How to season Wood Cutting Boards

Seasoning a cutting board is important to protect it from moisture, bacteria, and knife damage. It restores natural oils in the wood which protects it from moisture and cracking and makes it more resistant to stains.

Step 1: Clean cutting board

The best way to care for wood cutting boards is to keep them clean with daily maintenance. If they do get dirty, scrub them with hot soapy water but do not soak your boards or they will crack and warp!

You can use a very weak bleach solution to clean them after cutting raw meat.

Before oiling my boards, I like to do a really deep scrub with lemon and salt and then scrape it with a blade. If you want more details on how I do that just follow this link: https://www.wisdompreserved.life/how-to-clean-a-wood-cutting-board

Step 2: Dry

It is very important that the boards be fully dry before seasoning. I usually clean them and then let them sit overnight.

Step 3: Season

I then apply a liberal amount of my wood cream to the boards. My wood cream is a combination of mineral oil, beeswax, and essential oil. Any food-grade oil that doesn't go rancid could be used but I really like my recipe. I use a clean, soft cloth to spread it over the top, bottom, and sides. I use a wire rack to elevate it so oil doesn't get everywhere because I want it to actually have more oil than it can fully absorb. This assures that the wood is fully hydrated.

Step 4: soak

The oil should soak in for as long as possible. I usually apply the cream at night and allow it to absorb in until morning.

Step 5: Wipe excess

Then, I remove any excess oil that hasn't soaked into my wood. It should not feel damp or sticky after removing the unnecessary oil.

Step 6: reapply

This wood cream could be used for any wood in the kitchen ( wood cutting boards, bowls, spoons, etc.). When the cutting board looks dry and discolored it should be re-seasoned. 

Regular maintenance of cutting boards is essential for ensuring they will last and remain effective in your kitchen.