THE WEEKLY PORTION OF OIL:
The most important step 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 wood’s capillary action, where it dries, hardens, and thus seals the wood just below the surface – other substances, water, and humidity can no longer penetrate the wood, which retains a lively, fresh shine and a rich color.
Soap dissolves grease – a desirable property, but in this context, soap also dissolves the protective seal of the care oil, making the wood more vulnerable to stains and odors.
Therefore, regular oiling of the wood is an important (and with a little routine, very satisfying) task – 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 on all sides with kitchen paper or a brush.
2) LET IT SOAK:
Place the board upright on kitchen paper and let the oil absorb for 5 minutes.
3) WIPE & DRY:
Remove excess oil with kitchen paper and dry thoroughly.
4) LET IT AIR OUT:
Let it air overnight, standing upright.
The board should always be oiled when it starts to look “dry.” This is usually every 1-2 weeks, depending on how often it’s used and the type of wood (for example, bamboo needs less oil than walnut or oak).
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WHICH OIL IS SUITABLE?
We’d love to say: Our care oil is specially tailored to our woods and no other oil is suitable, but that would be a plain lie. In principle, any normal edible oil is suitable for routine care of wooden boards – the only exception is olive oil. It can go rancid and then smell unpleasant – but we’ve also heard from people who have oiled their boards with olive oil for years and are very happy with it.
Still, our care oil is highly recommended: We mix natural linseed oil with cold-pressed organic almond oil – it hardens very well but also penetrates deeply into the wood (Here is a link to our shop).
IMPORTANT: ALWAYS OIL BOTH SIDES OF THE BOARD!
If one side is less sealed than the other, it absorbs more moisture – this can cause the wooden board to buckle and warp. Basically, you can trust your instincts here (if the wood hardly absorbs oil on one side, that side certainly doesn’t need much oil) – nevertheless, oiling both sides is an important part of the care routine.
PROFESSIONAL TIP #1: SOME LIKE IT HOT
If the oil is gently heated to about 80° Celsius in a pot before application, it penetrates much deeper into the wood fibers and provides an effective renewal of the basic care. Recommended every 6-8 weeks.
WARNING: Hot oil can cause extremely painful burns, so always be very careful and use a thermometer.
THE ANNUAL SANDING DOWN:
A fresh start, new every time.
Wood wears down over time, especially when sharp knives and hot pots are used. This is completely normal and also part of the special quality of wood: It changes over time and develops its own unique character – just like us.
If – after a few years of intensive use – the wear level still bothers you at some point, visit a carpenter of your choice in your area, who will sand or plane the surface of the board on both sides by about 1mm for a small fee – after re-oiling, the board looks just like new.
