A Guide to Seasoning Your Cutting Board
Blog Introduction: Cutting boards are an essential kitchen tool and should be treated with care. Everyone knows it’s important to keep your cutting board clean and sanitised, but did you know that seasoning your cutting board is an important part of its upkeep? Seasoning a cutting board can help keep it in the best shape so that it lasts for years to come. Let’s take a look at what seasoning a cutting board involves, and why it’s so important.
What Is Seasoning?
Seasoning is essentially oiling your cutting board. It helps seal the wood fibres and lock in moisture, while also helping prevent cracking or warping over time. Oiling your cutting board also prevents food from sticking to it when you’re prepping meals. The best type of oil to use for seasoning your cutting board is mineral oil, as it won’t go rancid like other oils can. You’ll want to make sure you use a food-safe mineral oil that doesn’t contain any additives or fragrances that could taint your food.
How To Season Your Cutting Board
The first step in seasoning your cutting board is to give it a good scrub with warm water and soap. This will help remove any bacteria or germs that may be lingering on the surface. Once the surface has been cleaned, let the board dry completely before applying any oil. When you’re ready to apply the oil, pour some directly onto the surface of the board and spread it around with a paper towel or cloth until there is a thin film covering the entire surface. Allow this initial application of oil to soak into the wood for about 20 minutes before wiping off any excess with another paper towel or cloth. Repeat this process several times over the course of several days until you’ve applied enough coats of mineral oil that no more liquid is being absorbed by the wood (about 5-7 coats).
Why You Should Season Your Cutting Board
Seasoning your cutting board not only helps protect and preserve its appearance, but also keeps bacteria from growing on its surface as well as protecting it from scratches and nicks due to regular use in meal prep activities. It’s also much easier to keep clean since food particles won’t stick as easily due to all those layers of mineral oil! Taking care of your wooden cutting boards by seasoning them regularly not only extends their life span but also helps ensure safer meal preparation for you and your family over time!
Bonus
If you’re looking for a cutting board that will season and age perfectly, try shopping at a local farmer’s market or look for a local artisan seller. I bought my cutting board near me and it came with a beeswax seasoning wax that has kept my cutting board looking better than ever!
Conclusion:
Seasoning a wooden cutting board should be part of every cook’s routine maintenance plan! Not only do seasonings help protect against bacteria growth, but also prevent chipping, splintering, and staining due to frequent use in meal prep activities – all while making cleanup easier too! Taking just these few simple steps will ensure that your wooden cutting boards last longer while keeping everyone safe at mealtime too! So don’t forget – if you have wooden kitchen tools such as chopping boards or rolling pins then make sure you season them regularly for maximum longevity! Happy cooking.
