How to Care for an Engraved Cutting Board

To care for an engraved cutting board, hand wash it with mild soap and warm water, dry it right away, keep it out of the dishwasher and never let it soak, then rub in a food-grade mineral oil or board conditioner whenever the wood looks dry. That routine takes a couple of minutes and keeps the maple and walnut boards we make in Pryor, Oklahoma looking good for years.

The everyday routine

After each use:

1. Scrape off food. Use the back of a knife or a bench scraper to clear crumbs and bits.
2. Wash by hand. Warm water, a little dish soap and a soft sponge or brush. Wash both sides, even if you only used one, so the board takes on water evenly.
3. Rinse quickly. Do not hold it under running water longer than you need to.
4. Dry right away. Wipe it down with a towel.
5. Stand it on edge to finish drying. Air needs to reach both faces. Lying flat on a wet counter is how boards warp.

That is all a board needs day to day.

What to avoid

• The dishwasher. Heat and long exposure to water will crack or warp solid wood, and the harsh detergent strips the oil out of the grain.
• Soaking. Never leave a board in the sink or in standing water. Wood swells as it absorbs water and can split as it dries.
• Harsh cleaners. Bleach and strong cleaners dry out the wood. Mild dish soap is enough for regular cleaning.
• Heat. Keep boards away from the stovetop, oven vents and direct sun on a window sill.

Cleaning the engraving

Engraving is cut slightly into the surface of the wood, so it can catch small bits of food or flour. A soft brush, like a clean dish brush or an old soft toothbrush, gets into the letters without wearing them down. Brush along the lines, rinse and dry as usual.

If you want the engraving to stay sharp, cut on the plain back of the board and use the engraved face for serving. Designs with fine script, like the Family Recipe Cutting Board, are especially worth keeping as a serving side.

Oiling the board

Oil keeps wood from drying out and helps it shed water. Use food-grade mineral oil or a board conditioner made for cutting boards. Cooking oils such as olive, vegetable or canola can go rancid in the wood, so skip them.

How to oil:

1. Start with a clean, completely dry board.
2. Pour a small amount of oil onto the surface.
3. Rub it in with a clean cloth or paper towel, working with the grain. Cover the top, bottom and all four edges.
4. Let it soak in for several hours, or overnight if you can.
5. Wipe off any oil still sitting on the surface.

A newly oiled engraving looks deeper and richer, especially on walnut.

When to oil: when the wood looks pale or chalky, when it feels dry to the touch, or when water soaks in instead of beading up. A board used daily usually wants oil about once a month. A board kept mostly for display, like the Circle Monogram Charcuterie Board, may only need it a few times a year.

Conditioning oil is one of the add-ons you can choose with any of our boards, so the first bottle can arrive with the gift.

Odors and stains

For a smell such as garlic or onion, rub the surface with a cut lemon or sprinkle coarse salt and scrub it with half a lemon, then rinse, dry and oil. For light stains on maple, the same salt and lemon scrub often helps. Walnut hides most stains on its own; our maple vs. walnut guide explains why.

Raw meat

Many cooks keep a separate board for raw meat. If you do cut meat on a wood board, wash it promptly with hot, soapy water, rinse and dry it well. We suggest keeping an engraved gift board for bread, cheese, fruit and vegetables and using a plain board for raw meat.

Displaying a board

A lot of engraved boards spend most of their life on display, leaning against a backsplash or sitting on a stand. A board like the Home Sweet Home Names Cutting Board often lives on the counter as decor. For display boards:

• Dust with a dry cloth.
• Oil occasionally so the wood does not fade or dry out.
• Keep it out of direct sun, which can lighten walnut and yellow maple over time.

A custom-fit display stand is available as a board add-on if you want it upright.

Coasters

Coasters need even less. Wipe them with a damp cloth, let them dry standing on edge if they get wet, and oil them now and then when they look dry. Do not put wood coasters in the dishwasher.

If something goes wrong

A small crack or a slight warp from a soak can often be improved by letting the board dry slowly at room temperature, then oiling it well. Deep cuts on the plain side can be sanded lightly. If you have a question about one of our boards, contact us and tell us what happened. Our short care page has the same routine in brief, and you can browse the Circle Monogram Family Name Cutting Board and the rest of our cutting boards.