TODAY, how to clean a wood cutting board. A scary cutting board full of someone else's grime (because I found it at a garage sale between a Royal Doulton and a cigarette butt. )But it'll work on any wood cutting board at all.
Unless you’re a first semester, first year University student with a cafeteria pass, you probably own a cutting board. Or if you’re a baby. If you’re a baby you almost certainly don’t own a cutting board. A baby barely even knows how to set out a decent mise en place.
We’ve determined you probably own a cutting board. You also probably have no idea how to clean it.
I’m not saying this because I think you’re dirty and lame. I say it because I have never spoken to anyone who actually seems to know how to clean a wood cutting board.
A plastic cutting board is easy to clean. Throw it in the dishwasher.
A glass cutting board is…well…you really shouldn’t own a glass cutting board. They dull your knives and the sound of cutting on them is horrible. Throw it out.
A wood cutting board, however, is a bit more complicated. To clean and sanitize it you can’t just throw it in the dishwasher. And what about those stains? How do you get rid of those?
Table of Contents
First a case for the wooden cutting board.
You probably think that plastic is a more sanitary choice because that makes sense. It isn't porous like wood. Therefore your very logical mind tells you that bacteria from chicken juice and steak blood can't get trapped in plastic the way it can in wood.
WRONG. WOOD IS MORE SANITARY THAN PLASTIC.
UC-Davis studied the bacteria levels of plastic versus wood cutting boards and found that wood is naturally antibacterial.
A plastic cutting board retains bacteria in its scars (the places a knife has scarred the surface). It doesn't matter how much you scrub it, wash it or put it through the dishwasher, plastic holds onto bacteria and allows it to multiply.
On the other hand, bacteria dies in or on a scarred hard wood surface. It naturally kills bacteria. Only close-grained hardwood should be used for cutting boards. (MAPLE, BEECH, TEAK, WALNUT)
DROPSHOT
You won't get pretty flowers with it, but the ferny greenery of Dropshot (an herb in the Marigold family), tastes exactly like, IDENTICAL TO, black jellybeans.the ferny greenery of Dropshot (an herb in the Marigold family), tastes exactly like, IDENTICAL TO, black jellybeans.
This doesn't mean you should never use plastic cutting boards, just that wood ones are much safer and cleaner.
To keep your plastic cutting board safe, replace it when it gets rough and scarred.
If you're buying a new plastic cutting board do yourself a favour and get one like these that have an anti slip back so you can stop putting a wet dish towel under it.
How to Clean a Cutting Board
This is for a worn out, maybe second hand, disturbingly gross and stained cutting board. If your cutting board is just regular person dirty you can probably get away with just a regular butcherblock cleaning & oiling like I use on my countertops in this post.
Supplies
Directions for a heavy duty, tip to tail cleaning.
Each step takes care of a separate problem so feel free to only do what you think is necessary for your board.
Also - before I forget, you can make your own foaming hand soap. You seem like the kind of person who would like that kind of information.
Step 1: General Cleaning
1. Pour a mound of Kosher salt in the centre of the board. Add enough lemon juice to make a paste.
2. Swirl it around the cutting board and scour it with a coarse sponge. When you’ve scoured enough, rinse your board and dry it with paper towels.
(if you want to do a really good job, leave the salt solution on for a few hours…the salt will draw out impurities and liquid in the board as it dries)
Rinse the board and dry it with paper towels. See how much nicer it looks already? No stains. No sticky.
Step 2: Stain & Odour Removal
3. Pour a mound of Baking Soda onto the centre of the board. Add enough water until a paste forms. Rub it all around the board. If you’re doing a really good job, it’ll start to stink.
Step 3: Sanitize & Condition
Killing the bacteria that probably isn't there but will make you feel better if you do it.
4. In a spray bottle, combine 1 teaspoon of bleach with 4 cups of water. Spray the board surface and let it sit briefly. Rinse off the bleach solution & dry with paper towels. Make sure the board is fully dry before proceeding.
5. Pour Mineral Oil onto the cutting board. If it soaks in almost immediately, pour more on. Keep adding oil until it doesn't absorb anymore. Leave the board overnight then wipe off any residual oil.
* Get edible Mineral Oil from a drugstore (look for the one labeled "USP" for food grade). You can opt for Butcher Block oil, but Mineral Oil is less expensive and also - the same thing. *
You’re done.
Your board is ready for cutting a Big Mac on. Or if you’re super healthy like me, an apple. ‘Cause I only eat apples and red peppers and wholesome foods. Also there's no need to cut potato chips.
This post has older comments, but was completely rewritten in June, 2023.
michael
Good information but don't leave water on the board too long it will raise the grain and coule cause problems.
I have been making cutting boards for years. I use mineral oil to seal the board, then I also use a mineral oil beeswax minture that I make for people tokeep their boards looking nice.
check out my couple pictures on my blog.
Michael
End Grain Cutting Boards
Marie Johnson
Hi Karen,
I've used baking soda, salt, vinegar and lemon - mixture. Does an excellent job. This site
http://www.woodcuttingboardsguide.com/
offers good tips as well.
My aunt uses hydrogen peroxide to clean the wooden cutting boards. Do you recommend it?
Thanks
Marie
Karen
Hi Marie - I've never used hydrogen peroxide on a cutting board before, but from a health point of view there's no problem with it. It would definitely clean. The only thing I can see is the potential to bleach your cutting board over time but if you don't mind that then I'd say go for it. ~ karen
Suzanne Herbruck
I have used peroxide in lieu of bleach for years, as I'm a clutz, using bleach ends up with ruined clothes...
Put a spray top on the peroxide bottle, wash the board with a soapy whatever, wipe off soap, spray with peroxide. If it foams, it's killing more bacteria. If you use a mineral oil/bees wax combo, this also retards bacteria, as bacteria doesn't grow in wax. I use my gigantic boos block for EVERYTHING. When in doubt, more soap, then peroxide, then Boos block bees wax/oil. The peroxide is easy peasy, as once it's worked, wipe of with paper towel, the residue is basically water.
Not necessary to get too anal if you only do all this after chicken or meat.
A bad stain will come out if a cut lemon is left on it cut side down overnight.
Suzanne Herbruck
Off.
Patsy Freeman
Hey Karen,
I *love* your blog, it's terrific. I'm in love with your dollar store findings.
Was just wondering if it works with bamboo cutting boards as well. My husband got me a cutting board only recently, and it has some design on it. Would bleach run through it? Should I just wash and oil?
Here is what he got me
http://www.dedadesigns.com/shop/cutting-boards/fish/
Thanks! <3 <3 <3 <3
Patsy
Karen
Hi Patsy. Thanks! I love writing my blog so it all works out. As for the bamboo cutting board (nice by the way!) you should be fine to use bleach on it. I just wouldn't let it soak forever. Just wipe it over and let it set for a few seconds, then wipe it off. I don't have any proof though since I've never done it myself. Why not flip the board over to the underside and try your cleaning experiments there? That's what I'd do. ~ karen!
Robert Garduno
Hi Karen. Thanks for the info. After 25 years, I'm on my own again, which includes cooking and cleaning. I'm used to a high level of sanitation and I want to keep it that way. I okay with the basics, but there's so many methods and "tricks" I have yet to learn. Thanks again for making being a new divorcee a little more tolerable.
Tina
Welcome to the world of the singles! When ex and I divorced, I went to visit him monthly (or had him to visit me) to give him lessons. We'd been married 30 years and he was completely undone about how to find a doctor, how to mail a letter, how to shop for groceries. I hope you and your ex maintain a good relationship. It keeps the blood pressure down.
aba
Instead of using bleach couldn't you find a way to use the prosthetic leg in your basement to disinfect the cutting board?
iti
OMG, people bleach cannot sanitize wood, as it is porous. Bleach can only sanitize non-porous items. There are wood sanitizers that actually can sanitize wood.
Karen
Hello Iti - It's Karen. The author of this blog. I represent "people" as you call us. Yes, as a matter of fact, bleach is indeed what you use to sanitize wood cutting boards. http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/culinarytools/p/cuttingboards.htm , http://whatscookingamerica.net/CuttingBoards/AllAbout.htm , http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/tools-and-techniques/cleaning-your-cooking-area/how-to-maintain-a-clean-cutting-board1.htm , http://voices.yahoo.com/how-clean-cutting-boards-keep-them-bacteria-347593.html , https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:L3hkgGKQcvoJ:clark.wsu.edu/family/General-food-safety/SanitizingCuttingBoards.pdf+how+to+sanitize+wood+cutting+board&hl=en&gl=ca&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShkgYwtL-4OczcAUjsNpynO_TNGZK3Fp3E9Bsegvexp7VAAQ-i-vxOCd_tS3XV4dr3bkz0tBkXojrNRNxQgoZIWodNjGMDNMBujsIU3u11Ga_lDJH3bBk3lJ_GUcedcvkKIP3EE&sig=AHIEtbQk8pdWZNshTMMUwrwjIL2PuA1SmQ .
I think you'll find after further browsing of my website that I very rarely ever put anything up that I haven't fully researched and know to be true. ~ karen
Tina
Karen-
BOO-YAH!
Delta
Good on you for the reply. Here are some link corrections:
http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/culinarytools/p/cuttingboards.htm
is now located at:
https://www.thespruce.com/cutting-boards-and-food-safety-995484
http://voices.yahoo.com/how-clean-cutting-boards-keep-them-bacteria-347593.html
Yahoo Voices was shutdown on July 31, 2014.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:L3hkgGKQcvoJ:clark.wsu.edu/family/General-food-safety/SanitizingCuttingBoards.pdf+how+to+sanitize+wood+cutting+board&hl=en&gl=ca&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShkgYwtL-4OczcAUjsNpynO_TNGZK3Fp3E9Bsegvexp7VAAQ-i-vxOCd_tS3XV4dr3bkz0tBkXojrNRNxQgoZIWodNjGMDNMBujsIU3u11Ga_lDJH3bBk3lJ_GUcedcvkKIP3EE&sig=AHIEtbQk8pdWZNshTMMUwrwjIL2PuA1SmQ
no longer exists at that location but I belive the same document can be found here:
http://extension.wsu.edu/clark/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2014/02/SanitizingCuttingBoards.pdf
Jane A.
Except now I'm pissed at all the grotty butcher blocks I passed up in Goodwill. Back I go.
I'm a NYC ad copywriter and I'm telling ya: your tabletop shots are really great.
j.
Jane A.
Whoa, THAT WORKED GREAT. I was skeptical. I fished my board out of the recyclables; it looked WAY more disgusting than yours. Also, mine had deep, black (gik!) cuts and your butcher block didn't.
I did the whole drill exactly as instructed and: the freaking board is gorgeous!
Also, your shots are great.
God bless the bloggers!
or Blog guess the bodders....)
Jane in NYC
Karen
Jane A. - Excellent! Glad to hear it worked. ~ karen
elisa
you could use oxygen bleach, it accomplishes the same thing, but doesn't kill fish and everything else. there are versions for your laundry as well. or, you can use a dilution of tea tree oil, which is proven to kill everything you'd want to kill, but nothing you wouldn't want to (like your cat, the parsley, and those fish). also good in laundry.
i just bought an old wooden cutting board just for cutting meat on, and i shall be rubbing it with baking soda til it smells. lovely. x
JennyM
This is so timely -- I just bleached and oiled my butcher-block island thingy (inherited from a previous renter) which has a weirdo moldy-looking stain on it, to no avail. Well, I mean, it looks cleaner and better everywhere but the weirdo stain. I will try the lemon juice/salt and baking soda/water tricks and see if I can't freshen that puppy up proper!
Ali
Wow! One of the most useful posts I`ve found in the last time! Yeaaaaahy! :) Good Bye my awful icky wooden cutting board!!! :D Thank you! :)
Michelle
Do you think this would work with lime juice? Call me crazy but I have this whole island butcher block and a thing of lime juice. I am thinking all three steps on the whole thing. I may need wine though. This could be a thing.
Ooooh also it's got a bit of warp to it. Any cures for unwarpping wood?
Karen
Michelle - LOL. I'm sure Lime Juice would be O.K., but really what that island probably needs is mineral oil. There are a few ways to "unwarp" wood, none of which have been terribly successful for me. Google it. By the time I get around to doing a post on it, you'll have moved. ~ karen
Svaha
To unwarp it, if it's a normal board thickness, say less than 1" thick, put it in the dishwasher for the wash & rinse cycles to get it really wet. Then place it on a flat surface that gets a lot of sun with something heavy as hell on top of it. The water, sun, and weight will flatten it out (usually). After it flattens out, mineral oil it a couple of times and it will be good as new. After that try to keep it as dry as you can barring regular cleaning.
Karen
Svaha! Thanks! Yes I'd read about that solution, but I (like Michelle) have an actual chopping block which doesn't easily fit into a dishwasher! :) I tried soaking it with water and drying it to no avail. Excellent solution for a cutting board tho. :( ~ karen
Pam'a
And now, the counterpoint on thin plastic cutting sheets:
1. You can toss them in the dishwasher.
2. You can designate a "Meat" one.
3. After dicing something up on one, you can bend it and slide diced article into a pot without feeding the cats half of it.
4. They're cheap, cheap, cheap.
On the other hand, they're kind of tacky. And I discovered just a couple of nights ago that you can't put one on top of chicken to pound it thin. That is, unless you want to destroy it. Which, of course, you might want.
Mama Toto
I use the heavier plastic sheets for all of the above reasons and haven't had problems with slipping & sliding. I got them because I got some new expensive knives which I didn't want to dull. They aren't pretty but I keep them in a drawer. I have a wooden board but stopped using it because I didn't think it was sanitary, so maybe I'll resurrect it and see if I can be bothered fussing with it!
Lynn
thanks for this! super helpful!
Can I rant for a minute? ...because I feel this needs to be said somewhere and where better than in the comments of a cutting board post? Those little plastic sheet that people (why god why??) insist on using as "cutting boards" are nothing more than plastic sheets!! They make me mad! They are not cutting boards, they are instruments of kitchen torture! Any person that has a nice cutting board with the anti slip feet on it knows that those things are horrible. They slip, they slide, they make cutting anything into a daredevil act. I like sharp knives. With a flimsy cutting sheet i am more likely to take off a finger. Boycott cutting sheets! >_<
ok, rant over. :)
Scarlett Fiona Reed
I was wondering about those two things and of course you answered them. This was helpful and hysterical, as always. PS I use beeswax instead of mineral oil, but not as often as I should.
megan
My mom taught me to use olive oil to oil my cutting boards, and I think her mother taught her... So I've never used mineral oil. Are my mom and grandma wrong on this one?
Karen
Megan - Well. Um. Yes. They're wrong. But I'm sure they still loved you. The reason you use Mineral Oil is because it's more stable. Olive oil will go rancid over time. Mineral Oil will not. So with olive oil your board could have a tendency to stink of rancid oil, and then transfer this stink/bad taste to your foods. But I'm sure they loved you. ~ karen
Elaine
Love your reply, Karen! It reminded me of a Frasier scene when Frasier was paranoid about something and the father was almost going to say Frasier was nuts, but worded it more kindly by (haltingly) saying "no, you're not crazy; you're ... um ... special". Was so funny.
Cynthia Erkin
Why is everyone freaking out about bleach?
What about Mineral Oil??? It's a petroleum by-product from the distillation of gasoline. Personally I will not use any type of petroleum product for cosmetics, household cleaning, etc.. This also goes for paraffin candles.
Check out:
http://www.epicureantable.com/articles/acandles.htm
Everything else you've suggested seems great, and natural. I'd use it all, except Mineral Oil!!
Svaha
Seasoning a wooden cutting board with mineral oil is an important maintenance step and helps bacteria from forming to begin with. NEVER wash a wooden cutting board in the the dishwasher. And as Eva noted about wooden boards are actually safer than plastic boards. I make cutting boards and an old saying I go by is this...
Oil it once a day for a week.
Once a week for a month.
Once a month for a year.
Once a year for the rest of it's life.
Most wooden boards you buy will have probably only had a couple coats put on. Once a month is a good place to start with a new store bought (or one found beside a cigarette butt) board.
Some brands of oils use the term Butcher Block Finish or Food Safe Finish. Technically it's not a finish, it needs to be reapplied periodically.
Lisa
You know, if you use a fresh lemon, you squeeze out the juice, then use the half-lemon to scrub it and you don't have to use a sponge.
And I have the EXACT same cutting board. Since I use a plastic one for meats, I only do the bleach thing about one every 6 mo. or as needed if something happens. The salt/lemon/vinegar thing is done about weekly, but I also wash it with diluted dish soap and rinse/dry after each use. Mineral oil as needed!
Dana - a.k.a. RadioRedHead
Perfect timing. My cutting board smells of onions when I wipe it down these days. How often should one sanitize their board??
For some reason I am craving a big mac now... heard on twitter today that they have cadbury cream egg mcflurries now! OMG
Karen
Hi Dana - Technically you should sanitize the cutting board you use for meat after every use. That's why it's a good idea to use a plastic cutting board for meat. You can just throw it in the dishwasher. As for the wooden cutting board, which you can use for vegetables, bread etc ... it's also probably best to do it after every use. But let's be real here. Uh ... no one's going to do that. Sometimes I do it once a month, sometimes I do it once a week. If you keep a spray bottle with a weak solution of vinegar and water or bleach and water, it makes sanitizing after every use really easy. Phew. There you go. I've explained NOTHING. ~ karen
Nicole Sparks
Those insane McFlurries are only in Canada. Pity. ;)