The Right Way to Clean Wooden Cutting Board

The Right Way to Clean Wooden Cutting Board

Cutting board is an important kitchen accessory. Wood cutting boards are common especially. We usually use cutting board to cut all kinds of food – meat, fruit, veggies, cheese, etc. and if not cleaned properly, the board could be a harbor for bacteria. Here’s how to properly clean wood cutting boards.

Clean

After you are done using the cutting boards, use hot water (the hotter, the better), a stiff cleaning brush，sponge or a tea towel and soap to scour the wood to help loosen any stubborn food debris. 

You can also slice a lemon in half and use it to rub coarse salt on the surface of the board after the initial rinse to clean off food debris and fluids.

If your board has stains, sprinkle baking soda on the board and let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse. But remember that avoid the evil dishwasher，never place a wooden board into your dishwasher is that the prolonged exposure to heat and water will cause your cutting board to warp and crack.

Besides, use a solid towel dry after every wash. helps keep things fresh and mold free. After blotting the excess moisture off the board, stand it up to dry - do not lay it flat - to make sure air hits as much of the surface as possible.

Disinfect

To disinfect cutting boards, use either pure white vinegar or a mixture of two tablespoons of chlorine bleach in a gallon of water to soak your board for a few minutes. It will fizz as it kills germs. This is especially great if your board has cracks or grooves from knife use. wipe it down with a dry cloth or a paper towel. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which disinfects against Staphylococcus, E. coli, and Salmonella. These solutions work to disinfect the board because vinegar has a low pH and bleach has a high pH, both of which will kill bacteria and germs, as they can only live within certain pH conditions. To kill all the bacteria that is trying to hide in your cutting board, pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide onto it and wipe it down thoroughly with a paper towel or the wet cloth.

Deodorize

If your board has any sour or smell, here are there tips.

you can make yourself a paste of baking soda, water, and salt – 1 Tablespoon each in equal parts. With a damp rag, rub the paste into the cutting board. This will help eliminate any odors and keep the board looking bright and clean. Rinse the paste off thoroughly with warm water.

you can also put a cup of baking powder onto the board and pour a cup of white vinegar over the board.The combination of these two ingredients will create an oxidization process that will remove stains and (hopefully) any lingering smells left in your cutting board.

For a more natural route, you can also cut lemons in half and rub the board down with the sides of the lemon. Let sit for a few minutes before rinsing off. then dry it with cloth or paper towels, repeat if necessary.

Oil it

Excessive dryness and wood warping (also known as cupping) can reduce the life of the wood, if you leave your board dry too long and suddenly expose it to water, that is usually the culprit behind a warped cutting board. maintaining a wood cutting board is a good practice. you should always use a food safe or food grade mineral oil, do not use other organic oils, as the fats in those oils can and will spoil, turning rancid and causing your cutting board to stink. Oils work by occupying the space in the wood fibers and preventing water from entering your board and causing cracks and splits. These little crevices are where bacteria love to hide and multiply, so preventing your board from having small fractures is the key to keeping your cutting board sanitary. Firstly squeeze mineral oil all over the board. Then let the oil soak in for several hours, finally use paper towels to blot off any excess.

Cleaning and caring for your cutting boards can not be ignored, a beautiful and clean cutting boards not only give us a good visual perception, but good for our health. Join us to clean and maintain it now!