How to clean and care for your wooden kitchenware, such as cutting boards and utensils, in four easy steps. Hand-wash only, dry thoroughly, oil with a food-safe oil, and refresh with light sanding when needed.
The Top 4 Things to Do to Care for Wooden Kitchenware
- Handwash only; Dish soap and a sponge are fine.
- Never put it in a dishwasher.
- Dry thoroughly before putting them away.
- Stand on the edge when possible so they dry evenly to prevent warping.
- Oil periodically with a food-safe oil to keep the wood conditioned and looking good.
- To refresh the wood, sand with 220-grit sandpaper and re-oil.
How to clean your wooden Kitchenware
You should clean your wooden spoons and cutting boards after each use. Handwashing is best using a kitchen sponge with a blue scratch pad. If you need to do a more thorough cleaning, the green scratch pads are more aggressive and will help you get some scrubbing done.
You don’t need any special cleaner; dish soap is fine. Wood pores are absorbent. You don’t want to use any harsh chemicals on the wood, as it can soak into the pores of the wood and contaminate your food the next time you use it.
Once you have cleaned your wooden kitchenware, be sure to let it dry before storing it away in a drawer. Wooden utensils can be laid out to dry on a towel or stood up in a container. When drying wooden cutting boards, do not lay them flat, as laying them flat can trap moisture underneath, causing them to warp or crack. Instead, stand them on end or on an edge so the board can dry evenly on both top and bottom.
How to Refresh Your Wooden Kitchenware
If your wooden kitchenware is getting dingy or drab-looking, you can hand-sand with 200-grit sandpaper to refresh the surface. It is a good idea to periodically wipe down your wooden cutting boards and utensils with a food-safe mineral oil to keep the wood conditioned and looking good. You can buy food-safe mineral oil at most grocery stores. If you want a more durable, food-safe finish, I recommend using something like Walrus Oil. I typically use it on the Wooden Kitchenware I make, and it has proven to be durable and long-lasting.
What not to do to your wooden kitchenware
- Never put your wooden kitchenware in the dishwasher. The dishwasher is a harsh environment that will strip the wood of the oil you apply and its natural oils. This will cause the wood to crack, check, warp, and look dry and gross. This will also break down the glue bond of any wood that has been glued together to create the cutting board. Also, do not soak in water for any length of time for the same reasons.
- Never apply vegetable or olive oil to your wooden kitchenware when storing them away. These oils can become rancid over time; use only a food-grade mineral oil or an oil designed for use as a wood finish that is food-safe.
- Never put away wet wood; you don’t want bacteria to grow in the wood pores or the wood to warp because of excess moisture.
- Don’t lay flat to dry. Stand your board on end to dry; if you lay it flat, it can trap moisture and warp.