We absolutely love cutting boards and we’re firm believers that we can never have too many in our kitchens. Not only are these boards great for preserving those countertops, but they’re gentle on knife edges, and we love the way wooden boards look stacked as decor. The only downfall to wooden cutting boards is that they house a ton of germs if not cleaned properly and there is a certain amount of care that goes into keeping wooden cutting boards looking brand-new. Let’s take a look at some super helpful tips to ensure that you’re taking excellent care of your cutting boards.
(image via: pinterest)
Before we get started, here are some tools that will be helpful as you clean and care for your boards:
- Metal spatula (this will be used for scraping stuck-on food off of your board.)
- Dish soap
- A sponge
- Dish towels
- Paper towels
- Food-grade mineral oil
- Salt, lemon, and distilled white vinegar
- Baking soda
Okay, now that we’ve got all the materials we may need, let’s get to cleaning!
First things first, make sure you’re always handwashing your boards, or else they’ll begin to warp and may even crack. You’ll begin by scraping off any stuck-on food with your metal spatula, then applying soap and water and scrubbing the entire surface with a sponge, both sides. At this point, make sure you remove all food and suds before continuing on.
Now if you don’t have to wash your board after every use. For instance, if you’ve just used your board for slicing bread, then brush the crumbs off and put the board back where it came from.
(image via: free pic)
Next, a very important step, disinfecting, because as we mentioned earlier, wooden boards house a lot of germs. You’ll want to dip your sponge into a vinegar solution and simply wipe down every surface on your board.
It’s not unusual for your board to have stains on it, it’s being used for food prep, after all. It’s best to take care of stains as soon as you see them and you’ll do so by sprinkling salt or baking soda on the board surface, next you’ll take a brush or sponge and scrub the area until the stain is gone. If you notice an aroma coming from your board, cut a lemon in half, sprinkle some salt on the flat side, and then scrub the stained area to remove any odors.
Make sure your board has dried completely before you apply the next step.
Once you’ve removed food, stains, and odors, and allowed your board to dry, it’s time to finish with oil and conditioner; these products will prevent your wood from drying and cracking with age.
(image via: delish)