The weekly portion of oil:
The most important tool for a long, happy board life.
Our boards are thoroughly treated with our special care oil before delivery: The care oil is drawn into the wood by the capillary forces of the wood, where it dries, hardens and seals the wood just below the surface - other substances, water and humidity can no longer penetrate the wood and the wood retains a lively, fresh shine and a rich color.
Soap dissolves grease - basically a desirable property, but in this context the soap dissolves the protective seal provided by the care oil, which makes the wood more susceptible to stains and odors.
That's why regular oiling of the wood is an important (and with a little practice, very satisfying) activity - a well-maintained and regularly oiled cutting board not only lasts much longer, but also looks great even after years.
1) APPLY OIL:
Apply plenty of oil to all sides using a kitchen roll or brush.
2) LET IT WORK:
Place the board upright on kitchen roll and allow the oil to soak in for 5 minutes.
3) DRYING:
Remove excess oil with kitchen paper and dry thoroughly.
4) AIR DRY:
Allow to air upright overnight.
The board should therefore be oiled whenever it starts to look "dry". This is usually every 1-2 weeks, depending on the intensity of use and the type of wood (bamboo, for example, needs less oil than walnut or oak).
WHICH OIL IS SUITABLE?
We would like to say: Our care oil is specially tailored to our wood and unfortunately no other oil is suitable for it, but that would simply be a lie: In principle, any normal cooking oil is suitable for the routine care of wooden boards (the only exception is olive oil. Rumor has it that this can go rancid and then smell unpleasant - but we have also spoken to people who have been caring for their boards with olive oil for years and are very happy with it.)
Nevertheless, our care oil is highly recommended: We mix natural linseed oil with cold-pressed almond oil in organic quality - hardens particularly well and is 100% food safe.
IMPORTANT: ALWAYS OIL BOTH SIDES OF THE BOARD!
If one side is less sealed than the other, it will absorb more moisture from the air - this can cause the wooden board to warp and bend. Basically, you can go with your gut feeling here (if the wood on one side hardly absorbs any oil, that side certainly doesn't need as much oil) - but oiling both sides is still an important part of the care routine.
PRO TIP #1: SOME LIKE IT HOT
If the oil is carefully heated in a pot to approx. 80° before application, it penetrates much deeper into the wood fibers and represents an effective renewal of the basic care.
Recommended every 6-8 weeks.
CAUTION:
Hot oil can cause extremely painful burns!
Always exercise extreme caution when doing this and also use a thermometer.
The annual sanding:
A new beginning, every time.
Wood wears out over time, especially when you work on it with sharp knives and hot pots. This is completely normal and is part of the charm of wood: you can see the life of wooden boards - just like us.
If the level of wear and tear bothers you after a few years of intensive use, go to a carpenter you trust in your area who will sand or plane the surface of the board 1mm on both sides for a small fee - after re-oiling the board will look like new.
