Boards made of solid natural wood are a perfect choice for breakfast boards and cutting boards.
But just as knives should be sharpened regularly to keep their sharpness, proper care of cutting boards is also very important to ensure that you can enjoy your tool for a long time. If you care for it properly, it will serve you for many years. Wood is absorbent and untreated cutting boards can absorb liquids from food, which over time can lead to bacteria and unpleasant odors, the wood can dry out and become brittle and there is a risk of cracking. Therefore, regular care is a must if you want to extend the life of the wood.
In addition to cleaning the cutting surface, proper care also includes regularly treating the board with a nourishing and odorless oil.
Either natural oils or commercial care products can be used for this. If you have ever searched online, you will have found a large number of different products. Some of them are beautifully packaged or come with accessories such as abrasives or cloths. Of course, this comes at a price. If you look closely, you will see that most commercial products are based on natural oils such as linseed oil. And of course, you can also buy these oils in the supermarket and at a correspondingly lower price. However, there are a few points to consider.
Commercial products can contain additives such as essential oils, solvents or metal dryers that can trigger allergies. These are sometimes not declared, so allergy sufferers should be particularly careful. This also applies to the use of nut oils.
Unsaturated linseed, walnut or coconut oils are particularly suitable for treating wood. Linseed oil dries the fastest of all oils because it absorbs particularly quickly. The valuable components of coconut oil and walnut oil can also be used in wood treatment. Coconut oil also gives the boards a pleasant scent that no other oil can match.
We prefer to use linseed oil because it has the longest-lasting effect and optimal properties that freshen up your cutting and breakfast boards and protect them particularly intensively due to its deep effect.
Once you have found the right oil, the oiling procedure is very simple:
Apply a very thin, even coat to the wood at room temperature. To do this, put a small amount of oil on a cloth and begin to work the oil into the surface, occasionally adding new oil to your cloth. It is very important to use only a small amount of oil and to work it well into the piece. Allow to sit for at least 15 minutes. After the oil has absorbed into the surface, rub loosely with a clean, lint-free cloth until the surface is dry to the touch and there is no oil residue. The surface will be dry but will feel oily. Allow the oil to cure on the board for approximately 8 hours. For a stronger shine, you can apply additional coats.
Have fun with your freshly oiled board!