How to care for your board
An end grain walnut board needs very little: a quick rinse after use and a thin coat of wax about once a month. Here is everything you need to know.
Keep this guide handy: print the care card or save it to your phone.
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Your care routine
- Day 1: wax it before first use. Rub a thin layer of beeswax board butter (free with sizes M, L and the Set of 3) over the whole board, including the sides and the finger grips. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then buff off the rest.
- After every use: rinse, wipe, stand it up. Warm water and a little dish soap. Wipe it dry with a towel and let it air-dry standing on its edge, so air reaches both sides.
- Once a month: a fresh coat of wax. When the wood looks dry or lighter than usual, apply another thin layer of board butter.
- Once a year: refresh if needed. Deeper knife marks can be sanded out with fine 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe off the dust and apply a generous coat of wax. It will look almost new again.
How to wax your board
- Take a little. A hazelnut-sized amount is enough for one side. Less is more.
- Rub it in. Use a soft, lint-free cotton cloth and work in small circles over all surfaces and edges.
- Wait and buff. Let the wax soak in for about 20 minutes, then buff off any excess with a clean cloth until the surface feels smooth, not sticky.
Tip: in the first few weeks, a new board drinks more wax. Waxing a little more often at the start helps it settle in.
Does it need wax? The water drop test
Put a few drops of water on the board. If they bead up, the wood is protected. If they soak in or leave dark spots, it is time for a fresh coat of board butter.
Please avoid
- The dishwasher. Heat and long exposure to water make any wooden board crack or warp.
- Soaking. Never leave the board in the sink or in standing water.
- Olive or cooking oil. Vegetable oils can turn rancid and start to smell. Use the board butter, or a food-safe board oil or board wax.
- Heat. Keep the board away from the stove, the oven and radiators.
No board butter, or the tin is empty?
Any food-safe board oil or board wax works. Apply it the same way: a thin layer, let it soak in, buff off the rest.
Raw meat and hygiene
Wash the board with hot water and dish soap right after cutting raw meat and let it dry completely. Many cooks keep one board for meat and one for everything else.
Every board is cut from natural wood, so grain and color vary a little and will deepen over the years. That is part of its charm.