There’s a lot to love about wood chopping boards: They’re a pleasure to chop on and gentler on knife edges, and they’re far safer than plastic ones, as you don't ingest microplastic pieces that come from cutting on the board.

Hardwood is an extremely beautiful, natural and timeless product that has stood the test of time. but does require some maintenance to kep it beauty. Wooden chopping, cutting and grazing boards can dry out, crack, and warp if not cared for properly so let’s dive in. 

Always hand-wash your wood chopping board. Never put a wooden board or other wood items in the dishwasher or submerge them in a sink full of water because they’ll warp and/or crack. It’s important to wash both sides of the board (even if you chopped on only one side) to prevent it from drying unevenly, which could cause the board to warp.

If you can’t clean your board right after preparing food, just leave it on your counter until you can get to it. In some situations, you may not even need to wash it. If you’ve only sliced bread, just brush away the crumbs or wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth or paper towel.

Wood naturally dries out after frequent washings, so you need to oil and wax it to prevent it from becoming brittle and cracking. Properly conditioning your board also creates a protective barrier against moisture, and this helps keep the board clean and makes it less likely to warp or crack. Conditioning the board also helps prevent it from staining or absorbing strong odours.

How often should you oil and wax your board?

There’s no one schedule for oiling boards, much like there is no one schedule for watering plants—it depends on the environment in which you’re storing the board, the type of wood, and how frequently you’re using it. Once a month is a good place to start, but there’s no harm in oiling your board whenever it looks dry. How can you tell? If you sprinkle a few drops of water on the board with your fingertips, it will bead up when the wood is sufficiently oiled (just like a waxed car). If the water disperses or soaks into the wood, your board needs more oil.

Which oils to avoid

Vegetable oils such as olive oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil, should not be used on cutting boards because these organic oils can become rancid. Use only oils recommended for wooden chopping boards.

Conditioning your board

SAP Woodcraft manufactures a food-safe “Board Butter” using beeswax, carnauba wax, food-safe mineral oil, and lemon oil which can be purchased from our online store. We also recommend Gilly's Chopping Board Oil- Citrus/Beeswax and other conditioners such as their Liquid Beeswax which are available from Bunnings.