RusticCraft Handcrafted Cutting Boards
General Care Instructions
Normal wear is to be expected with any cutting surface, but with proper care, RusticCraft artisan cutting boards can last a lifetime.
As with any wooden item, cutting boards should never be submerged in water for extended periods of time. NEVER place your wooden cutting board in the dishwasher. The dishwasher cycle produces extreme heat, humidity, and then more heat—the wood will swell with water and then expand and contract in a short period of time causing cracking and splitting.
Never place hot pots and pans or other very hot items on your wood cutting board surface as it could char and discolor. After you are done with your cutting board, brush with a little soap and warm water, rinse and dry thoroughly.
The wood used for RusticCraft cutting boards has natural antimicrobial properties, and requires no significant disinfecting for normal use.
A few times a year, or more with heavier use, we recommend seasoning your cutting board using a beeswax & oil wood conditioning paste. When your board becomes lighter in color and feels 'dry' to the touch, that's when you know it's time to re-season your board.
Conditioning Paste Application
Simply rub a small amount of your Wood Conditioning Paste onto your clean, dry board with the grain of the wood...with your fingers or a clean rag....and let soak in for a few minutes.
Any excess should be buffed off with a clean rag, in the direction of the grain of the wood, until the board has a smooth sheen.
This wood conditioning treatment helps prevent staining, cracking, and food odor absorption. Food grade mineral oil or specialized butcher block conditioning oils may also be used, but do not use olive oil or other cooking oils to seal your board as these oils can turn rancid over time.
Resealing your board is easy with our own beeswax wood conditioners; available in three different blends: Original beeswax & mineral oil, Organic beeswax & jojoba and Organic beeswax & coconut oil.
We season our cutting boards with a Beeswax & Mineral Oil Season Butter.
For a recipe on how to make this yourself, see our blog post here: http://rusticcraftdesigns.com/beeswax-mineral-oil-wood-seasoning-butter-recipe/
Specialized Care Instructions
Disinfecting; White Vinegar or 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, separately, both make effective disinfectants. Use full strength or dilute with a 1:1 ratio with water, brush your board with it, then rinse and dry thoroughly. Chlorine bleach is NOT recommended as it breaks down the wood’s natural fibers.
Stain & Odor Removal; Pour a little kosher salt to the surface of the board, add enough lemon juice to form a paste, lightly scrub the board and let sit a few minutes to allow the salt to pull up stains and odors, rinse thoroughly.
Next, pour a little baking soda onto the surface of your board, add enough water to form a paste, lightly scrub the board and let sit a few minutes, allowing the baking soda to pull up any remaining stains and odors; rinse and dry thoroughly. Your board should be seasoned after cleaning with salts, as these are very drying.