Your board was cut, shaped and finished by hand in our workshop and sealed only with food-grade mineral oil. Never lacquer, never stain. This page is everything that came in the box and a little more: how to keep the board beautiful, who to thank for it, what to do if something is wrong, and how to register it for its warranty.
Caring for your wooden cutting board
Three things matter. Hand wash it. Dry it upright. Oil it once a month. Everything below is detail.
The first few days
The board leaves us with a coat of oil still soaking in. Before the first use, take it out of its packaging and stand it upright for a few days so air reaches every side and it finishes curing evenly. Put it on a stand if one was purchased.
Every wash
- Hand wash with warm water and a little mild soap.
- Dry it by standing it upright. Never lay it flat while wet, and never leave it soaking.
- Never put into the dishwasher. Heat and standing water will split any wooden board.
Oiling
Oil is what keeps moisture, stains and odour out of the wood. After each of the first five washes, and then once a month, work a generous coat of food-grade mineral oil along the grain, leave it overnight, and wipe off what has not soaked in. If the surface ever looks pale or dry, it is thirsty: oil it that evening.
Time needed: 5 minutes.
Oiling is the one habit that keeps a wooden cutting board from drying, staining and splitting. It takes five minutes.
- Pour
Put a generous amount of food-grade mineral oil in the middle of a clean, dry board.
- Spread
Work it over the whole surface and the edges with a cloth, sponge aspirator or paper towel, along the grain. Do both sides.
- Leave it overnight
Let the oil soak in overnight, then wipe off anything that has not absorbed. Repeat after each of the first five washes, then once a month.
Need oil? We are putting together a board oil for this page. Until then, any food-grade mineral oil from the pharmacy or hardware store does the job.
At a glance
| First few days | Stand upright, let it finish curing before first use. |
| First five washes | Oil after each wash, leave overnight. |
| Every month | A fresh coat of mineral oil. |
| Every wash | Warm water, mild soap, towel dry, stand upright. |
A few things to avoid
These are also the conditions of the warranty: a board that has been through any of them is not covered.
- The dishwasher, the sink, the stovetop, the oven and direct sun.
- Harsh detergents and cleaning sprays on the wood.
- Juices from raw meat left to sit. Rinse and dry promptly.
- Always cutting in the same spot. Move around so the surface wears evenly.
A deeper clean
For odours or a stubborn mark, scrub gently with coarse salt and half a lemon, rinse with warm water, dry, and oil as usual. White vinegar, wiped on and rinsed off, disinfects.
Questions people ask us
Can a wooden cutting board go in the dishwasher?
No, never. The heat and the standing water swell and dry the wood in the same cycle, and the board warps or splits. Hand wash with warm water and mild soap, then dry it with a towel.
How often should I oil my cutting board?
After each of the first five washes, then about once a month. If the surface looks pale or dry, it is thirsty: oil it that evening. Food-grade mineral oil, left overnight, excess wiped off.
What oil is safe for a cutting board?
Food-grade mineral oil, or a board butter made of mineral oil and beeswax. Do not use cooking oils such as olive or vegetable oil: they go rancid in the wood.
My board arrived with a slight smell of oil. Is that normal?
Yes. Every board leaves us with a fresh coat of mineral oil still soaking in. Stand it upright for a few days before first use so it finishes curing evenly, and the smell goes.
Can I cut raw meat on a wooden board?
Yes. Rinse and dry promptly, and for a deeper clean scrub with coarse salt and half a lemon or wipe with white vinegar. Do not let meat juices sit on the wood.
What does the 90-day warranty cover?
Splitting, warping or a finish that fails within 90 days of purchase, on a board that has been cared for as described here: hand washed, never soaked, never in the dishwasher, kept from heat, oiled. Scan the code on the card that came with the board to register it.
I received a board as a gift and do not know who sent it. Can you tell me?
Usually, yes. Scan the code on the card that came with the board, choose "Who sent it?", attach a photo of the shipping label, and we will look up the order and tell you who to thank.
Questions
Write to us at clientcare@walnutartisan.com. A real person, one of the two of us, always answers. And when the next occasion comes round, the boards are here.