Cutting and Charcuterie Board Care Instructions

Congratulations on your new board! 

Whether you have a cutting board or a charcuterie board the instructions are extremely similar, though charcuterie tends to be a little less frequent. 

Fist the step to avoid:

  • NEVER put your board in the dishwasher, under any circumstances. 
  • Try to avoid allowing spilled liquids to sit on the board for any extended time (Overnight)
  • Do not use scalding hot water when washing, this will remove the oils and potentially damage the wood. 

 

Keep it clean:

  • Wash your board with mild soap and tap water before its first use. 
  • After every use wash your board with mild soap and water unless you're simply cutting dry foods such as bread. Just brush off your crumbs in that case.
  • Any time your board is washed, towel dry it immediately and let it stand overnight, on its side, preferably leaned on a wall to allow airflow all around. 

 

Oiling:

  • Why
    • Butcher block oils, waxes and creams come in a lot of shapes but all serve the same purpose. They keep you and your board healthy.
    • We started out by seasoning your board with Butcher block oil so that you could put it to use on day one. But that only lasts a few weeks in normal use.
  • When
    • If you ever notice your board starting to look dry/grayish its time to oil (actually a little past due by now). 
    • In normal use, (a few times a week) plan to add some oil roughly every 6 weeks.
    • Doing it too often won't hurt the board but may lead to build up on the surfaces. 
  • What to use
    • Nearly every hardware store will have a few options for butcher block oil. Look for one with beeswax and mineral oil if possible. 
    • Do not use vegetable, olive, canola, or any other oil that is not made for cutting boards specifically. It can turn rancid over time, which you do not want. 
    • What we use:
      • Disclaimer: The links are here to make it easy for you, but definitely buy from a local store if you have the chance. I will get a small kickback from amazon if you use them, but it does not affect your price either way.  
      • This first oil is meant specifically for a brand new board, as the first few "Conditioning" coats. It penetrates deeper into the wood and keeps juices from your food from seeping into the grain. If you bought a Quarter Wood Co board, this has already been applied, meaning yours is ready to go after an initial washing. 
      • The next oil is meant for maintenance. You should definitely order some, or get a similar product from your local hardware store. Quarter Wood Co boards have one coat applied prior to shipping, but this needs to be reapplied periodically. I personally do it after every other use, but there's a lot of opinions on this. Just make sure your board never looks dried out and you're safe

  

Damage:

  • After a lot of use (or maybe accidental damage), you may decide your board needs repair. Luckily for you, a wooden cutting board can be sanded and revived.
  • If you ever notice any cracks, splits or gouges out of your board it might be time for a new one. Please contact us and we'll do our best to get your kitchen back up and running!
  • If the surface becomes rough at any point due to accidentally using scalding water or sitting a hot pot on top, it can be sanded back with a fine grit sand paper and reconditioned with a few coats of oil.
  • Lastly any time you have specific questions feel free to contact us!