9 Tips For Caring For Wooden Butcher Blocks

Years of chopping, cutting and slicing on your wooden cutting board can be gained by treating your board with care. Following these wooden cutting board basics can lengthen the life of your board.

1) Sponge on an even coat of mineral oil on the work surface of your cutting board or butcher block. Do this once every several weeks depending on the use.

2) You must not allow any type of moisture such as brine, water or blood to stand on the block for long periods of time. Also, be sure that wet meats do not stay on the board any longer than necessary. When moisture soaks into the wood, the wood expands, softens and effects the strength of the glued joints.

3) Use a good steel scraper or spatula on the cutting surface in lieu of a steel brush.

4) Your work surface must always be cleaned thoroughly after cutting fish or fowl. Because the moisture barrier must be in place on the work surface, never cut fish or fowl on your butcher block until you have followed the instructions in step 1.

5) By distributing the cutting evenly over the surface of the block, you will insure that your block wears evenly. Never cut continuously in the same place on the block. Do not use a razor-edged cleaver to avoid splinters and soft spots. Instead, use a cleaver with a dull sharpened edge.

6) When washing your block, never use any type of harsh detergents. Also, never wash your butcher’s tools on the block.

7) To prevent quick deterioration of the work surface, scrape your block which will remove 75% of the moisture. Then dry with an absorbent towel. The next time you use your block it will be odorless and clean.
To prevent splitting or chipping of outside boards, maintain the same bevel on the edge of your block as it had when you bought it.

9) Turn the block over periodically to keep even usage on both work surfaces.

Dishwashers and wooden butcher blocks or cutting boards are not compatible. Don’t use dishwashers for cleaning them.