Board Care
Afraid You’ll Wreck Your New Tazboard?
Your Tazboard is made from all natural hard woods, and will last a lifetime as long as it is properly cared for. Even the most “regular” person (i.e. if you can chop a carrot or a potato) can get greater enjoyment cooking with a quality wooden cutting board.
Follow these easy steps to care for your board.
When You Receive Your Board
Wood contains moisture, and moves and shifts with the humidity and temperature, so your board needs at least 24 hours to adjust to your kitchen’s atmosphere before using.
Unwrap your board and follow board care instructions below before first use.
Please note: You may notice some color transfer onto your paper towels. Do not be concerned. This is simply the natural wood pigment, which is completely non-toxic and food-safe, and will diminish over time.
How To Clean and Oil a Wooden Cutting Board
Give your board a light scrub on both sides with warm soapy water. (A quick wipe down with a damp rag will suffice if used to slice bread or chop vegetables.) Dry immediately and thoroughly with a towel.
Do not let your board drip dry and never put it in the dishwasher or soak it in water or it may crack or warp.
Apply food grade mineral oil or wood conditioner—we recommend Bumblechutes Wood Conditioner—with a clean soft cloth or paper towel. Allow the oil to soak in for 24 hours, then wipe clean. Repeat 3-4 times/year, or as needed.
A Little More Love
If your board is starting to smell like onion or other food products, or if you use it often for different types of food—vegetables, cheese, onions, meats—we recommend regular sanitizing with lemon and salt to prevent bacteria from growing on it.
- Clean and dry your board.
- Sprinkle about a half tablespoon of salt on one side.
- Cut a lemon in half and rub the lemon over the salted board, scrubbing lightly (or you can use a couple drops of lemon juice and rub it in with your hands.)
- Repeat on the other side.
- Rinse and thoroughly dry your board.
- Finish with Bumblechutes Wood Conditioner.
Going Deeper Into Caring for Your Cutting Board
If your board starts to get stained from food juices, starts showing signs of deeper knife wear and tear, or gets little fuzzy “hairs” after you wash and dry it, it may be time for a little extra cutting board care.
- Make sure your board is clean and completely dry. With a medium-to-fine-grit sandpaper, sand down the board to remove the imperfections. Be sure to sand evenly across the entire surface, to prevent introducing ripples. If your board is made of multiple types of wood, be aware that they may sand unevenly, as they are different hardnesses. Use a sanding block to help distribute the pressure.
- Wipe away any fine sawdust.
- Spritz your board with a very light misting of water. Rub the water around with your hand, top, bottom, and sides, so there is not a dry spot, but also so that the board is “just” wet. (This is called “raising the grain.”)
- Let dry completely.
- With a fine grit sandpaper, around 220-grit, lightly sand the entire board to remove the fuzzies that have popped up.
- Liberally apply food grade wood conditioner—we recommend Bumblechutes Wood Conditioner—with a clean soft cloth or paper towel. Follow the application instructions.