starting to look dry.

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12 Comments

Ward on January 10, 2017 at 2:36 pm

So after the initial treatment, 3-4 coats every month or just one coat needed?
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- Alison on March 16, 2017 at 10:22 am
  
  I’d love to know too!
  Reply
- Abby on January 19, 2019 at 4:02 pm
  
  From how I read it and intend to do it, 3-4 coats at one time. Then let dry for the 6 hours. Repeat the whole activity, monthly.
  Reply
Laura on November 15, 2017 at 10:08 pm

I’d like to know also.
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Susan on December 18, 2017 at 6:47 am

The world may never know…
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Smart Guy on April 15, 2018 at 3:16 pm

That’s bamboo. Bamboo is a grass, not wood.
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- Andrew Burke on November 28, 2018 at 1:07 am
  
  Damn straight!
  Reply
- Andrew Burke on November 28, 2018 at 1:08 am
  
  Well Said.
  Reply
- Janet on April 1, 2019 at 1:07 pm
  
  Men! Do you notice how these guys know so much? Or are they, like my daughter, women who prefer men’s names and interests?
  Use your own powers of observation, girls, and when your wood, bamboo, or
  WHATEVER starts looking rough and dry, like your skin, work in a bit of coconut oil, as much as you like.
  If there is a lot of goo left on the surface, WIPE IT OFF with cheese cloth and maybe some essential oil that smells good!
  Reply
  - Leslie on June 12, 2019 at 7:05 pm
    
    Well said Janet! After all it’s not a competition it’s about learning and expanding our knowledge. Listen up gals I was the first gal in ‘shop’ class back in the early 70’s… and I had to fight the school to join thought they still forced Home Ec on me—- lol I’m officially good at both!!! Grateful 💞
    Reply
    - Brian Ansorge on October 19, 2019 at 10:18 pm
      
      And *I* was *one* of the first guys to take a Home Ec class at *my* high school!
      
      [“You can clap!”]
      
      But I digress. I was trying figure out *how* the hell *I* ended up on … this site. I conjured up my browser on my phone and was doing chores—seeing what tabs I had opened that I could close.
      
      Found this one, which had an interesting thumbnail, but mystifying (to me) title. I clicked and waited for page to load.
      
      I was mystified. It’s not like I seek out “sisterhood” or anything like that. I don’t. I kept on reading.
      
      A while back I was searching the Internet for information on butcher block treatment and care.
      
      I had just put one into service and, for the first time in my life (60 years old and still a butcher block virgin) I didn’t have a clue what to do.
      
      I almost panicked.
      
      But, then I remembered how many times I’ve been clueless and feeling helpless before and the Internet saved me.
      
      So, today, at Home Depot, I got everything on my list except the walnut oil some dude on another site (actually, a *bunch* of dudes on a *lot* of sites) strongly (hey, he’s a guy, but that’s not why I chose that adverb) recommended.
      
      Damn. I’ll have to go back. I thought.
      
      And then I read the suggestion above regarding coconut oil.
      
      Yes. Oils can and do oxidize. I am concerned about rancidness and that is why I categorically ruled out any of the veggie oils I had on hand.
      
      But, well, this chick named Becca sounds pretty sure of herself.
      
      I never tasted walnut oil. And I know coconut oil tastes ok and be used for a bunch of other stuff.
      
      So coconut oil it is.
      
      That’s for the encouragement and suggestion.
      
      OK. I’m done.
      
      I didn’t come here for the sisterhood, I swear.
      Reply
ALTHEA on June 29, 2019 at 9:19 pm

HELLO EVERYONE – I JUST BOUGHT MY FIRST CUTTING BOARD… – MY AUNT VISITED ME – AND – SHE STATED THAT – “YOU NEED SOMETHING TO PLACE HOT PANS ON…” – I SAID – “WELL AUNTIE I HAVE THIS TRIVET HERE – AND – EVERYTHING ELSE CAN SIT ON THE STOVE” – AFTER GIVING HER SUGGESTION SERIOUS THOUGHT – I BOUGHT A BEAUTIFUL CUTTING BOARD… – I SEASONED IT WITH COCONUT OIL – AS SUGGESTED VIA THIS WEBSITE… – THE ONLY THING – IT DOESN’T STAY GLOSSY – THE BOARD ABSORBS THE OIL QUICKLY – ANY SUGGESTIONS – ? – OH AND I DO PLAN ON PURCHASING A HEAT RESISTANT PIECE OF GLASS – FOR HOT THINGS… – AGAIN – PLEASE HELP
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