naturesknottywork

Now that you have a beautiful new cheese board, you’ll want to make sure it stays that way. Below are tips to help maintain your cheese board so it looks like it did the day you brought it home.

Wipe your cheese board with a warm towel to remove any food particles.
For heavily soiled boards wash with warm water and a soapy towel/sponge.
After cleaning your board, immediately dry it with a clean towel, and then set it upright or on a drying rack with airflow to allow it to dry completely.

DO NOT:

Use the board to process raw meat, the juices can soak into the grain and create a breeding ground for bacteria.
Put the board in the dishwasher, the water and heat can splinter or warp the board.
Submerge or allow the board to sit in water, it can cause the board to warp.
Use Bleach or other cleaning products on your board, it can stain the wood or cause excessive drying.
Put a wet board flat to dry, it can cause warping if the board dries on one side.

If your board begins to smell or has stains you can use white vinegar or lemon juice to clean the board. The acid will neutralize organic material causing the problems.

Board Maintenance

To apply board conditioner, wait until the board is dry after washing, then apply a small amount of conditioner to the board. Using a soft cloth, rub the conditioner into the wood in a circular pattern, forming a thin coat. Repeat over the entire surface of the board and especially the sides. Board conditioner acts as a physical barrier on the surface of the wood that protects against stains and liquids. The conditioner also aids in sanitation, as it fills and seals in knife scars and microscopic cracks where bacteria would otherwise gather.

We recommended you condition your cutting board every month or when dry to the touch with Howard’s butcher block conditioner. Natural oils such as vegetable, corn, olive, peanut or walnut oil, are rich in fats that will eventually oxidize and go rancid, creating a foul smelling board, and are therefore not recommended. If you choose to use mineral oil, please make sure it is food grade, standard mineral oil in not intended for use with items that will come in contact with food.