Wooden Spoons and Cutting boards

**katybug** · 10-21-2008, 12:34 PM

Hi all, I've got a question! I read on a frugal blog once that a good way to keep your knife handles looking nice is to oil them up, like you would furniture! Do you guys do anything like that to cutting boards and spoons? I don't mind at all acquiring my kitchen supplies from garage sales and estate sales, but I am trying to keep things looking *nice*.

Any tips, tricks or hints from you ladies and gents?

THANKS!

C

**tbs727** · 10-21-2008, 01:31 PM

I rub canola oil all over my cutting board when it starts looking dry. I got it as a gift for my birthday, it was rather expensive and I love it so I want it to last forever.

I just rub the oil on, then rub off the excess. I let it sit for a little while as it absorbs the oil and it ends up being completely dry. I don't do anything for my wooden spoons.

**katybug** · 10-21-2008, 02:05 PM

I too have a nice cutting board I got for a gift. It is just a quirk of my mine, I don't mind used, but I want things to last as long as possible and look nice doing it!

Thanks!

**IntlMom** · 10-21-2008, 02:24 PM

never heard of doing this before.
you learn something new everyday.
thanks!

**TexasPeanut** · 10-21-2008, 03:34 PM

I have a really big wooden cutting board DH got me for last Christmas and the instructions that came with it said to only use mineral oil (can be found at kitchen supply or hardware stores) because it kept it from getting too dry and cracking but also any other oil would turn rancid, mineral oil won't. So that's what I use, I bought a huge bottle for 12 bucks and rub it all over my cutting board with a cloth about every other month. It's holding up perfectly. But if I used it more often than I do, I would probably oil it at least once a month. Hope that helps!

**katybug** · 10-21-2008, 07:08 PM

Thanks TexasPeanut! I'm trying to take good care of my things, but darn it all if it isn't hard to keep everything straight! That, and I just don't know all there is to know.

**jdr250** · 10-21-2008, 09:30 PM

I have a wooden cutting board that was expensive but so worth it. After I wash my cutting board I always dry it. When I've used it for meat, after washing it I spray it with a disenfecting solution (3 tablespoons of bleach and 3 cups of water) really wet, let that sit for about 5-10 minutes, then I rinse thoroughly and dry. Once a week I rub it down with olive oil then take a dry cloth and wipe off all the excess. I've had my cutting board for over 4 years and it doesn't have a crack in it and still looks great.

**katybug** · 10-21-2008, 09:34 PM

I got a really nice bamboo one as a gift and it is pur-dy! I have cheap and hand-me-down ones. But if I can keep them, nicer, longer. ALL the better.

I just added wooden spoons because I was curious. However, I don't even have any wooden spoons!

Well, not yet anyhow.

KB

**Pemberleyan** · 10-21-2008, 10:27 PM

Just curious -- does it ever begin to smell rancid?

**jdr250** · 10-22-2008, 06:34 AM

No, I don't think olive oil goes rancid. I mean I also use it and a teaspoon of lemon juice to polish my furniture and I've never had any piece of furniture smell bad. Now to be fair, I usually use my cutting board everyday so it is washed alot but I don't wash my furniture everyday and I've never had a problem.

**Kris B** · 10-22-2008, 12:23 PM

Will the oil help the splitting? My cutting boards always split and even some of my wooden spoons.
Thanks,
Kris B

**TexasPeanut** · 10-22-2008, 12:42 PM

If anyone is curious about the rancid thing, which btw won't harm you just your board and possibly give off an odor or effect the taste of the food you cut on it. Unless it's washed daily this will happen with any vegetable or fruit oil. The information can be found at these links.

http://www.cookingforengineers.com/f...?t=807&start=0

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutting_board"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutting_board[/ame]

**Missy** · 10-22-2008, 12:50 PM

ROFL, if mine looks bad, i just tell dh and he makes a new one from hardwood trimmings.

**HisDaisy** · 10-22-2008, 01:18 PM

I don't use a wooden cutting board any more, because of issues with cross contamination and bacteria. When I did own one I used to oil it when it was dry.
I also oil my knife handles and other wooden kitchen items when they get too dry. It does make them last longer.

**tbs727** · 10-22-2008, 01:46 PM

I have only used canola oil on mine and I rarely wash it. It's not rancid. I use canola oil and vinegar on all of my hardwood furniture and have never had that problem.