You may have heard that wood cutting boards should be oiled, or you may have done it yourself. What is it for, and will any oils work? The simplest and affordable option- this is Vaseline oil that can be found in a pharmacy - with it the cutting board will find a second life.
Why do you need oil?
- Oil moisturizes natural material, which, without impregnation, tends to dry over time. Regularly processed boards last longer and retain their presentable appearance
- The oil creates a natural protective film on the surface of the wood, preventing the absorption of odors and penetration of bacteria deep into the board. It is good if the product itself is of high quality and has the same properties as Epicurean boards, which do not absorb liquid and odors.
- Correctly carried out processing will protect the surface from microbes and fungi, and prevent the formation of mold.
How to oil a cutting board?
Gently pour mineral oil onto the surface and rub with a soft cloth. Smear the board on all sides, not forgetting about the side ones. Do not be afraid to pour too much oil - the wood will take as much as it needs, and the excess will simply be absorbed into the fabric.
Pure mineral cutting board oil will penetrate deeply and close the pores. This treatment should be repeated from time to time, at least 3 times a year.
We create reliable coverage
If you want to create a more durable coating that fills in small cracks and visible cuts, you can add to the oil beeswax... It will protect the surface from wear, make it smooth in appearance and to the touch, and prevent moisture from penetrating inside. Natural wax is sold in the same place where honey, or in online stores of components for cosmetics and soap making. It is necessary to mix oil and wax in a ratio of 4 to 1. This is done as follows: the oil is heated in a water bath, wax chips are added to it and mixed until the mixture is homogeneous. When using the microwave, you can put the container with the mixture for 30-40 seconds until the wax dissolves.
While the solution is hot, you need to coat all surfaces of the board with it. As it cools protective covering will harden, after its formation, the board should be polished with a soft cloth. If you are using a new, untreated board, then the procedure should be repeated after 6 hours and do not forget to renew the covering once a month.
A quick and easy procedure like soaking a cutting board with oil will prolong its life for a long time. Moreover, if the product is expensive and of high quality, it is simply necessary to take care of it. Of course, even in the absence of any maintenance, a wooden board can be successfully used, but literally in a year it will "grow old" and lose its attractive appearance.
You are the proud owner of a beautiful wood cutting board. The time has come to learn how to care for her in order to extend her life for many years. Correct care at the cutting board will prevent cracks, mold and germs. It doesn't matter if the board is new or old.
When purchasing a new cutting board, immediately process wooden surface oil to protect against moisture, bacteria and food odors. This procedure should be repeated regularly as the oil dries. The oil fills the pores of the wood and prevents the penetration of liquids and food particles.
What kind of oil can I use?
Any oil that meets two requirements is suitable: safety for humans (for ingestion) and resistance to spoilage at room temperature. Please note that vegetable oil(for example, sunflower and olive) do not meet the second requirement, since they deteriorate over time, regardless of the degree of their cleaning. A cutting board soaked in such oil, after 1-2 years, acquires an unpleasant smell of rancid spoiled oil. It is impossible to get rid of this smell, and the board will have to be thrown away.
Mineral oil
It is best to use for prevention mineral oil that you can buy in our store. Mineral oil is odorless and tasteless. It is absolutely safe for humans.
Wipe the board with mineral oil and let it soak, then remove the remaining oil with a dry, clean cloth. Don't be afraid to apply too much oil - in this case, the more the better. Wipe your board down at least once a month.
Beeswax
Beeswax is often added to mineral oil to add body. For centuries, wax has been used as a sealant to protect against moisture in baskets, textiles, food storage, and more. perishable food as well as for wood care. Wax increases moisture resistance (although it does not waterproof the wood) and helps protect the cutting board from wear and water. The wax remains on the surface, filling the pores and crevices, while the oil is absorbed into the wood and cannot create such a protective film. The wax layer prevents moisture, bacteria and dirt particles from entering the wood surface. In addition, after treatment with wax, the board becomes smooth and pleasant to the touch, acquires a delicate and pleasant aroma.
You can also buy ointment for boards, consisting of beeswax and mineral oil in our store. In consistency, it is similar to butter... Apply a layer of ointment to the board, rub it with a dry cloth, then let it dry for a while and then polish the board to a shine.
Other means
For prevention, you can use a number of vegetable oils, which have a very high price but certainly good for your health. Coconut and linseed oil contain a large number of saturated fats, so that they do not deteriorate for years. They do not need to be refrigerated, but direct sunlight should be avoided.
Disinfection
All cutting boards, regardless of their type, require regular cleaning and disinfection. Below are a few of the recommended chopping board maintenance options.
Hot water + detergent
Scientific research has shown that this is the most optimal method for disinfecting any cutting board.
Any surfactant-based detergent can be used, such as dishwashing detergent or liquid soap. Disinfectants based on surfactants remove any contamination along with bacteria, and at the same time are absolutely safe for humans. An important factor is that these products do not corrode metals.
The cleaning procedure is slightly different for large and small cutting boards. If the board will fit in a sink, clean it with detergent and hot water tap, then rinse and wipe dry.
You cannot place a large board in the sink and wash it under running water, so it must be cleaned in the same way as, for example, dinner table- using a damp sponge and detergent. Remember to wipe the board dry at the end and make sure there is no moisture left under the board (especially if it is without legs).
NEVER immerse a wooden chopping board in a sink filled with water or wash in dishwasher... The water will penetrate into the pores of the wood, and after drying, the board will begin to crack. Exceptions are boards from composite materials or water-repellent wood (hevea).
Vinegar
After use, the cutting board can be wiped clean with colorless table vinegar. The acetic acid found in food vinegar effectively kills disease-causing bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus). People who are allergic to other disinfectants prefer to use vinegar.
The vinegar is conveniently stored in a spray bottle. This will allow you to easily clean and disinfect the surface of the board. After finishing the board, let it dry well.
Unfortunately, acetic acid breaks down fats, including those found in board prevention oils. Therefore, after using the vinegar, we recommend re-treating the surface of the board with mineral oil or ointment.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an effective means of fighting bacteria on the surface of a cutting board. The board must first be thoroughly washed (peroxide is ineffective on a dirty surface), and then wiped with a cloth soaked in 3% hydrogen peroxide solution (if necessary, you can dilute it with water).
Bath cleaner
Most effective means disinfection - chlorine. It is about bath and toilet cleaners and bleaches. Working with them requires utmost care and protective equipment, since contact with the eyes and mucous membranes should not be allowed.
Be extremely careful! Wear rubber gloves and goggles when handling. Good ventilation obligatory due to unpleasant odor.
Dilute the detergent in water (one teaspoon per liter of water). For the disinfectant solution to work effectively, the surface must be clean. Pour the solution onto a board, wait a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly and air dry or use paper towels.
NEVER combine chlorine-based cleaners with others (this will create toxic chloroform if combined with vinegar). They are also extremely corrosive, so keep your knives away.
- To remove the smell of garlic, onion or fish, there are three easy ways: lemon, coarse salt and soda. Rub something on the surface of the board, wait a few minutes, brush off the remains, rinse and dry the board.
- Always clean the board thoroughly after cutting fish, meat and game.
- Keep your board dry while you are not using it. Without moisture, bacteria die within a few hours. Moisture and liquids of all types must not be present on the surface of the board long time... If the board has no legs and you store it on the table top for horizontal view always check that water does not collect under the board.
- Do not leave the cutting board near a heat source (stove, radiator) unless the necessary insulation is installed. Wood hard rocks high temperature is contraindicated.
- Do not drill the board, grind holes, or otherwise damage the surface without reprocessing the wood.
- Do not use only one place on the surface for cutting. Distribute the work on the board to ensure even wear.
- Do not use a sharpened cleaver - it can split wood.
- Do not wash knives, forks, or other utensils on the work surface of the cutting board.
Video
Instructions: processing a wooden cutting board with mineral oil.
A wooden cutting board is intended for chopping a variety of food products: meat, fish, vegetables and others. Usually, porous natural wood is used for the production of cutting boards. The most popular species are sugar maple, cherry, ash and black walnut. Unfortunately, these tree species are very good at absorbing odors and bacteria that are on the surface of the food. If the processing of a wooden cutting board is carried out with the right substances: for example, oil, then the board will be perfectly protected from a variety of microbes and mold. Here is one of the cutting board care instructions:
1. Rinse the cutting board under running water if used before. Wipe the surface of the cutting board with a kitchen towel and let it dry completely
2. Dampen a kitchen towel with white vinegar. Use this towel to wipe the entire surface of the wooden cutting board. The vinegar disinfects the surfaces of the cutting board gently and safely. After thoroughly wiping, let the cutting board dry completely.
3. You can use mineral oil, but only what is called food grade. Do not use mineral oil available from pharmacies. Before treating the board with oil, you need to heat it up. Pour in 1 cup of the product and place it in the microwave. Heat the mineral oil in microwave oven within 10 - 15 seconds.
4. Soak a corner of a tea towel in mineral oil and wipe down the surfaces of the cutting board.
5. Give the cutting board time to dry. Repeat the oil cleaning procedure one more time.
6. Continue repeating the procedure for covering the cutting board with mineral oil. Let the board dry between treatments. When the cutting board is no longer absorbing mineral oil, remove what is left with a dry kitchen towel.
Wooden board for cutting food is an environmentally friendly and convenient kitchen tool ...
However, it has one drawback - it quickly takes on an "unpresentable" look: it gets dirty and there are knife scratches on its surface
Despite the widespread use of modern cutting boards made of silicone, glass and plastic in kitchens, wooden boards are not going to give up their positions, remaining as popular as they were several centuries ago.
Due to the porous structure of the wood, wooden plank after cutting the products on it, it absorbs their juice. The point is not only and not so much in the smell with which the board is impregnated after cutting meat or fish.
Microscopic food particles remaining on the surface of the cutting board serve as an excellent breeding ground for microbes and bacteria that pose a real threat to human health. There are many known cases of food poisoning caused by poor cleaning of a wooden cutting board after use.
Cleaning the cutting board
The most common way to clean a wooden chopping board is to wash it thoroughly with hot water and dishwashing detergent.
Attention! Do not immerse wooden cutting boards in water or soak them in water. This will encourage bacteria growth and the wood will crack when dry.
It would seem that what can be done wrong here? However, many make the mistake of wiping dry a washed cutting board with a kitchen towel, thereby transferring germs and bacteria from it to the board.
Quit this bad habit! After washing and rinsing the cutting board, leave it to dry upright without wiping it off with a dish sponge or kitchen towel.
If you need a dry board immediately, dry it with a paper towel.
Disinfection of a wooden board
Most effective method disinfection - soaking the cutting board in a chlorine-containing detergent... Do not overdo it with chlorinated liquid! For 5 liters of water, 1 tablespoon of the product will be enough.
After 30 minutes, remove the board from the disinfectant solution, rinse thoroughly and leave to dry in an upright position.
A safer disinfection solution can be prepared, using soda. Dissolving 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 0.5 liters of hot water, wet the surface of the board with the resulting mixture. After holding for 5-10 minutes, the board must be thoroughly rinsed and allowed to dry.
Can use hydrogen peroxide instead of soda, in this case, to prepare a washing solution for 0.5 liters of water, you will need 2 teaspoons of peroxide.
Perfectly disinfects, cleans and removes unpleasant odors from the cutting board surface regular lemon, or rather his half. After rubbing the board with half a lemon, let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse and dry thoroughly.
Similar table vinegar also has an antibacterial effect.
To disinfect, wipe the cutting board after each use with white vinegar, which is effective against E.coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus.
Apply it with paper towel... Keep a spray bottle filled with vinegar in your kitchen for ease of use.
A wooden chopping board that is badly scratched or cracked should not be reused. The best thing to do with such a board is to get rid of it by buying a new one instead.
But if the damage to the surface layer of the board is insignificant, the board can still serve.
Lemon and salt. Simple and cheap way how to clean a wooden chopping board 
Keeping cutting boards clean is an integral part of maintaining kitchen hygiene, as the entire cooking process takes place on cutting boards. Therefore, with unhygienic use of the boards, there is a high risk of spreading harmful bacteria such as salmonella or E. coli. But not everything is so bad, because with regular cleaning, infection food products and the spread of harmful bacteria is easy to avoid.
Baking soda and water... Another way is to How to get rid of bacteria on the kitchen board.
In order to get rid of dirt on a cutting wooden board, you can also use such a simple, and most importantly, an affordable tool for everyone, like baking soda. Dilute 1 tsp. soda in 0.5 liters. hot water and spray the mixture all over the board, leave it for a while, then wash it thoroughly in the usual way... Instead of soda, you can also use hydrogen peroxide (the proportions for preparing the solution are similar to the first option).
Cleaning powders - not the best way
Some housewives use various cleaning powders to clean wood chopping boards. It is best to refrain from doing this.
Despite the fact that they effectively remove various odors and contaminants from almost any surface, it is highly discouraged to use such substances for cleaning kitchen utensils, especially cutting wooden boards - powder particles may remain on their surface and, with further use, end up in the food you cook.
Probably, it is not worth saying that this poses a threat to the health of all members of your family.
Strip the wooden cutting board from time to time
Rub it lightly with fine sandpaper to keep the surface smooth, especially if there are food particles or bumps on the surface.
Rebuilding the cutting board. We will use sandpaper, salt, lemon and sunflower oil heated in a water bath.
What to do on a cutting board that is a breeding ground for bacteria
Bacterial Infection Test for Cutting Boards
Which cutting board should you choose?
Key points:
- For different types different chopping boards must be used for food. This way you can avoid food poisoning when cooking meat products and you do not have to constantly wash the same board when cooking.
- Hot water and dish soap are essential helpers for daily cleaning of cutting boards.
- Once a week, properly sanitize all cutting boards.
Advice:
- Some food odors such as garlic, onion and fish are difficult to avoid. Dip a paper towel in pure lemon juice or grab a lemon wedge and scrub the surface - cutting boards will smell of citrus freshness!
- Rub the board with coarse salt or baking soda to remove strong odors. Leave the substance on the board for 2 to 3 minutes, then wipe off the treated surface. Rinse the cutting board and dry.
- Bacteria die without moisture. Store your board in a dry place away from food and any other contaminants. Store the board upright when not in use.
Preventing food contamination
Who wants to sleep with food poisoning? Follow this simple tips to avoid such problems:
- Buy solid acrylic or rubber boards as they are the most hygienic to use (these are the boards commonly used in restaurants).
- Wooden boards should be disinfected regularly and kept as clean as possible.
- It is convenient to have multiple boards for different types food. You must have at least two of them: one for raw meat and fish, the other for vegetables, bread and any other foods that can be eaten raw.
- Buy colored sets of cutting boards, or label the boards yourself, so it will be much easier to distinguish between them by purpose.
- Throw away any cracked cutting boards. large scratches or obvious traces of dirt. Like all kitchen utensils, cutting boards have a shelf life and are important to dispose of on time to maintain kitchen hygiene and cleanliness.
Processing cutting boards
Most wooden cutting boards are made from hardwoods such as teak, although bamboo cutting boards are also quite common. Any type of wood must be treated to prevent stains and to keep food odors and bacteria from remaining on the surface.
Use an oil that can be reapplied, such as edible mineral oil. It will fill the pores of the wood safely and well. Another name is liquid paraffin, edible petroleum jelly.
Rub the oil over the board and let it soak into the wood. Wipe off excess oil with a clean, dry cloth. Repeat this process at least once a month.
Attention! Do not use vegetable oil on cutting boards. The oil will go rancid and cause an unpleasant odor.
After mineral oil, apply beeswax, it will make the surface of the board water-resistant, which will protect the wood from wear and tear and extend its service life. Microwave in a microwave safe container 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) beeswax with 1 cup (240 ml) mineral oil for about 45 seconds. Apply warm wax to a cutting board.
Based on materials from www.cleanipedia.com, ru.wikihow.com
Wooden kitchen chopping boards have many advantages over their plastic and ceramic counterparts.
Products do not slip on their surface, allowing you to cut them much more confidently and faster.
Besides dense wood in addition to its environmental friendliness, it is also famous for its durability, so that wooden boards last much longer than their other counterparts.
But wooden cutting boards have their drawbacks. The main ones are the ability of the tree to absorb odors and change appearance for the worse. In order for the board to serve longer, it is necessary to take proper care of it.
I hope you now know how to do it: o) ....
Caring for your cutting board is what you need to keep your wooden cutting board looking attractive for a long time and safe for your health. The board needs to be washed, cleaned, periodically processed special means... In the article I will dwell on all the issues in more detail.
How to wash a cutting board
Wooden chopping boards must never be washed in. It is also impossible to soak a contaminated board in water for a long time, because this can cause the wood to swell and crack after drying.
To avoid any problems with the cutting board, clean it immediately after use, do not let food sit on it for a long time. You can wash, well, or with dishwashing detergent, using a cloth or sponge. Do not use strong detergents.
How and what to clean a cutting board
If the cutting board is heavily soiled, ordinary table vinegar can be used for disinfection. You should treat the wooden surface with a cloth dipped in vinegar and rinse it.
The same disinfecting effect can be obtained by using lemon juice.
By the way, at enterprises Catering according to sanitary and epidemiological rules, the chopping block is cleaned at the end of the day and salt is poured in. This prevents the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, cutting boards can be cleaned with salt. You can successfully combine cleaning a wooden board with lemon and salt, as shown in the video.
It is better to refrain from cleaning the board with various cleaning powders and pastes, since there is no complete certainty that the detergents will not remain in small cuts, and from there they will not get onto the processed products.
How and what to handle a cutting board
To keep the cutting board looking attractive, not absorbing various unpleasant odors, and to prevent the growth of bacteria, it must be treated with mineral oil and wax.
You should not use vegetable oil to soak the cutting board. As the oil turns yellow over time, it acquires an unpleasant odor.
You may ask me: "Where can I get mineral oil?" The answer is - at the pharmacy.
Ordinary vaseline oil is the mineral oil itself. Although it is produced from oil, it is completely harmless to human health. It is used internally as medicine... Therefore, it is ideal for processing a cutting board.
To process the board, you need to prepare oil and a cloth. Pour oil on the board and rub the oil in a circular motion with a cloth. Don't be afraid to add extra oil. The wood will absorb as much as it needs. Thus, you will close or, one might also say, seal the pores in the wood and bacteria, sticks and any other byaka will not rage in them. Also, such a coating will have waterproofing properties.
It is worth treating a new board with oil twice, at intervals of several hours, so that the oil is well absorbed. Simply wipe off excess non-absorbed oil with a cloth or paper towel. 
The recipe for the remedy is not complicated. You need to take one part wax and 4 parts petroleum jelly.
Heat the oil in a water bath and dissolve the wax chips in it. To speed up the process, you can heat the mixture in a microwave oven.
Before the procedure, you can warm it up a little in the microwave (if it fits there). Then cover it on all sides with a prepared mixture with a brush or a clean cloth. Allow the mixture to absorb and harden.
Impregnation with a mixture differs from impregnation with just oil - it is considered more durable and strong, it can close not only pores, but small cracks and cuts. Such processing of a wooden plank must be repeated periodically - at least once every three months.