Expert Tips Wood Cutting Board Maintenance

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  • April 02, 2015

As someone who sells high quality kitchen knives, there are a handful of questions I get asked on a regular basis. This post is going to answer one for you that is critical in the maintenance of your knives.

When you make an investment in kitchen cutlery, it is so important to do your part in taking caring of your knives. And by that I am referring to the cutting surface you are using. I cringe every time a customer or client tells me they are cutting on plastic, glass, granite or any other type of stone. They are causing such damage to their blades by using these materials. By far the best surface to cut on is wood. It has a natural “give” to it that makes it friendly to your knives, helping them to stay sharp longer.

Inspiring Kitchen Best Wood Cutting board Maintenance(Photo courtesy of J.K. Adams)

In order to offer you the best and most knowledgeable guidance on your wood cutting boards, I reached out to an American manufacturer of high quality cutting boards that I have worked with in the past. J.K. Adams has been making cutting boards, entertaining and kitchen storage products, rolling pins and wine racks for over 65 years. Every J.K. Adams product is made by hand in Vermont using sustainably-harvested North American hardwood.

 Inspiring Kitchen Best Wood Cutting board Maintenance

J.K. Adams has kindly done a question and answer session with me based on the kinds of queries I have been asked when I am working with customers.

 

  • Does the type of wood matter when used as a cutting board? I have seen end grain boards. Are there pros and cons to these kinds of boards?
    • Answer – Hardwoods are the best for cutting boards because they can handle the daily wear and tear.  We use an assortment of woods: Maple, Cherry, Ash and Hickory.   End grain boards are often chosen because they reflect the beauty of the natural grain of wood.  They are also a more fibrous cutting surface and therefore do not show the cut marks as readily as an edge grain cutting board.

Inspiring Kitchen Best Wood Cutting board Maintenance

(Photo courtesy of J.K. Adams)

  • What is the best way to clean a cutting board?
    • Answer – The best way to clean a wooden cutting board is to wash it with a hot, soapy sponge, quickly rinse and to never let it soak in water and to air dry. 
  • How often do you need to mineral oil a board? 
    • Answer – There is no set time line for mineral oiling the boards.  It depends on use and the humidity levels in your home.  The easiest way to tell is when you run your hand over the board, if it feels rough to the touch, you should apply mineral oil with a cotton cloth. 
  • After cutting poultry, fish, and meat, how can I be reassured that the board is truly clean when I can’t put it in a dishwasher? How should I clean the board after cutting these foods?
    • Answer – Wood is naturally anti-microbial.  The wood is fighting the bacteria that it comes in contact with.   By washing the board with hot soapy water you are disinfecting the board.
  • I have seen creams to use on a board. Should I use that alone or with a mineral oil or not necessary?
    • Answer – Often times a cream is a beeswax conditioner or a combination of mineral oil and beeswax.  Both products are food safe without being a food product.  You never use olive oil on a board because it is a food product that could go rancid on the board.   Beeswax is a great option to condition and protect a large end grain cutting board or a butcher block counter top.  You only need to use one or the other.  Mineral oil is also great to get out stains on the wood.  So when you are cooking with a glass of red wine or cutting beets you can remove the red color from the wooden cutting board.
  • If I notice cracks in my board, should I stop using it? Is there a way to fix it?
    • Answer – You should stop using boards if they have cracks because you cannot properly disinfect the board. 
  • Is there a point when I should get a new board? Do wood boards really last forever if taken care of?
    • Answer – I have had customers tell me that they have had a board for 50 years.

 

 J.K. Adams has such a passion for their products that they offer a warranty that is rare in the marketplace. Every J.K. Adams product comes to you with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you ever have any problems with one of their products, they will replace it with no questions asked. Their products are designed to be functional, sustainable and timeless—for you and for generations of cooks to come.

Inspiring Kitchen Best Wood Cutting board Maintenance

 

(Photo courtesy of J.K. Adams)

I hope that you found this cutting board Q & A to be informative. If there are additional questions you have, pleases send me a message. All answers will be added to this current list. A big Thank You to J.K. Adams for sharing their knowledge with us. Please take a look at their beautiful boards. They can be found at https://jkadams.com/cutting-and-carving or on Amazon J.K. Adams 20-Inch-by-14-Inch Maple Wood Double-Sided Pour Spout Carving Board. In addition, you will find them at your local Williams-Sonoma, Bed Bath and Beyond, Crate and Barrel, and Sur La Table stores among others. 

Here are a few other examples of some of their boards that can be used as cheese boards or for serving:

Inspiring Kitchen Best Wood Cutting board Maintenance

(Photo courtesy of J.K. Adams)

Inspiring Kitchen Best Wood Cutting board Maintenance

(Photo courtesy of J.K. Adams)

Inspiring Kitchen Best Wood Cutting board Maintenance(Photo courtesy of J.K. Adams) 

Thank you for stopping by. And happy cutting!

 

5 Comments

  • I have a small wood cutting board that I love. I am looking to get a few larger ones because I notice that the plastic are really dulling my knife blades. These are great tips for keeping up your wood cutting boards.

  • Mommy Pehpot says:

    I love how beautiful these cutting boards are that it an be used to serve food.

    I’m in the look out for really nice and long lasting board, I’m going to give J.K. Adams a try.,

  • I have 3 or 3 wooden cutting boards, the bamboo one that I have is my absolute favorite! It cleans up well and I am sure that is going to last for at least 50 years! Hopefully even longer 🙂

  • Amanda says:

    This is such an informative article for novice chefs like me. I really need to brush up on my knife skills, as well as step up my cutting board game. Thankfully my husband works for Crate and Barrel so we have access to all of their high quality products. Can’t wait to get shopping and cooking!

  • Since I cook all of our families meals, well for the most part anyway, I’ve found that it is essential to have good quality tools to help with the job. When you don’t, it ends up taking much longer to do things, which ends up in wasted time and loads of frustration! Those cutting boards are beautiful and sound like they would last quite a while!

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