CHOPPING BOARD CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Coconut Oil with coconuts

BEST WAY TO CARE FOR YOUR CHOPPING BOARDS AND KITCHEN UTENSILS

After working with wood for over 30 years now and oiling chopping boards I have done extensive research into the best oils and food safe finishes to use when oiling cutting boards, chopping boards and kitchen utensils.
In this blog entry I answer the following questions for you.

  • How do I care for my chopping board to keep it looking great?
  • What are the best Chopping Board Oils?
  • What natural oil is best to seal wooden kitchen utensils & where can you buy it in Australia?
  • Can I use cheap oils from the supermarket to oil my cutting board?
Chopping Board Oil Instructions

What chopping board oils are safe to be in contact with food?

What oils are ALL natural?

If you have questions about oils to use on your wooden kitchen items you’ve come to the right place. I will answer these questions below. These care instructions provide a list of safe oils you can use on your cutting boards and any wooden utensils you have in your kitchen. Even on a budget!

Does anyone in your family have allergies?

*If you have any allergies please research safe oils for wood by using my links in the headings below then decide which oil is best for your situation. This list is updated as I personally test chopping board oils in my own kitchen and do more research.

Allergy Warning

*These options are advice only and your unique circumstances may be different.
For example Peanut Oil is not a good option for those allergic to nuts.

Caring for your Chopping Boards

Tasmanian Oak Chopping Board corner detail on grass

I’d received a few emails asking what oil is best to use for care and maintenance of my chopping boards, so rather than re-write most of it I thought I’d paste it here for all to read. Part of this text is from my email reply to a happy owner of one of my Australian timber chopping boards.

CHOPPING BOARD MAINTENANCE

  • The main thing you need to do is make sure nobody puts it in the DISHWASHER as this will dry out the wood fibres and may cause it to warp or split.

  • Wipe it down after use.
    We just wipe ours clean with a damp cloth when needed, it stays on the bench, has quite a few cuts on the surface now from making sandwiches over the years but it just adds a bit of character, can’t worry too much as that’s what it’s for.
    As long as you don’t leave stuff on there to dry crusty I think that’s the best way to look after them.
    Wet chopping boards need to be put up on edge to allow both sides to dry.
  • How safe are wooden cutting boards?
    Wood is the safest cutting board, in my opinion, plastic boards trap moisture and germs breed like crazy in the cuts.
  • Can I cut Meat on it?
    Of course you can – Butchers have used Ash and Oak for cutting meat on for 1000’s of years, as long as it’s wiped then allowed to dry it should be fine, even if it does get a bit stained sometimes. Just remember the rules when handling raw meat.

DO I REALLY NEED TO USE OIL?

Some people don’t use any oil at all, eventually the wood will dry out and split a little bit, especially if it’s used a lot and has a lot of cuts on it. Wood is the safest option for cutting boards as these cuts can dry out and don’t trap moisture, wood breathes and is a lot safer than plastic cutting boards and much better for your knives than glass! By regularly applying oil to the wood (when it’s fully dry) you can help prevent moisture or germs from breeding deep in the cuts and wood fibres.

WHAT CHOPPING BOARD OIL IS BEST?

It’s always best to buy a ready made oil that is especially suited and food safe to protect your chopping boards and wooden kitchen utensils. Although there are some cheap chopping board oil alternatives in my list mentioned below.

What do I use for oiling my chopping boards?

What do I use in my kitchen for maintaining my wooden cutting boards, kitchen utensils and chopping boards?

I’m always looking for the easiest solution otherwise I tend not to do it enough.
For this reason I recommend you grab a small bottle of Gilly’s chopping board oil by clicking the link below.

Bottle of Gilly's Chopping board oil 100ml orange oil
An easy to use bottle of the finest chopping board oil.
Gilly’s Chopping Board Oil is great for all your kitchen utensils and woodwares.

Gilly’s Chopping Board Oil – I find this small bottle of food-grade oil is best for maintaining wooden chopping boards, spoons, spatulas and any other wooden kitchen utensils. It has a nice fresh orange aroma and has rave reviews.
Keep a bottle handy in your kitchen! Hurry while stocks last!
Purchase your very own bottles here in My Shop, for a bargain price, only $10.60 postage no matter how many you get.

  • I use Livos Countertop Oil on the wood to seal it when I make them, that’s the best hardwax oil I’ve ever tried and it’s fully natural, unlike others that have poisons & drying agents even though they claim to be all natural.

    So you could always buy a tin of this if you make wooden chopping boards or you have some raw unfinished boards you need to finish but there are some alternatives below that are easy to find at your local supermarkets or chemists.

a can of livos countertop oil environmentally friendly plant oil finish
This is the best sealing oil I’ve found in all the years of using natural oil finishes. It’s a unique blend of organic food grade sustainable environmentally friendly plant oils. And as an added bonus it really works!

4 CHEAP OIL OPTIONS FOR SEALING WOODEN CUTTING BOARDS

  1. Some people rub Canola Oil on every now and then but I’ve heard mixed reports – some say it goes rancid eventually. This is the same with most vegetable oils.
    But if it’s getting constant use and not left sitting in a damp dark cupboard for 6 months I think you’ll be fine with any oil.

  2. Grapeseed Oil is better, less likely to go rancid.
    This is a great natural chopping board oil & available in most supermarkets such as Coles, Woolworths or IGA.

  3. Coconut Oil Is great for use on chopping boards any many other uses (see below). In our cold winter it is solid in the jar though so you need to heat it first to make it liquid,  easily done with a hair dryer on the board while you rub it in with your hand being careful not to overheat.

    I’ve been using it on pine chopping boards and the Beard Combs and it adds a nice colour which is surprising because it looks white in the jar when solid. It’s also totally natural, edible, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, so I think it’s possibly the best choice I’ve come across at the local shops. Coconut Oil has many uses & benefits to your health but there are some things you may not be aware of.
    If you would like to learn more about the health effects (and topical uses!) of coconut oil, its potential benefits and downsides, and its components such as lauric acid and MCTs.
    please visit Gerard’s helpful website called ManyEats. A wealth of information!
    https://manyeats.com/health-effects-of-coconut-oil/

    Coconut Oil with coconuts

  4. Liquid Paraffin Oil

    The other alternative many woodworkers use and recommend is Liquid Paraffin Oil, also known as Mineral Oil a highly refined petroleum product (processed) sold in the chemist as a laxative so it is safe to use on chopping boards however I have stopped using it in my woodworking.
    It’s a liquid so it’s sold in a bottle usually.
    I used to use it on my chopping boards but these days I’ve gone more for natural oil products, rather than products from industries that are bad for the environment.
    (PETROLEUM PRODUCT WARNING!)
    It also stays liquid, it doesn’t seem to set like a hard wax oil so this means it is not protecting the wood as much and tends to continue soaking in, it never seems to dry so the board stays oily and needs re-applying often as it tends to migrate deeper into the fibres or wear off faster than orange or citrus based oils do.

Conclusion


Your best bet is to use an oil that is all natural, great for your health and the environment.
Not something that is just cheap and easy to buy locally.
Order the best chopping board oil online from me and you’ll have a bottle handy in your kitchen for many years to come.
Posting out each week day, you’ll have it in no time!

Don’t forget to pick up a 2-pack of my highly recommended lint free cloths to apply the oil to your chopping board.
They are washable, just throw them in your machine and re-use them over and over.
Great value for money!

polishing cloth made from bamboo fibre
Polishing cloth for wooden products – 2 pack measuring 26cm x 26cm

Hopefully that helps answer some of your questions about the best oils for chopping boards and I haven’t confused you with all my rambling on!

Please contact me if you have any questions about your wooden kitchen items or would like to order a custom made chopping board to fit a stove top or a certain size you need.

With a little care you will continue to enjoy beautiful wooden kitchen wares in your kitchen for many years to come.

If you appreciate the information I provided here please consider making a purchase from my shop, every little bit helps me to continue to provide hand made environmentally friendly Australian Made wood products.

Andrew Wilkerson

Related Images:

Follow My Blog | Andrew Wilkerson | Woodworker | AusWorkshop

Woodworker Andrew Wilkerson at a vintage machinery rally
Andrew Wilkerson image of Andrew's face

Here’s a list of places you can find me around the web and follow my blog.
This Blog & my Instagram feed can both be viewed on Tumblr.

Around the web

Originally Published
2017/07/24 at 1:01 pm

Related Images:

Bible Talk

Man walking with a lamp through a dark forest along a winding rocky path

Bible Talk and scripture

If you’re lost and unsure of what you believe or new to the bible and don’t know where to start please take some time to read through some of the text on the websites linked on this page below. You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that many others have gone through similar struggles including me. I was once feeling overwhelmed with the state of the world, searching for answers and the empty feeling that nothing else in this world can fill. Although I had a basic understanding of the bible for many years I wrote it off as a bunch of irrelevant writings from some crazy men who were living many years ago. These men have nothing to offer us in our modern world today. How wrong I was!

Eventually I discovered that the word of God is everlasting.

It hasn’t been an easy road, but looking back now I realise how important it was to take that first step and believe.

Man walking with a lamp through a dark forest along a winding rocky path
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Ancient paths of scripture

Jeremiah 6:16
“Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.

Says the Lord
armour-of-god

Here’s a handy list of all the books, you can listen to Genesis by clicking the link, I should be able to get the other books working again soon. The bible is divided into two sections as shown, these are called testaments.

Old Testament

#01. Genesis

#02. Exodus

#03. Leviticus

#04. Numbers

#05. Deuteronomy

#06. Joshua

#07. Judges

#08. Ruth

#09. 1 Samuel

#10. 2 Samuel

#11. 1 Kings

#12. 2 Kings

#13. 1 Chronicles

#14. 2 Chronicles

#15. Ezra

#16. Nehemiah

#17. Esther

#18. Job

#19. Psalms

#20. Proverbs

#21. Ecclesiastes

#22. Song of Solomon

#23. Isaiah

#24. Jeremiah

#25. Lamentations

#26. Ezekiel

#27. Daniel

#28. Hosea

#29. Joel

#30. Amos

#31. Obadiah

#32. Jonah

#33. Micah

#34. Nahum

#35. Habakkuk

#36. Zephaniah

#37. Haggai

#38. Zechariah

#39. Malachi

New Testament

#40. Gospel of Matthew#54. 1 Timothy
#41. Gospel of Mark#55. 2 Timothy
#42. Gospel of Luke#56. Titus
#43. Gospel of John#57. Philemon
#44. Acts#58. Hebrews
#45. Romans#59. James
#46. 1 Corinthians#60. 1 Peter
#47. 2 Corinthians#61. 2 Peter
#48. Galatians#62. 1 John
#49. Ephesians#63. 2 John
#50. Philippians#64. 3 John
#51. Colossians#65. Jude
#52. 1 Thessalonians#66. Revelation
#53. 2 Thessalonians

Some websites you might like to check out

  • FeetofJesus.net – Read Jeff’s story and use the links to videos.
  • Strange Normal – A link to YouTube videos interesting topics, UFOs, Aliens, AI, The spirit world, and more.
  • LED – Light Exposing Darkness – Hidden Meanings in Movies. Should your kids be watching these things?
  • Land of The Living –
    I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
    That I would see the goodness of the Lord
    In the land of the living. Psalm 27:13

    Much more coming soon…

Enjoy and may God bless.

Feel free to comment below, I would love to hear your testimony. I encourage interesting positive discussion, please keep in mind the purpose of this page is to spread love not hate. If you don’t understand this please go elsewhere.

Related Images:

Green Living Festivals

Victorian Gum Tree at the Apex Park in Heyfield

Green Living Festivals

Looks like a fun day for the family & the planet at the same time!

After reading an interesting post on Tammy Logan’s blog Gippsland Unwrapped about the Casey Green Living Festival (which evolved from a Cloth Nappy Expo) I thought it might be a good idea to provide a resource of links to other Green Living Festivals or similar events around Australia (not limited to Victoria or the Gippsland region).  They often have a great list of FREE activities for the family.  So take your kids for a look if you’re in the area, looks like a fun day.

VICTORIA

Casey Green Living Festival

– from Casey’s Website
When? – 16 Nov 2019 | 10.00 am – 3.00 pm

Where?
Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick North East Drive, Narre Warren 3805 Check on map

Free activities!!

  • Bike n’ Blend – make your own pedal-powered smoothie
  • Reptile encounters – up-close wildlife experiences 
  • Face painting – recycling themed
  • Recycling truck – jump in the driver’s seat to have your photo taken
  • Interactive water catchment model and water bug activity 
  • Roving bubble entertainer (supporting the “Bubbles not Balloons” campaign)
  • Roving entertainment by “The Connies” sharing swap cards on local birdlife and waste reduction actions

Talks and workshops

Please click the links to book your spot in the talks and workshops:

10.30am – 11.00am: Home composting
11.15am – 11.45am: Reduce your waste
12.00pm – 12.30pm: Having a wildlife friendly garden
12.45pm – 1.15pm: SECCCA: Energy efficiency in the home
1.30pm – 2.00pm: Making beeswax wraps
2.15pm – 2.45pm: Recycling right

Stallholders

You can view the complete list of stallholders from our website.

Go to the Events Page here for more details and info on stall holders.

If you’re planning a festival or even a craft market in your area and would like to be listed here please Contact Me and I’ll be more than happy to add you to this list as it grows.

For more information about Gippsland Unwrapped and the great work that Tammy does, you can read her story here https://gippslandunwrapped.com/our-story/

You might just find yourself reading through all the great tips she has on sustainable living and minimalist lifestyle and how you can apply these things to your own life in small ways.  Every little bit counts but often we are overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin so I think blogs like this are fantastic for those that would like to get more involved in sustainable living but need simple clear instructions or ideas without having to spend hours doing your own research reinventing the wheel.

Tammy’s original article about the Casey Green Living Festival can be viewed through this link below, looks like a big day planned and I hope it all goes well.

https://gippslandunwrapped.com/2019/10/29/casey-green-living-festival-from-cloth-nappies-to-green-funerals/

 

Help me grow this list!!!

Have fun!
Andrew

Related Images:

Case / Box Work In Progress Part 2

Squaring up the end of the slot with a chisel

Custom Made Case Notary Public Stamp Seal Press Pt 2

Night time workshop goings ons!

  • Fitting the base
  • Fitting the Lid
  • Shaping the Raised Panel

Some more work in progress photos of the Stamp/Seal box. In this post I will show the steps involved in fitting the base and lid into the slots as well as fitting the solid brass plaque into the top.

Squaring up the end of the slot with a chisel
Extending the slot length into the dovetails and squaring up the end without breaking through! Just a nudge with the palm is enough, this QLD Maple works well with sharp hand tools.

It’s little things like this that take the extra time — I like to sneak up on the fit rather than create a slot that’s slightly too wide or too deep, there’s nothing worse than getting half way through the glue up only to find something is slightly out of line or the base bottoms out in the slot and throws the whole thing out of square.

It can be very hard to correct once you have glue on the tight fitting dovetails, so preparation is key.

Read more

Related Images: