Any unvarnished wood items in your kitchen need to be conditioned so that they remain in prime condition. Cutting boards are one of the most essential kitchen items and you need to take of them. When you want to treat your cutting board, oiling them is the simplest way.
Cutting boards that are not oiled will dry out, leading to warping and cracks, especially with the seams that have pieces of wood joined together. Oiling your cutting board will prevent it from drying out and it will also from absorbing the undesirable smell.
When you use oils of low quality, it reduces the absorption of food flavors and water. Worse still, it prevents the build-up of oil, making the cutting board to become sticky. However, the best oil will keep the cutting board plump and well-protected.
The wood will not stain if you splash it with wine and will not rot with prolonged water contact. Preparing your wooden cutting board is an important step in your usual kitchen routine. This post will share with you what you need to know about the best oils ideal for your cutting board.
Is mineral oil food safe?
Mineral oil is also known as liquid paraffin and you can use it as a conditioner for cutting boards in your kitchen. This is a non-drying oil and gives your cutting board a plastic-coating similar to the one you have when you season a pan.
Mineral oil makes a great option if you intend to have a good cutting surface that prevents water from beading off. It also gives the cutting surface a natural wood surface without having grime build-up. You can find food-grade mineral oil that is food safe and meet food standards.
The mineral oil is formulated to ensure it doesn’t accidentally contaminate the food being prepared on your cutting board. Mineral oil has various grades that depend on the refinement process. The lowest grade is usually utilized in commercial and industrial equipment and the top-quality grades are used for medicine, cosmetics, and food.
Food grade mineral oil is a top-grade and safe for use in your kitchen. Mineral oil is a popular choice and is not prone to rancidity, and you can also use it on other kitchen utensils. Here are some ways you can use this oil:
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Make sure that you clean the boards and scrub them with lemon and salt.
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The cutting boards should also be dry before applying the oil.
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Let the mineral oil to soak in even if it means a couple of hours.
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Wipe off excess oil.
While there are a lot of food-safe finish for butcher block and cutting boards on the market, some of them contain additives that may have benefits on your cutting board. However, mineral oil is not only safe to ingest, but it also comes in larger quantities to help you use it for some time. You can order mineral oil online, hardware stores, and pharmacies.
How often can you oil a cutting board
You will need to oil the cutting board as often as possible whenever it looks it’s dry. It’s easy to determine that your cutting board is dry because you can see from its appearance or you can sprinkle a few drops of water and see if the water absorbs into the wood. If that’s the case, you probably need to consider oiling your cutting board.
From the onset, a butcher block countertop needs to be oiled with mineral oil to ensure the wood has absorbed has enough oil. As time goes by, you can oil it at least once a month or once every other month. While most cutting boards come already well-oiled, as you use them and with frequent washing, they need to be reconditioned by applying onto them oil.
Best oils suitable for your cutting board
Food Grade Mineral Oil
Food Grade Mineral Oil is suitable for counting boards, butcher blocks, and countertops. This is food-grade mineral oil and you can use it on wood and bamboo cutting boards, salad bowls, kitchen utensils, and other wood products. It’s made from pure USP grade mineral oil and it has vitamin E to ensure that it has a long shelf life and great wood absorption.
Food Grade Mineral Oil is tasteless, odorless, colorless, and doesn’t get stale. It doesn’t contaminate food once it gets into contact with tamper seal. If you want to restore and protect your counting block, this is possibly the right oil for you. It hydrates, penetrates, and seals counting blocks to prevent the wood from drying and cracking.
It’s easy to use as you just need to push an applicator can and squeeze out its bottle contents. When applying mineral oil, ensure to oil the sides of the counting board and use the back of a knife to spread the oil for great results.
The oil normally penetrates the wood at least 4 hours and looks wet and hydrated. For thicker cutting boards, you should also oil its underside. A new board requires the oiling process to be done for about 3 to 4 times to make sure the surface is ready.
Pros
- It has enough content to last long even with regular use.
- It keeps kitchen utensils rust free and lubricates and shines their wooden parts.
- It’s easy to use and spreads nicely.
- It’s odorless and doesn’t contaminate food.
Cons
- The bottle appears small but the mineral oil lasts for long as you just need 2 to 3 drops to spread on a large surface area.
Bullhide Wood Oil
Bullhide Wood Oil is a natural wood oil for non-varnished wood counters, wood floors, butcher blocks, patio furniture, and many more. This product comes in a 16-ounce bottle and it’s formulated to protect wood materials from mold, mildews, liquid, and the usual build-up. It’s another great oil that will soak into your cutting block to restore its natural structure affected by wear and will prevent any future damages.
Bullhide Wood Oil is a natural wood oil because it contains natural ingredients. It’s safe to use it in your kitchen as it is food-grade mineral oil with triple filtered beeswax as well as carnauba wax.
You will have peace of mind knowing that you can use it on non-varnished woods while the environment and your family are safe. It’s hand-made in the United States and all the ingredients are of the highest quality natural products.
Pros
- It’s easy to apply mineral oil on the surfaces of non-varnished wood and has a nice finish.
- It’s made from all-natural ingredients, therefore, there is no need to wear gloves or worry about the odor.
- It’s versatile and you can apply it on a wide range of wood surfaces.
- It’s food-grade oil, making it suitable to use in your kitchen.
Cons
- You need to handle the packaging properly to avoid the product from spilling out.
Premium 100% Pure Food Grade Mineral Oil USP
You can be assured that you are using safe oil because Premium 100% Pure Food Grade Mineral Oil USP is NSF approved and USP certified. This mineral oil is what you need to use for cleaning cutting boards, butcher blocks, wood utensils, and many more. It comes in 8 fluid ounces, making it enough for use for multiple times.
Thanks to its packaging, the oil is easy to pour ensuring that you don’t spill it. It’s a food-safe wood finish and will prevent the growth of bacteria on your cutting board. It also prevents absorption of food odors that might pollute other foods you are putting on the board.
Because this mineral oil is colorless and odorless, your food products will be kept fresh and crisp. Some of the other uses include wood stain, lubricator, laxative oil, soapstone oil, and bamboo oil. Once you condition your cutting board, there will be less friction experienced in the cutting board.
Pros
- It keeps the cutting board like new and prevents rust from developing on the other kitchen utensils.
- The instructions on the bottle are clear, making it easy to use.
- It’s colorless and odorless to prevent contaminating your food.
- It’s NSF approved and USP certified to assure you of its safety.
Cons
- It is sometimes tricky to apply it and there is a chance of spilling because it has a bottle cap instead of a squirt nozzle.
Pure Organic Ingredients Mineral Oil
Pure Organic Ingredients Mineral Oil is also a food-grade oil suitable for cutting boards, countertops, butcher blocks, and wood utensils. It comes in a bottle of 8 ounces and is easy to use. This is a natural moisturizer that helps your cutting board to be in great condition.
It prevents drying and cracking up and it doesn’t have any fragrance that might affect your food. You can use Pure Organic Ingredients Mineral Oil on items made up of wood and you can also polish stainless steel objects. If you want to prevent rusting from your kitchen utensils, then use this mineral oil.
Other functions include removing stickers from surfaces and you can remove paint from your skin. There is no need to be frustrated with squeaky doors because it also lubricates such doors.
Pros
- It works well to remove fingerprints from stainless steel.
- It’s food-grade mineral oil and it doesn’t have stickiness or residues.
- It’s odorless and spreads nicely on the cutting block.
- It prevents rust from developing and it also acts as a lubricant.
Cons
- You need to handle the bottle with care to prevent spillage once it’s damaged.
Totally Bamboo Revitalizing Mineral Oil
Totally Bamboo Revitalizing Mineral Oil is designed to be used on bamboo and hardwood cutting boards. It comes in a two 8 ounce bottles and is formulated to protect, restore the natural look of your cutting board.
The other good part of this mineral oil is the fact that it extends the life of your cutting board whether it’s new or an old one. For the old cutting boards, the mineral oil ensures that its original luster is restored and it protects the boards from any threat of damage. You can make sure that your new cutting board starts well by hydrating it with this mineral oil.
It will seal and penetrate deep inside your bamboo and hardwood cutting board to prevent damage from normal use and water. It’s food-grade mineral oil that is safe only on bamboo and hardwood cutting boards.
It’s easy to use and you just have to apply a good amount of the mineral oil to the cutting board and clean it with a soft cloth. For best results, allow the mineral oil to remain on the cutting board the entire night and use your hands to wash the board. You can use the oil regularly for an effective outcome.
Pros
- It restored the shape of the old bamboo and hardwood cutting boards.
- It seals and prevents damage from happening to your cutting board.
- It’s easy to use and you can clean it with a soft cloth or your hand.
- It extends the life of your old and new cutting boards.
Cons
- It can only be used on bamboo and hardwood cutting boards.
Coconut Oil
Nature's Way Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Food grade coconut oil works wonderfully for wooden cutting boards as it’s highly resistant to rancidity. Nature’s Way Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is made from pure, cold-pressed, and non-GMO ingredients. This is coconut oil that is also gluten-free and comes in 32-ounce bottles.
It’s Non-GMO Project certified and USDA certified organic to make sure that you are only using oil that meets your needs. It’s comprised of 62% medium-chain triglycerides. With its superior taste and aroma to leave your cutting board smelling nice.
You need to take about a teaspoon of coconut oil and spread it gently on the surface of your cutting board. Then rub in the oil, and you should apply it for almost 3 to 4 times. Let it dry for 6 hours and you can repeat the process every month or when you notice that the wood has started to dry.
Pros
- It’s a great product for cooking, but it also works well on conditioning cutting blocks.
- You can use coconut oil for everything including on your hair, skin, and cleaning kitchen utensils.
- It has taste and aroma, meaning it will bring a nice odor to your cutting board.
- It’s easy to use and prevents the wood from drying up.
Cons
- It’s no guarantee that it will work well when seasoning cutting boards.
Bees Wax
Earth Natural Botanical Beeswax
Earth Natural Botanical Beeswax comes in bottles of 1-ounce bars and is made of 100% pure organic capping. This product can also be used for wood conditioning to prevent your cutting board from drying and cracking. The beeswax penetrates the wood to keep the moisture out. It’s a food-grade wax, meaning that it’s safe for use in your cutting board.
The bee wax is non-GMO and is BSE or TSE free. It doesn’t have additives like colors and fragrances to ensure that it doesn’t pollute your cutting board. This is USDA certified organic to give you comfort that you are using a suitable product. You can also use the beeswax for health and personal care applications including foods, lotions, and creams.
Pros
- It’s USDA certified organic to make it suitable for use in conditioning cutting boards.
- It has various uses such as health and personal care applications.
- It doesn’t have additives.
- It’s food-grade wax, making it safe to use.
Cons
- It doesn’t have specific directions on how to use on cutting boards.
FAQs
Is boiled linseed oil food safe?
Linseed oil is a popular option for wood applications. Most woodworkers use boiled Linseed oil to protect their wooden objects. However, Linseed oil that has gone through the boiling process is treated with chemicals that are not food-safe.
For better results, use food grade and unboiled Linseed oil on your cutting board. It’s a drying oil that will provide a food-safe and a sort of plastic-like material on the cutting board to protect it and makes it easier to maintain your cutting board.
Is teak oil food safe?
Teak oil can be harmful to humans and pets if ingested. It contains a chemical known as Naphtha that can cause damage to lungs through skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion.
Is tung oil food safe?
Tung oil is also popular in wood applications because it provides a satin appearance with a slight golden tint. The only problem is that it can be allergic to some people as it’s made from tung oil. Therefore, be cautious when using any product made from tung oil.
The Verdict
If you want the best for your cutting board, you should choose an oil that will give you the expected results. The oils reviewed above are all excellent for your cutting board, but others have specific formulations to ensure you get what you need.
Food grade mineral oil is less susceptible to oxidation and has antioxidant additives such as vitamin E that can also keep you safe if you ingest them. Therefore, make the right choice and select food-safe oil for cutting boards that will work well on your cutting board while keeping you safe.
