cutting board finish

[ceikey]

Any recommendations for finishing a cutting board since it is a food surface?

[rg32]

No finish that I know of just non toxic oil.
I have seen prepared solutions available at cooking stores.
Called seasoning.
Warm up a cup of a food grade mineral type oil applying 4 coats one after another as each soaks in. The board should be of similar warmth, the oil brings out the beauty of the wood.
I'v heard of a solution of shaved melted paraffin and oil applied similarly.
You shouldn't use vegetable oils it will turn rancid!

[monte]

Mineral oil? Seems like I saw where this was the finish of choice here.

[Ken H]

I've used mineral oil on several cutting boards. I apply it by warming it a bit, then applying several coats. I don't warm the cutting board though.

I know some like to use "salad bowl" finish too.

[AAJIII]

This is a reply that I got from BOB WEBB. I used his recipe and it worked like a charm:

I make and sell cutting boards. My receipe for finishing is use a combination of pure bee's wax and mineral oil. I cut a piece off my block, put in a small container along with the mineral oil and put in the microwave long enough to melt the wax. Apply a generous coating to all surfaces, let it sit for about 10 minutes and rub off.
The boards come out smooth and sealed. All you need to do after that is to apply the mineral oil regularly.

[germdoc]

Yep, mineral oil is the way to go. If you ingest some, guess what, it keeps you regular...

Lee Valley among others sells walnut oil to use on cutting boards, and there may be other oils out there that are non-toxic, as well.

[jgscott987]

I've noticed that a lot of folks like to make cutting boards with a bunch of blocks glued together so that the entire surface is made up of end-grain. I think this arrangement is easier on your knife blades, but seems like it would really be prone to soaking up food juices.

[scmhogg]

I've used the mineral oil and beeswax approach recommended above. Use it while it is still warm. If your board is exposed end grain, keep flooding the area with warm oil until it stops absorbing it.

I wouldn't recommend olive oil or any other oil that can turn rancid. If it can turn rancid in the bottle, it can turn rancid in the wood.

Steve

[autiger1]

Mineral Oil or Salad Bowl Finish.

Tom