In our review of the Tidyboard, we learned that we needed to treat our cutting board with food grade mineral oil. We found this bottle of Howard Cutting Board Oil that worked great!
All cutting boards made from wood need to be treated with a food grade oil before use. It has to be "food grade" because regular cooking oils will go rancid. The reason for treating the cutting board with oil is to seal the board and prevent it from becoming dry and brittle. Also, the oil prevents liquid from penetrating the board which could lead to bacterial growth.
The process of treating the board is simple. Pour a generous amount of oil onto your clean, dry cutting board and massage the oil into the wood with your hands or a soft cloth. We like to let the oil set on the wood for a few minutes before wiping off any excess. Then proceed to do the same process on the other side of the board. Once it's wiped down, repeat the same process for the appropriate amount of coats on your cutting board. For surfaces that are thicker than 1.5 inches, apply 3 to 4 coats. If your board is thinner than that, 2 coats should suffice.
You can also use the oil on your wooden bowls and utensils. It's recommended to soak the utensils in the oil for around 20 minutes and wipe the excess away with a clean soft cloth.
You will periodically need to re-oil your board in order to keep it properly sealed and hydrated. If you are using it frequently you may need to seal it every 2-3 weeks. If you use it an average amount, oil it once a month. If you only use it sporadically every few months should be fine. You will be able to tell when it needs it if the wood starts to look or feel dry in places.
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