If you love to cook, a large wooden cutting board is a must. It’s great to have one right next to the stove so that you can chop and then drop your vegetables into your pans. Unfortunately, some people stay away from wooden cutting boards because they aren’t sure how to clean them. Thankfully, this process is easier than you might have thought. Let’s take a closer look at how to clean a wooden cutting board.
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Learn How to Clean a Wooden Cutting Board
How to Clean a Wooden Cutting Board with Soap and Hot Water
Wash your wooden cutting board with a bit of soap and hot water. You do not want to leave your cutting board sitting in water, however. The longer your board is exposed to water, the higher the chance that the board will swell and split. Try to wash your board in an empty sink. The less water exposure the better.
Allow to Dry Standing Up
Once you’ve washed your board, dry it thoroughly with a dishtowel. You then want to stand the cutting board up so that as much of the surface area as possible is exposed to the air. This will allow the board to dry faster. Remember, if you washed your board properly, your board shouldn’t have absorbed much water.
Maintain with Salt and Lemon Scrubs
Every few weeks, you want to really sanitize your board. This is done by covering the board with a layer of coarse salt. Next, rub a cut lemon over the salt. This will help kill any germs. If you have a large board that you cannot wash in the sink, this is how to clean a wooden cutting board without soap and water.
Rub with Mineral Oil Once Per Month
If you have a butcher block cutting board, you want to take the time to rub food-grade mineral oil into the wood once a month. The mineral oil will help protect the board. Rub with the grain of the wood and apply enough oil until the wood stops absorbing the oil. Wipe off any excess oil and allow to dry for 24 hours.
Sand the Surface, As Needed
Last, but not least, if you have a large cutting board that you spent a lot of money on, you can sand it. Wooden cutting boards do begin to look worn over time. When this happens, you can sand the board down and use mineral oil to seal the board. It may take multiple coats of oil.
Learning how to clean a wooden cutting board (and how to maintain it) will help you keep it in tip-top shape for years to come.
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