Caring for a cutting board is what you need to ensure that your wooden cutting board looks attractive for a long time and is safe for your health. The board needs to be washed, cleaned, and processed periodically by special means. In the article I will go into more detail on all the issues in more detail.
How to wash a cutting board
Wooden cutting boards should absolutely not be washed in. You should also not soak a contaminated board in water for a long time, because... This can cause the wood to swell and cracks to form after drying.
To avoid any problems with your cutting board, clean it immediately after use and do not let food sit on it for a long time. You can wash it, or with dishwashing detergent, using a cloth or sponge. Do not use strong drugs for these purposes. detergents.
How and with what to clean a cutting board
If the cutting board is very dirty, then you can use a regular one for disinfection. table vinegar. Should be processed wooden surface with a cloth soaked 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 deck for chopping meat is cleaned and salt is added at the end of the day. This prevents the proliferation 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 detergents will not remain in small cuts, and from there they will not get on the processed products.
How and with what to process a cutting board
To make a wooden cutting board look attractive, not absorb various unpleasant odors, and to prevent the growth of bacteria, it must be treated with mineral oil and wax.
Use to soak cutting boards vegetable oil not worth it. 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 petroleum jelly is 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 cutting boards.
To process the board, you need to prepare oil and a cloth. Pour oil onto the board and rub the oil in a circular motion with a cloth. Don't be afraid to add extra oil. Wood will absorb as much as it needs. This way you will close or, one might say, seal the pores in the wood and bacteria, sticks and all sorts of other bad things will not rage in them. This coating will also have waterproofing properties.
A new board should be treated with oil twice, at intervals of several hours, so that the oil is well absorbed. Simply remove excess oil that has not been absorbed with a cloth or paper towel. 
The recipe for the product is not complicated. You need to take one part wax and 4 parts Vaseline oil.
Heat the oil in a water bath and dissolve the wax shavings in it. To speed up the process, you can heat the mixture in microwave oven.
Before the procedure, you can warm it up a little in the microwave (if it fits there). Next, cover it on all sides with the prepared mixture with a brush or 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 also small cracks and cuts. This treatment of a wooden plank must be repeated periodically - at least once every three months.
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In my kitchen, the cutting boards and wooden spoons have lost their shine and are starting to look a little dry. Plus, my wife washes them in dishwasher, as a result of which cracks began to appear on them.
Wondering about the return of its former beauty, I heard about “Soviet butter” and decided to use this recipe in my own kitchen.
Step 1: Ingredients
- Wax. I needed quality beeswax. I found it on the market in the form of small granules. There was an option to buy from a local beekeeper, but I didn’t like the color - it was too dark.
Pay attention to the composition: you need beeswax, not mixed with paraffin or other cheaper waxes. Pure beeswax has antibacterial properties, for which it is valued. You can also buy it in one piece and grate it.
- Mineral oil I bought it at a pharmacy for 60 rubles. Oil options from hardware stores are not suitable.
Do not use olive vegetable or Coconut oil, as it will eventually go rancid, but mineral oil will not. I also do not recommend purchasing ready-made oils for impregnating kitchen utensils, since there is no certainty that they are suitable for food surfaces.
- Glass jar: I used a 200 ml jar, which was enough to process all wooden products, which I had, and even had a little left in reserve. I chose a jar with a screw cap in advance.
- Measuring spoon: A tablespoon works well. If the jar has a narrow neck, you can use a teaspoon, the main thing is to maintain the proportions.
Step 2. Mix and melt
The recipes I found usually mix one part beeswax with three parts mineral oil. For my kitchen utensils I used 2 tablespoons of beeswax and 6 tablespoons of mineral oil.
How to melt beeswax and mineral oil?
- Option 1. Place the jar in a pan of water on the stove (make sure the water level is lower than the edge of the jar - it should only be submerged halfway or a little more) and bring the water to a boil. Be sure to stir the contents of the jar occasionally until the beeswax and mineral oil melt together.
- Option 2. Place the jar in the microwave and heat for 30 seconds, then stir. Repeat the 30-second heating and stirring process until the beeswax and mineral oil melt together.
Once the ingredients are melted, carefully remove the jar from the pan or microwave using a towel or oven mitt (careful - the jar will be very hot) and allow it to cool to room temperature.
Step 3. Applying the composition to wooden products
Make sure the surface of the wood is clean and dry.
I took a tablespoon of oil for a medium-sized cutting board and spread it all over the surface with my hands. The warmth of the hands melted the oil, and it was well absorbed into the wood.
Then I left the processed wooden dishes for 12 hours so that it can absorb the oil well.
The next day I used soft cloth(you can use a paper towel) to remove anything from the surface that has not been absorbed (but usually the oil is completely absorbed). The end result should be pleasant smooth surface with a slight shine.
Leftover oil (covered with a lid, of course) can be stored in room temperature for a long time, for example, for the next treatment.
Cutting boards are needed in every kitchen. We cut all products on them, from vegetables to hard cheeses. We don't always have a separate board for each food group, and fruits and raw meats may be cut on the same board. And although the board is washed after each use, the result is not flawless. Regular soap and detergent are not as effective as they should be. After a few years of use, the board almost completely fails. But don't rush to throw it away until you try it. original ways cleaning.
1. Salt and lemon
This method works very well for cleaning wooden cutting boards. Scatter coarse salt on the board, and then begin to rub it with half a lemon, squeezing the fruit so that the juice begins to stand out. Rub until a gray liquid forms on the board. After the salt has dissolved, simply rinse off the remaining mixture with water and wipe the surface dry.
2. Lemon juice
If you don't have fresh lemon on hand, you can change the salt recipe by simply adding lemon juice from a bottle. Wipe the board with the slurry using a hard sponge. If the dirt is very strong, leave the mixture of salt and juice for a couple of hours. In this case, you need to make the mixture thick enough, and there should be more salt in it. 
3. Vinegar
Vinegar is great for getting rid of stains. You can use it in pure form or dilute with water in proportions 1:1. Vinegar not only cleans the board, but also kills bacteria. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and add to the board each time you use it. Then wipe with hydrogen peroxide, and after that simply rinse the surface with running water. 
4. Bleach
Bleach is the most the best remedy for cleaning plastic boards. Fill the sink hot water and add half a cup of liquid bleach or bleach. Leave the board in the sink for 20-30 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with soapy water to remove any traces of chemicals. 
5. Baking soda
If the board starts to smell bad, try to get rid of the smell using a paste of water and baking soda. Make a thick paste on the board and leave it for a while. Rinse off the baking soda and dry the board with a towel. The unpleasant odor should disappear. 
6. Vaseline
Wooden boards should not be left in water for a long time, as this will cause them to become covered with unsightly stains. And although they do not interfere with the use of the board, it will no longer be possible to display it in a prominent place. Simply rub the stain on the board with Vaseline and leave for 12 hours. Once the Vaseline is absorbed, wipe off any remaining residue and wash the board. The stains should disappear.
7. Toothpaste
If the board has become rough over time, you can polish it with a mixture of baking soda and toothpaste. Just choose your pasta white, not gel. Wipe the surface along the grain of the wood. Then wipe the board with a damp cloth and dry.
8. Grated apples or potatoes
Another effective way Eliminate unpleasant odor by covering the board with grated apple or potato gruel. Leave the paste for 10-15 minutes and then simply rinse with water. The smell will be much better. 
9. Microwave
Boards small size can be disinfected in the microwave. The method is not suitable for thin plastic. Do not leave the board in the oven for more than one minute. You can pre-wipe the board with soapy water and lemon. 
10. Laundry soap
Be sure to lather the board with thick foam after cutting raw meat on it. It is better to immediately apply foam, and only then wash off traces of blood with water. Wipe down the board immediately after cutting to prevent stains from penetrating deep into the wood grain. 
11. Steel sponge
In the most advanced cases, you will have to contact mechanically cleaning The steel wool actually removes a thin layer of wood, removing the stain. You shouldn’t resort to this method too often, but with some stains you can’t do without it. 
12. White spirit
If the stain is too stubborn, soak a steel wool pad in a solution of white spirit and scrub thoroughly. After this, you need to thoroughly wash off the chemical with soapy water. Dry the board on outdoors so that the vapors completely evaporate.
13. Vegetable oil
Another way to polish scratched boards. Mix 3/4 part oil with 1/4 part vinegar and polish the board. It should become smooth. 
Any of these tips will make cleaning your kitchen much easier. Try everything and choose the best one!
What cutting boards do you use? I've tried probably everything possible. There were glass and plastic and rubber, there were combined, bamboo and wooden. And here’s what I’ll tell you: only on a wooden board is it more pleasant and convenient to cook. Firstly, wood is a natural product, which is generally healthy when cutting products on a natural surface. Secondly, I like the feeling of cutting on wood, there is some kind of springy feedback.
If you use boards different sizes- then they can perfectly act as a serving dish - how delicious it is to drink wine and eat cheese from the board on which you just cut it.
Nowadays you can increasingly see steaks, hamburgers, fish served on boards in restaurants and cafes. At home, this adds warmth and comfort; no plastic, much less glass, can compare with them.
When I bought my first wooden board, I saw in the instructions the line “soak natural oil before use." Of course, it was clear that impregnation would help extend the life of the board, but I still couldn’t figure out what kind of oil I needed or where to get it. Don't rub the board butter or margarine.
Quite quickly my board became unusable. No, it didn’t fall apart or crack. She started to scare me. The part where the board usually stood during drying began to turn black. Of course this was due to dampness in that part of the board where moisture collected. The surface of the board itself was stained with various stains from beets, carrots and other coloring products. Yes, over time they were washed away, but not completely. At some moments it seemed to me that the board was saturated with the smell of one product (for example, onions) and I didn’t want to cut another on it (even after washing), I had to ventilate the board.
Then I abandoned that board, bought a new one and started looking for oil. It turned out that there are special mineral oils for cutting boards. They are completely odorless and have no shelf life. The first is important because the oil will not add flavors to sensitive products. Secondly, there is no danger that the oil inside the board will begin to deteriorate (as will happen if you grease the board with sunflower or olive oils). 
Wipe the board with mineral oil and let it soak in, then remove any remaining oil with a dry, clean cloth.
The essence of impregnation is very simple: wood is a fairly porous material. So, in these pores we absorb oil, which creates a film and prevents moisture and odors from penetrating into the structure of the wood, decomposing there and causing harmful bacteria.
By doing this, you achieve three goals:
1. Appearance The board always remains excellent - no stains, darkening, etc.
2. No harm to health.
3. The service life of the board is extended. A good wooden cutting board costs from 1000 rubles. By wiping it with oil at least once every six months (preferably more often), you can use it for two and five years. This is more profitable than buying boards and throwing them away after half a year.
If you have any questions or comments, write them below. And yes, if you are interested in buying oil, it is always available.
A cutting board is a favorite product for novice cabinet makers because it is easy to make, practical, and the simplest and simplest design can always be attributed to the author’s idea. That is, you can buy a riser for four hundred rubles, cut it into three or four parts, get a whole set of cutting boards and sell it for four thousand. If you also have a miter saw, this will take ridiculously little time, just have time to take orders. Have the ghosts of fabulous wealth flashed before your eyes? But the horseradish was swimming there, in fact everything is a little more complicated :(
I’ll tell you later how much more difficult it is - for such a story it would be nice to have step-by-step photographs of the process. You never know what desperate housewife will read this and want to make a cutting board for herself or a culinary friend as a gift. You need to be open to any audience and write detailed, visual posts. Therefore, for now I will focus on one point, even at the final stage: processing the board with oil.
Why do you need to saturate the board with oil? In short - because it is beautiful and hygienic. Wood, as we know, is a porous material; the oil penetrates the pores and protects the wood from excess moisture and foreign odors. An oil-soaked board lasts longer and is easier to clean.
What oil should I use to impregnate the board? In individual discussions, this question provokes a more abrupt holivar “snowboard or skis”; people insist on using flaxseed, olive oil, even just sunflower oil; They suggest heating it, boiling it, immersing the board in oil for several days... There is a simpler, cheaper and odorless way: Vaseline oil from the pharmacy. Vaseline oil is a mineral oil that does not decompose and does not emit unpleasant odor, does not harm humans. In addition, Vaseline oil has a high ability to repel dirt. Whether to heat the oil before impregnating the board or not, I cannot say; I tried this and that, and didn’t notice a difference. The technology is the same: dip a tampon twisted from a suitable piece of clean fabric into oil and thoroughly rub it into the board, wait about forty minutes, repeat the procedure, and so on three or four times. Only if you decide to heat the oil (any small kitchen utensil is suitable for this - Vaseline oil will wash off without a trace without spoiling it), take care of your hands. Some people think that a one-time treatment is enough; some insist that the board should be re-oiled every three to four months.
Someday, for clarity, I’ll take a photo of the board before and after impregnation. Oil not only protects the wood, but also “reveals” its texture; Many people think that this way the products look more beautiful.
In paint and varnish pavilions you can find special oils for impregnating kitchen boards (often based on organic tung oil), and they do their job perfectly, but if you are going to make two or three boards for yourself or as a gift, it is easier to buy a bottle of Vaseline oil for fifty rubles than a canister of specialized oil for eight hundred.
The photo shows a board I made for myself. It's minimalistic, there are no handles (because from trimming), no holes (because this scrap has metal studs inside and I was not sure that I would not hit them with the drill), no accessories (because I haven’t come across any suitable one yet)- but she's cute.
