What cutting boards do you use? I have tried everything possible. There were glass and plastic and rubber, there were combined, bamboo and wood. And here's what I'll tell you - only on a wooden board is it more pleasant and most convenient to cook. Firstly, wood is a natural product, which is generally healthy, cutting products on a natural surface. Secondly, I like the feeling of cutting on a tree, there is some springy feedback.

If you are using boards different sizes- then they can perfectly act as a serving dish - how tasty it is to drink wine and eat cheese from the board on which you just cut it.

Now more and more often you can see serving on boards in restaurants and cafes: steaks, hamburgers, fish. At home, this adds warmth and comfort, no plastic, and even more so glass, cannot be compared with them.

When I bought my first wooden board, I saw on the instructions the line "saturate with natural oil before use." Of course, it was clear that impregnation would help extend the life of the board, but I still didn’t figure out what kind of oil I needed, where to get it. Don't rub the board butter or margarine.

Pretty soon my board fell into disrepair. No, it didn't fall apart, it didn't crack. She began to scare me. The part on which the board usually stood during drying began to blacken. Of course this was due to dampness in the part of the board where the moisture collected. The very surface of the board was in various stains from beets, carrots and other coloring products. Yes, they washed over time, but not completely. At some moments it seemed to me that the board was saturated with the smell of one product (for example, onions) and I didn’t feel like cutting another on it (even after washing), I had to ventilate the board.

So I gave up on that board, bought a new one, and started looking for oil. It turned out that there are special mineral oils for cutting boards. They are completely odorless and have no expiration date. The first is important because the oil will not add flavors to sensitive products. Secondly, there is no danger that the oil inside the board will start to deteriorate (as it will be if you grease the board with sunflower or olive oil).
Wipe the board with mineral oil and let it soak in, then remove the remaining oil with a dry, clean cloth.

The essence of impregnation is very simple: the tree is quite porous material. So in these pores we absorb oil, which creates a film and prevents moisture and odors from penetrating into the wood structure, decomposing there and causing harmful bacteria.

In doing so, you achieve three goals:

1. Appearance boards always remain excellent - no stains, darkening and other things.

2. No harm to health.

3. Extends the service life of the board. A good wooden cutting board costs from 1000 rubles. Rubbing it with oil at least once every half a year (preferably more often), you can use it for two years and five years. This is more profitable than buying boards and throwing them away after half a year.

If you have any questions or comments, write them below. And yes, if you are interested in buying oil, it is always in stock.

A cutting board is a favorite product of beginner cabinetmakers, because it is easy to manufacture, practical, and the most concise and simple design can always be attributed to the author's idea. That is, you can buy a riser for four hundred rubles, cut it into three or four parts, get a whole set of cutting boards and sell it for four thousand. If you also have a miter saw, it will take ridiculously little time, just make sure you take orders. Did the ghosts of fabulous wealth flash before your eyes? But the hell was swimming there, in fact, everything is a little more complicated :(

About how much more difficult, I will tell later - for such a story it would be nice to have step by step photos process. You never know what desperate housewife will read this and want to make a cutting board for herself or a culinary friend as a gift. You need to be open to any audience and write detailed, visual posts. So for now, I'll focus on one thing, final stage even: on the processing of the board with oil.

Why is it necessary to soak the board with oil? In short - because it is beautiful and hygienic. Wood, as we know, is a porous material; oil penetrates into the pores and protects the wood from excess moisture and foreign odors. An oil-soaked board lasts longer and is easier to clean.

What oil to use to impregnate the board? In individual discussions, this issue provokes a more abrupt “snowboard or skiing” holivar, people insist on using linseed, olive, even just sunflower oil; they suggest heating it, boiling it, immersing the board in oil for several days ... There is an easier, cheaper and odorless way: vaseline oil from a pharmacy. Vaseline oil is a mineral oil that does not decompose, does not emit an unpleasant odor, and does not harm a person. In addition, vaseline oil has high ability to repel dirt. Whether or not to heat the oil before impregnating the board, I cannot say; I tried this and that and didn't notice any difference. The technology is the same: we dip a tampon twisted from a suitable piece of clean cloth into oil and carefully rub it into the board, wait forty minutes, repeat the procedure, and so three or four times. Only in case you decide to heat the oil (for this, any small kitchen dishes- vaseline oil will be washed off without a trace, without spoiling it), take care of your hands. Someone thinks that one-time processing is enough; someone insists that the board should be oiled again every three to four months.

Somehow, for clarity, I will take a photo of the board before and after impregnation. Oil not only protects the tree, but also "shows" its texture; many people think that this way the products look more beautiful.

In the lacquer and paint pavilions you can find special oils for impregnating kitchen boards. (often based on organic tung oil), and they do an excellent job, but if you are going to make two or three boards for yourself or as a gift, it is easier to purchase a bottle of vaseline oil for fifty rubles than a specialized canister for eight hundred.

Pictured is a board I made for myself. It is minimalistic, there are no pens here. (because of cropping), no holes (because this cut has inside metal studs, and I was not sure that I would not stumble on them with a drill), no fittings (because I haven't come across any suitable yet)- but she's pretty.

All sorts of vegetables are cut on a wooden board, fish is cleaned, meat is butchered. Therefore, juice, different smells and pieces of food remain on the surface. If the hostess does not take care of the board or does it incorrectly, the product will not last long. To extend its lifespan, you need to know some tricks. We will tell about them.

Prevention is the key to longevity

If you are the owner of a cutting board made of natural wood, do not forget about preventive measures. With proper care of the product, the occurrence of cracks and mold is prevented. Therefore, the hostess has been using the cutting board for its intended purpose for many years.

What funds are provided nice results? Best Option is the use of a special oil. It must meet two main criteria: safety for people and high efficiency. It is also important how the oil tolerates elevated temperatures. For instance, sunflower oil spoils quickly. Therefore, a board impregnated with such a substance, after a few years, acquires bad smell. You can’t get rid of it, so you have to throw away the cutting board and get a new one. This is an additional cost. For proper care behind cutting board advanced mineral oil is ideal. It has no smell and taste. Mineral oil is environmentally friendly. Therefore, harmful effects on health are excluded. Mineral oil has an affordable cost and excellent performance properties. After using it, the cutting board becomes more durable. The oil fills all the pores, therefore, the penetration of liquid and food particles into the wood structure is excluded.

Treating a board with mineral oil is a simple process that does not take much time. It consists of several stages:
First you need to make sure the board is clean. If there is contamination, the product is cleaned in advance of food debris;
enough mineral oil is applied to the paper towel;
the wooden surface is wiped paper towel. Mineral oil is evenly distributed over the board;
the product is not used during the day. If the cutting board is needed urgently, you need to wait at least a couple of hours. The oil must be absorbed into the wood;
after complete impregnation, the remaining oil is removed from the board. This is done with a paper towel.

In order for the cutting board to serve for a long time, this procedure must be repeated once a month. Then cracks will not appear on it even after several years of intensive use.

Another tool suitable for preventive care behind the board, is beeswax.
It is a waste product of bees that has been used for many years to care for wood. A special ointment is made from beeswax. Mineral oil is used as the second active ingredient. Together, these two components have a positive effect on the condition of the wooden cutting board.
Ointment based on wax and mineral oil has a multifaceted effect on the condition of the cutting board. This means:
increased moisture resistance - the ointment fills the pores and cracks. That's why natural wood protected from the harmful effects of moisture;
creation protective film- bacteria and particles of dirt do not penetrate under the formed wax layer;
good tactile sensations - the surface of the board becomes perfectly smooth;
pleasant smell - after treatment with oil, the board acquires a unique aroma.

Disinfection is a must
Regular disinfection is essential. During such an event, pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms are eliminated. There are several ways to disinfect a cutting board. We will highlight the main options that housewives often use in practice. Required resources include:

Hot water in combination with a detergent - an effective solution.
With it, dirt and bacteria are removed from the wooden surface. For achievement best results detergents containing surfactants are used. It can be liquid soap, which is used daily for washing dishes. Cleaning a cutting board is easy. It is necessary to place the wooden product in the sink and rinse it thoroughly with water and detergent. If the product is large, it is processed with a damp sponge. At the final stage, the surface is wiped;

Vinegar is a remedy that is available in every home. It contains an acid that eliminates all types of pathogenic bacteria.
Processing a cutting board with vinegar is best suited for people who are allergic to detergent. When it is carried out, they do not appear side effects. When performing disinfection, the wooden surface is wiped with vinegar. After that, the board dries up. The peculiarity of the vinegar treatment is that the active substance destroys mineral oil. Therefore, after disinfection, additional impregnation of wood with oil is recommended;

Hydrogen peroxide is another remedy that all housewives have.
It is used everywhere. First, the board is wiped with a paper towel to remove dirt. The tissue is then saturated with hydrogen peroxide. It cleans the surface of the board. Thus, a complete disinfection is performed.

IN difficult cases when the wooden product has come into contact with rotten food, a bath cleaner is applied. It contains aggressive components that must be handled with care. Therefore, before starting the processing of the cutting board, you need to wear gloves and prevent the substance from getting into your eyes. Additionally, you need to think about ventilation. Then pungent odors are quickly removed from the kitchen.

How to use the cleaner? To do this, the substance dissolves in water. Then the board is cleaned of food debris. The prepared solution is poured onto the surface. After a few minutes, the cutting board is washed under running water. Another effective method is the use of lemon. Juice is squeezed out of it directly on wooden surface. After a while, the board is wiped or washed, and then dried.

Cutting board maintenance
To make your wooden board last for many years, we want to tell you about important rules. Every housewife should know about them, since the service life of the product depends on it. If you follow all the rules, you save cash, because it eliminates the need for frequent purchases of the product.

Caring for a cutting board made of bamboo and other types of wood lies in following these rules:
clean the product after each use - such a process cannot be postponed until tomorrow. While the board is dirty, bacteria and moisture penetrate the structure of the material. They render negative impact on wood. Therefore, the period of operation of the cutting board is significantly reduced; after wet processing, do not place the cutting board in a dryer designed for dishes. Lay the product on a flat surface. When it is tilted, the wood warps and bends in one direction;
do not wash the wooden product in dishwasher. This process must be done manually. natural material sensitive to water. With prolonged contact with moisture, wood loses its original properties. It gradually collapses and loses its attractive appearance; Don't leave your cutting board in the sink with other utensils. The product must be washed immediately, as soon as the meat was cut or the fish was cleaned. When in water, the wood begins to deteriorate and deform.

What if after for long years working on your favorite cutting board got knife cuts?
Two options are possible here. The first is the acquisition of a new product. The second is a recovery procedure. To eliminate deep cuts, you need to take sandpaper and sand the surface. After that, it is necessary to wash the cutting board with detergent and soak it with mineral oil. After performing such processes, the product will acquire a lost appearance.

Valuable advice from experts
Sausage, bread, hard cheese are cut daily on the cutting board, and meat and fish are also cut. Therefore, such an item needs special care. It consists not only in mineral oil treatment and disinfection. Finally, we want to give a few useful tips, with the help of which the process of caring for a wooden product is simplified. In order for the board to serve for a long time and retain an attractive appearance, listen to the recommendations of experts:
to eliminate the smell of garlic and onions, use coarse salt or soda. Apply one of the components to the surface and leave for five minutes. After that, rinse the cutting board and dry it;
never leave a wooden product near a heat source ( open fire, heating radiators). Heat detrimental effect on natural materials. This is manifested by the fact that the wood is deformed;
cut food over the surface of the entire board. Then the wear of the product will be uniform; buy two cutting boards and use them differently. Cut vegetables and fruits on one surface. Use the second product for cutting raw meat. Thus, the risks of food contamination with pathogenic bacteria are eliminated;
Always keep your cutting board dry. Moisture systematically destroys wood;
never soak the item to remove berry juice stains. There is another solution for this purpose. Sprinkle generously with salt and then rub with lemon. The spots should be gone.

Don't forget our tips and rules. Then your cutting board made of natural wood will last a long time!

Cutting boards are essential in every kitchen. We cut all products on them, from vegetables to hard cheeses. We do not always have a separate board for each food group, and fruit and raw meat can be cut on the same board. And although the board is washed after each use, the result is not perfect. Ordinary soap and detergent are not as effective as they should be. After a few years of use, the board almost completely fails. But don't rush to throw it away until you try it. original ways cleaning.

1. Salt and lemon

This method works very well for cleaning wooden cutting boards. Sprinkle coarse salt on the board, and then start rubbing it with half a lemon, squeezing the fruit so that the juice begins to stand out. Rub until a gray liquid forms on the board. After the salt has dissolved, simply rinse off the remaining mixture with water and wipe the surface dry.

2. Lemon juice

If you don't have a fresh lemon on hand, you can change the recipe with salt by simply adding bottled lemon juice to it. Wipe the board with gruel using a hard sponge. If the pollution is very strong, leave the slurry of salt and juice for a couple of hours. In this case, you need to make the mixture thick enough, and there should be more salt in it.

3. Vinegar

Vinegar is great for getting rid of stains. You can use it neat or dilute it with water in proportions of 1:1. Vinegar not only cleans the board, but also kills bacteria. Pour the solution into a spray bottle, and add to the board after each use. Then wipe with hydrogen peroxide, and then simply rinse the surface with running water.

4. Bleach

Bleach is the most the best remedy for cleaning plastic boards. Fill the sink hot water and add half a cup of liquid bleach or whiteness. Leave the board in the sink for 20-30 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with soapy water to remove any traces of chemicals.

5. Baking soda

If your board is starting to smell bad, try using a paste of water and baking soda to get rid of the smell. Make a thick slurry on the board, and leave it for a while. Rinse off the baking soda and dry the board with a towel. The bad smell should be gone.

6. Vaseline

Wooden boards should not be left in water for a long time, because of this they become covered with ugly spots. And although they do not interfere with the use of the board, it will no longer be possible to put it in a prominent place. Just rub the stain on the board with petroleum jelly and leave it for 12 hours. After the Vaseline has been absorbed, wipe off the residue and wash the board. The spots should be gone.

7. Toothpaste

If the board has become rough over time, you can polish it with a mixture of baking soda and toothpaste. Just choose pasta white color not a gel. Wipe the surface along the grain of the wood. Then wipe the board with a damp cloth and dry.

8. Grated apples or potatoes

One more effective way eliminate an unpleasant smell - cover the board with gruel from a grated apple or potato. Leave the gruel for 10-15 minutes and then simply rinse with water. The smell will be much better.

9. Microwave

Boards small size can be disinfected in microwave oven. The method is not suitable for thin plastic. Do not leave the board in the oven for more than one minute. You can pre-wipe the board with soapy water and lemon.

10. Laundry soap

Be sure to lather the board with thick foam after cutting raw meat on it. It is better to immediately apply the foam, and only then wash off the traces of blood with water. Wipe down the board immediately after cutting to prevent stains from penetrating deep into the wood fibers.

11. Steel sponge

In the most advanced cases, you will have to turn to mechanically cleaning. The steel sponge actually removes a thin layer of wood, cleaning the stain. You should not resort to this method too often, but with some pollution you can not do without it.

12. White spirit

If the stain is too ingrained, moisten steel sponge in white spirit solution and rub well. After that, you need to thoroughly wash off the chemical with soapy water. Dry the board in the open air so that the vapors completely evaporate.

13. Vegetable oil

Another way to polish scratched boards. Mix 3/4 oil with 1/4 vinegar and polish the board. It should become smooth.

Any of these tips will make cleaning your kitchen much easier. Try everything and choose the best one!

When choosing a finish, the vast majority of craftsmen prefer compositions made from natural ingredients, primarily oils. There are many options for soaking new board, but practice shows that the most effective solution in this matter is the use of vaseline oil, which is not difficult to find in a pharmacy.

alternative vaseline oil can become vegetable analogues, in particular, walnut or linseed oil. But, despite the environmental friendliness and simplicity of such a finish, over time it can transfer food in contact with wooden board, unpleasant rancid smell. When covering the product with linseed, vaseline or any other oil, you will have to periodically renew the impregnation, which will wear out as the plank is used.

How to oil a cutting board?

Impregnation oil is applied to a well-sanded and dried surface. Evenly distributing an abundant amount of the finishing composition with a brush or swab, it is allowed to soak into the wood structure (15-20 minutes), after which the excess is wiped off by running the swab along the fibers.

A new wooden cutting board is treated with at least two to three layers. Each fresh layer of oil is applied after the previous one has completely dried. This is not very convenient because vegetable oils pretty low. Drying boards must be done in a well-ventilated area.

Are other finishing compounds hazardous to health?

This question still causes heated discussions, despite the fact that unequivocal and authoritative answers have long been given to it. For decoration wooden products in contact with food, any finish can be used, including oil, polyurethane and nitrocellulose varnishes, shellac coatings and linseed drying oil. These materials are completely harmless to health, but only after complete drying. This is a very important point!

Before you start using kitchen board, which you decide to paint with one of these compositions, you need to make sure that the coating is completely hardened. Remember that the presence of a surface film does not mean that the composition has completely dried inside the wood.

How to maintain the attractiveness of the finish?

By following these simple instructions, your cutting board will look great for years to come.

1. Wash product well after use. warm water, with as little use as possible detergents. Wipe off residual moisture without much diligence and do not allow the board to stay in water for a long time.
2. The finish of the kitchen plank needs periodic updating. outer layer“Refresh” as it wears out, usually once every 4-5 months, depending on the intensity of use of the product. By controlling the state of the protective layer, you will protect the board from cracking, swelling, and mold formation, while maintaining its visual appeal.
3. When the working side of the board is severely damaged by knives, it is sanded and re-finished.

Turning a cutting board into a spectacular decor

Inspired by the ideas in our gallery, you can create a product that, from ordinary household utensils turn into original decor for your kitchen. Such an expressive and functional piece of furniture will become a spectacular gift, to which no hostess will remain indifferent.