Cleaning a wooden cutting board: How do you do that?
A beautiful wooden cutting board can last for years, provided you maintain it properly. But how exactly do you maintain a wooden cutting board? In this article you can read everything you need to know about maintaining your wooden cutting board.
Why a wooden cutting board?
Why buy a wooden cutting board if you have to clean it thoroughly on a regular basis? After all, you can just throw a plastic cutting board in the dishwasher. A wooden cutting board has a very nice feature, namely the material: wood. When you cut on a cutting board, grooves are created in the cutting board where dirt and bacteria can settle. A groove in a plastic cutting board partially closes around the dirt and bacteria. Then you can scrub all you want, but there will always be leftover food and bacteria in the grooves.
With a wooden cutting board, on the other hand, something else happens. Wood is a natural product and is, as it were, alive. When a groove forms in a wooden cutting board, this groove opens itself. This allows you to easily wash all dirt and bacteria from the grooves. Another advantage of a wooden cutting board is tannin. Tannin is a collective name for certain chemical compounds that can be found in wood. Tannin has a self-cleaning effect and therefore kills a large part of the bacteria itself, so that you no longer have to do that.
Cleaning after use
After using your wooden cutting board, it is wise to always clean it. It is best to rinse it under a lukewarm tap and wipe it clean with a washing-up brush or sponge. If you have cut raw meat, it is wise to wash the cutting board with mild detergent. Then dry the wooden cutting board well with a tea towel. If you put a wooden cutting board away wet, there is a good chance that cracks will appear or that it will warp. Once you have thoroughly dried the cutting board, place it upright. It is important that the grain of the wood is vertical, the chance that the cutting board warps is much smaller.
Can a wooden cutting board also be put in the dishwasher?
A wooden cutting board should never be put in the dishwasher! Due to the large temperature differences and the large amount of water, cracks will certainly appear in your wooden cutting board, so never put it in the dishwasher.
The big cleaning for your wooden cutting board
Just rinsing and wiping clean is not enough to maintain the quality of your cutting board in the long term. It is therefore important to thoroughly clean your wooden cutting board once every 2 to 4 months. For the big cleaning you need lemon juice or white vinegar, (sea) salt and a kitchen towel or clean dishcloth. Below you can read step by step how to clean a wooden cutting board:
- Step 1 is to rub the wooden cutting board with lemon juice or white vinegar.
- Then sprinkle a handful of sea salt on top.
- Now take the paper towel or clean dishcloth and rub the lemon juice or vinegar into the cutting board.
- Then wait 15 minutes, while you wait, the board is thoroughly cleaned.
- After 15 minutes, rinse the board under the tap and dry the cutting board thoroughly with kitchen paper or a tea towel.
And voilà, your cutting board is now thoroughly cleaned and free of all bacteria, stains and odors. To provide the cutting board with an extra protective layer, you can rub it with oil after cleaning. You can read below how oiling works.
Cutting board oil
In addition to rinsing and wiping after use and the major service every 2 to 4 months, it is wise to oil your cutting board. If your wooden cutting board feels and looks dry, you know it's time to oil your wooden cutting board. The oil is absorbed by the wooden cutting board and forms a protective layer, which keeps your wooden cutting board in top condition. When oiling, use an oil without odor or taste such as coconut oil , avocado oil or almond oil.
The first step in oiling is pouring the oil onto the cutting board. Then rub the oil into the cutting board with a piece of kitchen paper or a clean dishcloth. Allow the oil to soak into the cutting board and repeat this process several times until the cutting board no longer absorbs oil. Then you know that the cutting board is saturated. Then wipe the cutting board well with a dry cloth and you're done. Your wooden cutting board is back in top condition with an extra protective layer.
in short ,
If you take good care of your cutting board, it will last for years. Let us know if our tips have helped you.
Greetings,
Boil Giant