How to Care for WOOD Items in the KITCHEN

Farmhouse Kitchens are so beautiful. I love the natural elements of wooden bowls,

 

wood trays, crates and cutting/ bread boards. Just this last week while THRIFT SHOPPING 

 

 I found three cutting boards. They were poorly maintained but I knew I could get them back

 

to the way they should look.

 

I am certainly not an expert but I would like to share what I have learned

 

and what has worked for me.

 

 

 

 

       Maintaining a cutting board is a quick and easy task that will keep your board sanitary,

                                        looking new and extend the life of your board.

                        Wash your cutting board with soap and warm water and scrub well.

     After washing the cutting board, dry immediately with a towel and let it air dry standing up or

                                                            on a raised rack with air flow.



  If your board has stains or smells, you can use lemon juice or white vinegar directly on the area.


        The acid in these liquids will neutralize the organic material or fats causing the problem.

 

If the stain is a discoloring on the surface you can try and use very fine sandpaper.

 

I maintain my wood items with Mineral Oil. 

 

 

 

Mineral Oil

 

            Mineral oil  is a non-toxic, non-drying product that is colorless, odorless, and flavorless.

     Its properties prevent water absorption, which makes food-grade mineral oil (as determined

               by the Federal Drug Administration) a popular choice for wooden kitchen items

               such as wooden spoons, bowls, and, of course, cutting boards and butcher blocks.

                                        The key word here is food-safe,  there are

                              types of mineral oils that are not safe for human consumption.



               You can find it in the pharmacy where laxatives are sold. I bought mine at Target,

                                     it was not very expensive and will last a long time.

                                          Regular application of mineral oil will prevent

                                  cutting boards from becoming dry and brittle, which

     can cause a cracks.  A board that is treated with oil also prevents liquids from penetrating the

                                        board, which is often the source of germs and bacteria.



 

PLEASE NOTE:

 

               I do not recommend natural oils such as vegetable, corn, olive, peanut or walnut oil,

                         as these are rich in fats that will eventually oxidize and go RANCID,

               creating a foul smelling board. Also, never use standard mineral oil from a hardware

                                   that is not rated as food safe, as that is meant for machine

                                                lubrication and not for contact with food.



Add a generous amount with a clean soft cloth. You will be amazed

 

how much the wood will absorb the oil.

 

Keep rubbing until it has soaked in to the touch. Wipe off excess if needed.

 

 



BEAUTIFUL !

 

This will also give new life to vintage rolling pins, all metal pans and kitchenware.

 

 

Before, looking a bit dried out

 

 

You can see the difference here.

 

 

 

And after I finished you can see the improvement.

 

 

 

The Mineral Oil also works well on vintage utensils.

 

It helps clean and stops rust, giving the metal a nice sheen.

 

I recommend wiping down your vintage cookie cutters after use to protect

 

them from rust. I store my rolling pins in an old crock ready for use!

 



 

I hope you found this helpful.

 

Thank  you so much for stopping by!

 

xoLisaS