I finally ditched plastic cutting boards for wood and here is why

For years I used those thin plastic cutting boards because they were cheap and I could toss them in the dishwasher. But after about 6 months they all had deep knife grooves that just looked nasty no matter how much I scrubbed. I read somewhere that those grooves can trap bacteria even after washing, and that got me thinking. So I spent $35 on a single big wooden cutting board from a local woodworker near my town. It feels solid and heavy, and after a month of use the knife marks are barely visible. The catch is I cannot put it in the dishwasher, I have to hand wash and oil it every few weeks. Has anyone else made the switch and found a good way to keep the wood from drying out too fast?

3 comments

3 Comments

williamschmidt4d ago

Oh man, congrats on the switch! I did the exact same thing about two years ago and never looked back. Yeah, the hand washing thing is a pain at first but you get used to it pretty quick. For the drying issue, I just rub on a thin layer of mineral oil once a month with a paper towel and let it soak in overnight. I keep a little bottle right next to the stove so I remember. Also don't leave it soaking in the sink or sitting wet on the counter, just dry it off with a clean dish towel right after washing and you're golden.

emmasmith4d ago

Mineral oil is a game changer, swear by it now too.

ryan9524d ago

@williamschmidt nailed it, the overnight soak is the real key.