
What kind of oil do I use on butcher block?
- BEST OVERALL: Thirteen Chefs Food Grade Mineral Oil
- RUNNER UP: CLARK’S Cutting Board Oil
- BEST CONDITIONER: Howard Products Butcher Block Conditioner
- ALSO CONSIDER: Sanco Industries Premium Pure Food Grade Mineral Oil
How to clean and oil your butcher block?
How to Clean Butcher-Block Countertops
- Scrub the Countertop. Remove everything from the countertops. ...
- Apply the White Vinegar. Pour white vinegar onto a clean dish towel, and wipe the entire counter down to disinfect it. ...
- Apply Salt + Lemon Juice. After the vinegar wash has dried, mix 1 cup lemon juice with a 1/2 cup salt (Image 1 below). ...
- Wipe Off the Salt. ...
Can I use olive oil instead of butcher block oil?
Olive oil, corn oil, and sunflower oil, should never be used to maintain a cutting board or butcher block. As touched on above, these oils experience rancidification – a process that yields a rank smell and unpleasant taste. As a cutting board touches your food, substances that can turn rancid should be avoided. Is Baby Oil mineral oil?
What do you need to know about butcher block?
Butcher block is made of wood planks glued together and dried under pressure. There are three types of construction: End Grain: The cut ends face up and create a checkerboard effect. This is the most expensive and most durable option for chopping. Think antique butcher tables with chunky legs.

What is butcher block oil made of?
Butcher Block Conditioner is a combination of pure USP grade mineral oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax. It is ideal for conditioning and maintaining all wooden butcher blocks, cutting boards, wooden bowls, and utensils.
What can I use in place of butcher block oil?
If you don't want to use mineral oil, you can also use beeswax, beeswax-based board cream (usually a blend of beeswax and mineral oil), or fractionated coconut oil.
Can I use olive oil instead of butcher block oil?
Olive oil, corn oil, and sunflower oil, should never be used to maintain a cutting board or butcher block. As touched on above, these oils experience rancidification – a process that yields a rank smell and unpleasant taste. As a cutting board touches your food, substances that can turn rancid should be avoided.
When should I use butcher block oil?
Use Cutting Board Oil and Butcher Block Conditioner whenever the wood looks or feels dry by applying one coat of either product. On new or raw wood surfaces, like cutting boards and butcher blocks, make sure to "season" them first with Cutting Board Oil.
Can I use vegetable oil on my butcher block?
Cooking oils (like olive, vegetable or nut oils) aren't recommended as butcher block/cutting board oil because they can go rancid.
Can I use olive oil on cutting board?
What Not to Use on a Cutting Board. You should not use any type of cooking oil on your board, such as olive oil, vegetable oil, or regular coconut oil, because they will go rancid. Also keep in mind that excess moisture is bad for wood. Never soak your cutting board or let it sit in water for extended periods.
Is baby oil food grade mineral oil?
(Mineral oil is safe for human consumption, but only up to around 100 mg. Many of those milligrams come from food-grade mineral oil that's used in baking and other industrial food processing places because it's odorless and tasteless. My guess is that baby oil mineral oil isn't food-grade.
Will olive oil go rancid on wood?
The oil in the mixture conditions the wood, but does not linger on the surface. There is no residual smell of the olive oil on the furniture. – Taste is the main issue in a rancid olive oil. It does not change color or texture or become dangerous.
How do you oil a butcher block for the first time?
On new or raw wood surfaces, like cutting boards and butcher blocks, make sure to oil them with Cutting Board Oil. To properly oil new wood surfaces, apply at least 2 coats and let each coat soak in for at least an hour. For thick surfaces apply 3-4 coats.
Is baby oil white mineral oil?
Baby oil is a perfumed mineral oil. Most often, mineral oil is a liquid by-product of refining crude oil to make gasoline and other petroleum products. This type of mineral oil is a transparent, colorless oil, composed mainly of alkanes and cycloalkanes, related to petroleum jelly.
How long does butcher block oil take to dry?
SpecificationsBasic FeaturesDry Time - Recoat5 minutesContentsCan Sizes16 oz. bottles, GallonsTechnical Data14 more rows
Can you over oil a butcher block?
There is no such thing as using too much butcher block oil. Once the wood is fully saturated with oil, it will not take on any more oil.
Does butcher block need oiled?
On new or raw wood surfaces, like cutting boards and butcher blocks, make sure to oil them with Cutting Board Oil. To properly oil new wood surfaces, apply at least 2 coats and let each coat soak in for at least an hour.
Can I use baby oil on my cutting board?
You should be able to find food quality mineral oil online fairly easily in most locations. Baby oil is probably okay, but I would shy away from the scented stuff. (Should be able to get unscented baby oil). Mineral Oil is also typically available from pharmacies/chemists where it will probably be called paraffin oil.
How do you make a cutting board oil?
0:024:27How to Make the Best Finish for Cutting Boards - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor this recipe you need to combine four 16-ounce bottles of mineral oil with one pound of beeswaxMoreFor this recipe you need to combine four 16-ounce bottles of mineral oil with one pound of beeswax for a four to one ratio.
What is the best sealer for a cutting board?
While some swear by mineral oil, specialty products (which are often quite expensive) or mixtures made from waxes and oils, Ardec recommends two rather simple, yet environmentally friendly solution, that offer an impressive protection and deserve to be better known: Tung Oil and Polymerized linseed Oil Finishing.
How Often Do You Have to Oil Butcher Block Countertops?
With average use, you might need to apply oil once a month. You can tell when it’s time for an oil application when the water starts to soak into the wood instead of beading up on the surface. When that’s not on your mind, it may be time to think about kitchen flooring ideas that are trending right now.
How much does Howard Butcher Block Conditioner cost?
There are several brands, like Howard Butcher Block Conditioner (about $10 for 12 oz.), that sell a product that’s comprised of food-grade mineral oil, beeswax and carnauba wax.
Is tung oil safe to eat?
Food-grade tung oil is made by pressing the seeds (often called nuts) of the tung tree. It’s naturally food-safe. Tung oil—which should be labeled 100% pure—is a little more expensive than food-safe mineral oil. Here is 32 ounces of tung oil for $20 on amazon.com.
Is butcher block the same as wood?
Butcher block surfaces and cutting boards are both wood and their needs are the same . But you’ve got options. Two of the most common are: Food-grade mineral oil is a petroleum-based product that prevents wood from absorbing water. And, it’s relatively inexpensive.
Can you use cooking oil on butcher block?
Cooking oils (like olive, vegetable or nut oils) aren’t recommended as butcher block/cutting board oil because they can go rancid. And nut oils could cause an adverse reaction for anyone with nut allergies. This is our collection of the best cleaning products for people with allergies.
What oil is best for matte sheen?
Mineral oil also provides the most matte sheen of all our suggestions. If your surface has a coating (polyurethane, lacquer, or varnish) it should be sanded before application since oils won’t penetrate a glossy finish. Walnut oil can be used in the same manner as mineral oil.
How to apply mineral oil to countertops?
Apply two coats of mineral oil: When your countertops are dry, apply one coat of oil. You can pour a little bit at a time directly onto your counter and use the cloth to spread the oil around every inch of the counter. Let the oil soak in for half an hour or so before second application.
What is the best product to use for a knife crack?
For the most noticeable transformation, try a product containing a combination of mineral oil and beeswax (I had great success with Howard ). The beeswax will help fill in voids or small crevices from age or use (i.e., knife marks or cracking). Through continued applications, the natural waxes help prevent drying and cracking and protect the wood.
Can you sand butcher block?
A fresh look for your butcher block countertop doesn’t haven’t to involve the headache of extensive sanding to rejuvenate the surface. An application of food-safe oils (or another of the options we’ll share below) can restore the surface’s sheen and help recondition with each application.
Is mineral oil good for staining?
Food-safe mineral oil is recommended for regular upkeep and helps keep the surface stain-repellant and looking its best. However, repeated applications won’t build the surface or help repair minor wear like other products. Mineral oil also provides the most matte sheen of all our suggestions. If your surface has a coating (polyurethane, lacquer, or varnish) it should be sanded before application since oils won’t penetrate a glossy finish.
Why do you wash butcher block?
It’s essential that a butcher block or cutting board be washed regularly to prevent bacterial growth and contamination. However, all that soap and water will dry it out within a short time unless a cutting board oil seals and protects the wood.
How long to wait to apply oil to butcher block?
If the edges are very thick, as with a butcher block, it might be necessary to add more oil to the rag. Wait 20 minutes, then apply a second coat of oil on the top and sides. After another 20 minutes , use a clean rag to wipe off any excess oil. If the board is double-sided, repeat the same process, minus the edges.
What is Sanco oil?
Sanco Industries offers an entire gallon of this American-made, food-grade mineral oil for a fraction of the cost of most other cutting board oil products. Not only is it an ideal choice for maintaining the look and durability of a butcher block or wooden cutting board, but it also has hundreds of other household uses. This cutting board oil is approved by NSF (National Sanitation Foundation), a global, independent organization that facilitates the development of public health standards, in addition to being certified by the USP (United States Pharmacopeia).
How to apply oil to cutting board?
To apply cutting board oil, pour or spray a generous amount onto the board’s top surface to start. Using a clean rag, rub the oil into the entire top surface area, including the juice groove if there is one. Use the same rag to make sure the board’s edges are wiped down with oil as well. If the edges are very thick, as with a butcher block, it might be necessary to add more oil to the rag. Wait 20 minutes, then apply a second coat of oil on the top and sides. After another 20 minutes, use a clean rag to wipe off any excess oil. If the board is double-sided, repeat the same process, minus the edges.
What to consider when choosing cutting board oil?
When choosing the best cutting board oil for your needs, it’s essential to look at the main ingredients that make up the oil, its consistency, how it is applied to the board, and any other additives that may be included.
Why use cutting board oil?
The primary purpose of using cutting board oil is to protect the surface of a butcher block or cutting board to prevent cracks, splits, and overall dryness. Each of these problems could result in fissures in the wood’s surface that allow bacteria to flourish and give off that rancid, sour smell that plagues old butcher blocks ...
Is cutting board oil good for wood?
This is particularly true for oils that are designed to coat an object. Cutting board oil is available in two consistencies: liquid and spray. The advantage to liquid cutting board oil is that you can apply a fair amount of protective coating to the wood relatively quickly.
How to clean Varnique finish?
Varnique finish is virtually maintenance-free. It is easily cleaned with mild soap and warm water, followed by a towel dry.
What is Varnique wood?
Varnique is a branded, varnish-like product developed by John Boos & Co. Although Varnique provides a fine-furniture look and is perfect for general kitchen chores, it is not to be cut upon, since nicks in this hard-shell coating could leave unprotected the wood beneath. Varnique provides a virtually maintenance-free semi-gloss finish that seals and protects wood. It is the finish of choice among bakers in particular, since it provides a hard, smooth, non-stick surface on which to roll dough. Although not impermeable, a surface finished with Varnique is more resistant to spotting and staining.
Is Varnique finish maintenance free?
Although not impermeable, a surface finished with Varnique is more resistant to spotting and staining. Varnique finish is virtually maintenance-free.
Is butcher block oil safe?
Most butcher blocks come pre-treated with a food-safe, natural oil finish that moisturizes and protects the wood and makes it safe for food preparation, including cutting. All cutting boards and chopping blocks come with a natural oil finish.
