23 hours ago 6

How to clean a wood cutting board so it lasts

Whether you have something inexpensive and lightweight or a hefty investment piece, maintaining your wooden cutting board is key to prolonging its lifespan. If you cook most days and use your wooden board for meal prep more involved than just slicing bread, you need to clean it after each use. No matter how tempting, never put a wooden cutting board or any wooden kitchen utensils in the dishwasher, as this will increase the likelihood of warping and cracking.

The good news is that daily maintenance for a wooden cutting board is as simple as handwashing it with warm, soapy water and a sponge and letting it air-dry. And if it needs in-depth TLC, we've got instructions for deep-cleaning, sanitizing and conditioning.

How to clean a wooden cutting board

Step 1. Clear away food

After use, wipe off any excess food.

Step 2. Wash gently

Clean both sides with warm, soapy water and a sponge. Use a gentle dish soap.

When washing dishes and cookware, you don't want strong scents left behind. We consider this fragrance-free option one of the best dish soaps for cleaning cutting boards because it ensures the only thing you smell is the ingredients you're prepping.

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These sponges are gentle yet effective on cutting boards and all cookware that doesn't go into the dishwasher. At less than $1 apiece, you won't feel badly tossing an old one and starting fresh.

$6 at Amazon

Step 3. Rinse with warm water

Thoroughly rinse the board under warm running water to remove soap residue. Make sure to both sides wet, or the board could warp.

Step 4. Dry immediately

Use a clean towel to blot excess water. Then, stand up the board to air-dry completely. Avoid letting it sit flat when wet to prevent any moisture from pooling.

How to deep clean a wooden cutting board

The goal of deep cleaning is to restore your cutting board's surface without damaging the wood, says Alycia Johnson, VP of merchandising for the cookware retailer Sur La Table. "Even with regular cleaning, wood cutting boards can develop stains and odors over time," she warns. This is where deep cleaning comes into play.

To remove stains:

For stubborn stains, such as from beets, make a paste of baking soda and water, and gently rub it onto the stained area with a soft cloth or sponge. Rinse and air-dry.

beets on a wood cutting board with knife

To neutralize odors:

Chef Matthew Cutolo at Garguilo's in Brooklyn, N.Y., likes this method: "Sprinkle a light layer of salt over the board, then scrub it with half a lemon, letting the juice and salt pull out odors and stains." Let the cutting board sit for about five minutes, then rinse with warm, soapy water, and dry it thoroughly.

Guy Fieri loves this salt for seasoning food, but it also works just as well for cleaning your wooden cutting board. Attack minor stains and odors with a thin layer, then scrub with half a lemon.

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How to sanitize a wooden cutting board

The USDA recommends flooding the surface of your cutting board with a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Allow the board to stand for several minutes, then rinse with water and air-dry or pat dry with clean paper towels. That said, bleach can be tough on wood, so Johnson prefers white vinegar or 3% hydrogen peroxide. "Apply your choice liberally over the surface, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse with water and dry," she says.

Inexpensive pantry staples like white vinegar are cleaning multitaskers. In addition to cutting boards, you can use it to shine up glass, countertops, stainless steel appliances and more. Just make sure to dilute it first.

$1 at Amazon

How to condition a wooden cutting board

Now that you've got the cleaning taken care of, you'll want to put a little time into wood cutting board care. If you use your board almost every day, monthly conditioning will help keep it from drying out and cracking and make it more resistant to stains. "Apply a food-grade mineral oil to keep the wood hydrated. I pour a small amount onto the board and use a clean cloth to rub it in and cover all sides. Let it sit overnight to absorb, and in the morning, wipe off any excess," says Cutolo.

An Amazon No. 1 bestseller for wood conditioners, this odorless mineral oil is perfect for maintaining not just cutting boards, but also wooden cooking utensils. Apply a small amount to clean boards or tools and let it dry overnight. Wipe away any remaining oil.

$10 at Amazon

Boos Block Board Cream is like body lotion for your cutting board! If you're concerned about oils spilling in the kitchen, this cream — which is made by the legendary butcher block company, John Boos — is an excellent alternative. It's made from food-grade mineral oil and unbleached beeswax and conditions wooden cutting boards and tools the same way as straight oil. Just apply it with a sponge or cloth, let it soak in overnight and blot any excess cream.

$22 at Amazon

Is it time to replace your wooden cutting board?

A well-maintained wooden cutting board can last decades, but if yours is looking rough, it might be time for a new one. "Consider replacing your cutting board if it has deep, wide cracks that are difficult to clean, if warping is severe and doesn’t respond to corrective measures, or if the board shows signs of rot," says Johnson. "A damaged board can harbor bacteria and pose a risk to food safety."

Best wooden cutting boards, according to our testing

After testing 14 cutting boards made from wood, plant-based materials and paper composites, I found two wooden options worth every cent.

I could use this wooden cutting board all day, every day. It's made of durable end-grain maple wood, and the size and thickness are large enough to handle most meal prep needs while not being too cumbersome to carry to the sink or the table. It's the Goldilocks of cutting boards!

$62 at Wayfair

Looking to splurge? This is one of the most stunning cutting boards I've seen — it looks like a piece of home decor. It's spacious, substantial in thickness and weight and boasts a juice groove, finger grooves and feet. These are not uncommon features, but having all of them in one package can cost a ton. Some of the other boards I tested, of a similar high quality, had only a few of those features and were more expensive.

$203 at Jones Cutting Boards