How To Care For Your Cutting Board

Cutting board maintenance is not known by everyone. I will give you basic instructions on how to care for your board. If you purchased a cutting board from me, it's most likely made from walnut and might have some type of exotic wood in it. You paid a lot for your cutting board and you want it to last for years to come. Here are a few tips to keep your board from getting damaged and possibly falling apart. 

The most critical thing is not to drop your board on a hard surface. That one is pretty self-explanatory. I use Titebond III wood glue to hold the board together and this wood glue will actually dry harder than the wood. This glue is waterproof and is the only adhesive that should be used when making a board, however, it is not bulletproof. If you drop your board on a concrete surface and it hits the right spot on the board it could cause the board to crack. I have dropped my cutting boards before and they have not cracked but it can dent the wood. Be careful with your cutting board when you are around rough surfaces.

The other key thing to never do is let your board soak in water. You can rinse it off under running water, but please don't let it sit in a sink full of standing water. Doing that too many times will wear the finish off the board and eventually warp the board which will cause it to break. Never scrub the board with a Brillo pad or metal object. You will rub the finish off and it will wear down your board. Gently rub your board with a sponge in warm soapy water. It's wise to wash the board on both sides. Even if you don't use the other side to cut things. Not doing so can cause the board to dry unevenly and cause it to warp. Remember that this is wood and it can contract and expand which can cause your board to warp. Never put your board in the dishwasher. The heat from the dishwasher and the constant water will cause your board to warp.

After you use your board for a while it might start to look dull. When you purchase a cutting board from me you will get a 3 oz tin of cutting board oil. Rub some of that on to add an additional coat of finish to help protect your board. All you have to do is rub some of the oil on your board, let it sit for 15 minutes, and buff it out. You will see the grain come back to life. Treat your cutting board right and it will last for a very long time.