Let's figure out what is the best way to treat a cutting board

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Mineral (vaseline) oil is rightfully considered the best product for processing cutting boards. A more reliable and durable coating is formed by a mixture of mineral oil and beeswax in a ratio of 4 to 1. This mixture allows you to close not only the pores of the wood, but also small cracks. A coating made from a mixture of oil and wax is more durable. The melting point of wax is 63-65 degrees Celsius. To process the board, the mixture must be heated in a water bath by placing the jar in hot water. Treat all sides of the board with the resulting solution. Remove excess product with a dry cloth. After cooling, the product will thicken. The shelf life of the mixture is unlimited.

Information about technical characteristics, delivery set, country of manufacture and appearance of the product is for reference only and is based on the latest available information from the manufacturer

We always strive for the best to please our customers with the best prices.

There is a cutting board in any kitchen, and wood products have the most presentable and reliable appearance. Such boards are made from solid pieces of wood, cross cuts, small glued blocks or plywood: the latter option is the most inexpensive, but has a shorter service life.

Regardless of the manufacturing technology, the question remains relevant: how to treat a wooden cutting board so that it does not become unusable? Only special impregnations will help prevent cracking of utensils and the colonization of fungus and mold in the wood.

Why is processing needed?

During daily cooking, the cutting board is subjected to serious stress. It is regularly scratched with a knife or a kitchen hammer; moisture, juices from vegetables and fruits penetrate into the pores of the material, and dish soap may not be completely washed out of them. The average period of use of wooden utensils is about a year, after which they lose functionality and attractiveness.

Special treatment of the cutting board with oil compounds allows you to fill the pores of the wood and prevent wetting, swelling, and deformation of the product. Impregnation also has the following purposes:

• prevention of absorption of unpleasant odors by wood;
• prevention of cracks, chips, and other defects;
• preventing the colonization of the material by harmful microorganisms;
• preventing rotting and microbial toxins from entering food.

With periodic use of impregnation, the service life of the cutting board increases, which will seriously save money, because such products are not cheap. Primary processing should be done immediately after purchasing the utensils, while they have not yet been used in cooking.

It is important not to wash the product before soaking, because oils can “lock” remaining moisture inside the wood fibers. To really extend the life of the board, it must be treated regularly.

Types of funds and selection rules

You can coat the cutting board with synthetic and natural oil, the main thing is that it does not contain toxic components and is absolutely harmless to humans. The oil must be resistant to high temperatures (hot water), not deteriorate under the influence of room temperatures and not go rancid: otherwise the cutting board will smell unpleasant.

Tips for selecting impregnations are as follows:

• Do not lubricate pine boards with products based on linseed oil due to poor compatibility of the materials;
• oils that are produced by the same manufacturer and are sold as a set are well suited for treating utensils;
• mineral compositions are often sold in building materials stores, and not all of them are suitable for food purposes;
• It is better to lubricate the most durable oak boards with a mixture of mineral oil and wax;
• thin plywood boards also require oil treatment; natural impregnations are well suited for this purpose.

Vegetable oils

Traditionally, natural oils are used for processing wooden products - sunflower, olive, walnut, linseed, sesame and others. Their main advantage is environmental friendliness and complete safety for health. But any vegetable oil for processing boards has a significant disadvantage - without adding preservatives, it deteriorates and acquires a rancid taste and smell.

The reason is the increased production of butyric acid by butyric acid bacteria, the inhabitants of the product, which gives such a taste. Some products deteriorate after just a couple of months, while others take about 9-12 months to develop a painful “aroma.”

Vegetable oils take a long time to dry. It is better not to pick up the board for two or three days - it will greatly stain everything and leave oil stains. As a result, it will take more than a week to apply several layers of impregnation. Some people choose drying oil for work, because it is also cooked on the basis of oils, but its drying time is not much shorter, and wears out quickly.

What types of wood impregnations are there?

The following mixtures are available to protect wooden materials:

1. Vegetable oils - in the old days they used sunflower, olive, flaxseed and various others. The main advantage of these compounds is complete safety for humans. However, one has to take into account the minus - without the use of special compounds - preservatives, the oil will deteriorate. Moreover, some compositions will acquire a rancid taste and smell after 2-3 months. In the best case, the coating will remain “fresh” for about a year.
2. Mineral oils - they do not have the disadvantage that vegetable oils have. Good impregnations are even used to treat knife handles. It does not smell, does not deteriorate, and does not deteriorate the color of the wood.
3. Beeswax is a natural sealant that has antiseptic and antifungal properties. It can be used as an independent remedy. But it can be added to oils; it will increase the moisture resistance of surfaces by closing large and small pores. Wax can be used to treat crevices, chips, and cracks. This will significantly increase the life of your countertops and cutting boards. An additional plus is that the wax smells nice.

Another type of natural oil you can use to coat wooden boards and countertops is coconut oil. It contains a lot of fats, and it retains its physical and chemical properties for a long time and does not go rotten even at room temperature. To treat wooden surfaces in the kitchen, you can use Vaseline oil: it is available in any pharmacy.

To figure out what is the best way to process a cutting board, you need to pay attention to the advice of carpenters who have been working with wood for decades. The choice of protective composition may depend on the type of wood:

• pine boards do not combine well with linseed oil; it is better to use other compounds;
• it is better to choose kits of the same brand - this will ensure better compatibility of components when used together;
• You should not buy from auto stores, not all of them are suitable for processing boards, it is better to choose mixtures in specialized departments;
• oak planks are often coated with a mixture of mineral oils and wax.

Thin plywood should also be protected with natural impregnations. Otherwise, the board may warp over time.

How to evaluate the quality of mineral oil

To buy a truly worthwhile oil, you need to carefully read the instructions and clarify the following characteristics:

1. Water resistance. A good product not only penetrates the pores, but also repels water even in direct contact with it. If moisture resistance is insufficient, the wood will continue to rot and the product will collapse.
2. Environmental friendliness. The composition should not only not contain harmful components, but also must not release them when heated, be chemically inert, and not lead to the formation of dangerous compounds with components of household chemicals.
3. Sufficient penetration. Some waxes and glazes have only a superficial effect, and the oil must penetrate into the structure of the wood.
4. Colorlessness. A good oil does not change the color or grain of the wood, although if necessary, pigments can be added to it to tint the product.
5. No smell. A high-quality product does not have any extraneous aromas, although some formulations contain certain fragrances.

How to prepare the mixture at home

If you were unable to buy the necessary impregnation for the boards in the store, you can easily make it at home, with your own hands. The simplest recipe is:

• buy Vaseline oil at the pharmacy;
• buy beeswax in a specialized store;
• combine 4 parts butter and 1 part wax, cut into pieces;
• melt the mixture in a water bath, stirring to ensure homogeneity;
• cool the product to room temperature;
• Use for wood processing, store in the refrigerator.

It is undesirable to replace beeswax with paraffin or stearin - the latter strongly clog the pores of the wood, which seriously impairs its vapor permeability and can provoke rotting.

Recipes for oil soaks with herbs

For the most sophisticated who enjoy the constant search for something more, there are several recipes for oil infusions. They are made from different types of medicinal herbs and roots:

1. Peppermint oil. Pre-dried mint needs to be ground well. The powder from dry leaves should be approximately 100g. Pour it into a glass bottle, add 0.5 liters of linseed oil, seal it and shake thoroughly. Let it sit for about 2 weeks. Don't forget to shake the infusion every day. Then we filter the resulting mint impregnation through cheesecloth.
2. Oil with dandelion roots, or with angelica roots. The preparation procedure is the same as in the first option with mint, but in this case the roots of the plants are finely chopped and poured in the proportion of 1 part root to 5 parts oil.
3. Collection of seven roots. This oil infusion is good for its strong concentration of tannins contained in plant roots. These substances remain in the oil, and when impregnated with wood, they perfectly strengthen its upper layers. We take burdock, dandelion, elecampane, cinquefoil, meadowsweet, and comfrey roots in equal proportions. The infusion process is exactly the same.

If you want to play around with color a little, you can try different edible vegetable oils. For example, pumpkin and sea buckthorn oils give a beautiful golden hue to a wooden product.

How to properly impregnate

If the board is new, it is immediately treated with oil in 2-3 layers, with each subsequent one applied only after the previous one has been absorbed. Drying utensils is done in a well-ventilated area. The old board is pre-prepared: carefully sanded with the finest sandpaper to remove all large roughness. The product is thoroughly dried - not even a small amount of moisture should remain inside the wood.

After drying the board, apply oil generously with a brush, cotton swab or gauze swab over the entire surface and from the ends, after 20 minutes the excess is wiped off. Movements are carried out only along the fibers of the material. Apply impregnation in 2-3 layers 10-12 hours after each previous one.

Plywood boards also require special care. Unlike solid ones, they are made from thin sheets of wood glued together, and therefore are more sensitive to moisture. If done incorrectly, plywood boards quickly swell and mold settles between failures.

Such products are treated with mineral oils with the addition of beeswax, applying the product with a roller or a soft brush, after laying the board in a horizontal position. This work is carried out at least once a month.

Why soak cutting boards?

Mineral or petroleum jelly is considered best for impregnating cutting boards. The oil has no odor or taste, it will not go rancid and will not spoil the taste of food. Thanks to mineral oil, the board is reliably protected from the following troubles:

• absorption of unpleasant odors;
• the appearance of microbes, mold, mildew, harmful microorganisms inside the wood;
• the appearance of cracks and chips due to the dryness of the material.

The structure of wood is such that the liquid composition, penetrating inside, fills the pores of the material.

You should treat a new, never used cutting board, and then periodically renew the impregnation. Before applying the product, it is necessary to prepare the product. The board should be dry and its surface well sanded, without roughness. The liquid is distributed over all surfaces and ends using a brush or swab. You need to apply generously, for 15-20 minutes, then remove the excess with a swab, moving it along the fibers. If the board is new, then the treatment is carried out in 2-3 layers - each new layer is applied after the previous one has completely dried. Drying of the impregnation lasts from 10 to 12 hours.

What is mineral oil

Mineral oil is crude oil or is produced from industrial crops. The following types of oils are used to impregnate wooden products:

• coconut;
• linen;
• woody;
• consisting of several ingredients;
• mineral.

Mineral oil, which is a product of petroleum refining, is used to treat wooden cutting boards. The synthetic product is absolutely safe, therefore it is used in cosmetology, medicines, and the food industry. Mineral oil is available as edible or non-edible. For wooden utensils, including cutting boards, a food safe product is suitable.

The oil is very popular due to several positive characteristics:

• high level of protection;
• lack of smell and taste;
• ease of application;
• environmental Safety;
• quick drying;
• combination with other coatings;
• lack of color unless it contains special additives.

Oil not only prevents rapid wear and tear of the product, but also gives it shine and a pleasant appearance.

Production

The production of food dyes and varnishes is a complex technological process. Depending on the materials used - organic and inorganic - the technology is different. It is mainly based on mixing synthetic dyes consisting of water-soluble components with the addition of aluminum ions.

Initially, a dispersing mixture is prepared, then the semi-finished products are ground with pigments (synthetic or natural organic oils) to obtain the base color and its shades. Subsequently, the pigment paste is mixed with water-dispersed components, then distributed according to shade and properties, and poured into containers for sale to the consumer.

Why is beeswax added during processing?

If high-quality beeswax is added to a lubricant for wood products, an effective protective ointment is obtained. Wax is used as a sealant that protects the porous structure of wood from moisture. The beekeeping product increases moisture resistance, but does not make the wood moisture-proof. Wax reliably protects the cutting board, remaining on the surface and clogging pores and small crevices. Oil without added wax is absorbed into the material and does not create a protective film. The wax layer prevents the penetration of water, bacteria, small pieces of food, and dirt into the wood structure. After covering the surface of an object with oil and wax, the product becomes smooth and acquires a pleasant aroma.

Caring for wooden products

If you have cooperage products in your home, then you should adhere to certain rules for storing and using wooden utensils:

1. It cannot be washed in the dishwasher as there is a risk of damaging the surface.
2. Due to the sensitivity of wood to moisture, it is advisable to store dishes in dry places to avoid mold. Also be sure to dry and wipe the product after use.
3. To eliminate unpleasant odors and for disinfection purposes, you can wipe with an alcohol solution.
4. As time passes, cooper's ware darkens. In order to restore its original color, it is recommended to wipe the surface with hydrogen peroxide.

By adhering to these simple rules, you will extend the life of wooden utensils.

There are many interesting articles on the Internet on processing with various mastics, pastes, etc., which give it interesting smells, colors and properties.

In this article we will look at the simplest of them.

Next season we planned to start abandoning turned utensils, replacing them with hand-cut ceramic and wooden ones. But the events of the warrior's field with an overturned table and broken ceramic bowls and mugs forced me to delay making such a decision.

Well, let's get back to our impregnations.

One of the simplest impregnations that protect wooden utensils from cracking is boiling them in hot oil for 5 minutes. It’s not much better to take refined oil to rid the dishes of the unnecessary cloying smell of oil. And if this smell is nothing terrible for a bowl and spoon, then such smells are usually not desirable for a mug. This is the meaning. Take 2 liters of refined vegetable oil, pour it into a large saucepan, heat it up, put a small container in the warm one, bring it to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. In this case, the dishes must be turned over so that the oil saturates it on all sides. The dishes acquire a pleasant golden hue, an appetizing smell, and are not afraid of hot use, i.e. It will not crack from hot soup or tea, and it also acquires relative water-repellent ability. But in order to prevent excess oil from getting into food, it is necessary to first rid the dishes of these excesses. To do this, wrap it in toilet paper and place it on the radiator. This will absorb excess oil into the paper. Then you need to repeat this process of getting rid of unnecessary residues 3-4 times, replacing the paper.

In general, everything is quite simple. But I was not entirely satisfied with this method. My bowl was still leaking a little around the core and it really annoyed me.

I took a new bowl. And I decided to experiment with other types of impregnations. What I liked most was the combined method of wax and oil.

Melt the beeswax, add a little vegetable oil (a couple of tablespoons), and with a new clean brush begin to apply it to the outer surface of the bowl, as well as to its bottom. In order for the wax to be better absorbed, you can preheat the surface with a hairdryer. We do this until the wax begins to appear on the back side. After this, leave the bowl to dry and put refined vegetable oil on the stove to heat up. After it has warmed up, turn the bowl over and begin to coat the inside of the bowl with a brush until the oil is no longer actively absorbed. It is better to do all these operations on a bed of napkins. And it’s better to cover everything around with newspapers to prevent accidental splashes.

But here we now have wax smudges on the outside and excess oil on the inside. We remove them as follows. Having stuffed toilet paper into a bowl, we begin to warm up the outer side with a hairdryer, removing excess wax with an unnecessary rag. When heated, excess oil will be released from the inside and absorbed into the paper. That's how it is))))))

Then we expose the dishes to the air, with a new portion of paper inside. Let it dry. The excess will be absorbed into the paper. In general, it is better to always store dishes in an open state. Do not put it in bags or cabinets, otherwise it may become moldy.

After the festival, thoroughly wash and dry the dishes and place them in an open place. It will serve as an excellent decoration for your interior, and it will also feel great. It is also better to store ceramic dishes open, otherwise you may get an unpleasant odor or mold in them.

PURPOSEMaster

Oil waxAnta Master

— oil with hard wax,
especially hard oil wax with a high content of natural beeswax.
Designed as environmental bioprotection, moisture protection and UV protection for wooden surfaces and products that may come into contact with food.
This modification of oil wax is based on Oil with Hard Wax or Oil Wax Mastic. MASTER oil wax helps protect wooden products, handicrafts and carved decorations made of wood - wooden dishes, barrels and tubs for making pickles and pickles, spoons, lining boards and trays, cutting boards for cooking, ladles and bowls made of wood, wooden cups for liquids, handicrafts for various purposes. Master oil wax can also be used to enhance the protection effect of wooden furniture, walls, ceilings and floors in a wooden house and bathhouse. Oil wax Master is recommended
for use as an oil with hard wax to protect any wood products that may come into contact with food, but which require an ABSOLUTE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY protective composition, complete safety and very RELIABLE AND LONG-TERM protection from mold, cracking and deterioration. Maslovosk Master can also be used to renew and STRENGTHEN the protective properties of wood surfaces (furniture, etc.) that were previously treated with soft waxes such as Maslovosk Standard, Maslovosk Interior, Maslovosk Parquet Terrace, Maslovosk Bath Sauna.

DIFFERENCES Maslovosk Master

Oil wax Master

is an oil wax with a wide range of applications.
Maslovsk Master is produced on the basis of a standard primary modification of oil with hard wax - Maslovsk Mastic and can contain a larger amount of specially selected PURE wood resins, beekeeping products and components to increase the quality and degree of surface protection when used for its intended purpose.
Maslovosk Master is one of the most ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEAN, HARMFUL, reliable and effective products in the line of wood protection impregnations based on beeswax with a base on hard waxes used to protect wood objects and wooden furniture inside the house, improving its aesthetic appearance and extending the service life of products made of wood. The composition of Master Oilers allows you to maintain the protective properties and process wooden products IN CONTACT with FOOD or used for its preparation or in contact with food products.

APPLICATION Oil wax Master Oil wax Master, Oil with hard wax for wood products is intended for:

• for RENEWING the wax coating of surfaces previously treated with soft Oil Waxes - Oil Wax Standard, Oil Wax Interior, Oil Wax Parquet Terrace, Oil Wax Bath Sauna,
• to improve the protective properties of conventional (soft) oil waxes,
• for hard wood,
• wooden handicrafts or carved decorations,
• handicrafts and carvings made of wood: wooden dishes,
• barrels and tubs for preparing pickles and pickles,
• wooden spoons, ladles, ladles,
• lining boards and trays,
• cutting boards for cooking,
• bowls, mugs and cups made of wood,
• wooden cups for liquids,
• handicraft items for various purposes.

Oil wax Master

It does not cause allergies and is indicated for use to protect wooden products in contact with food or food products. Can be used by people prone to allergies (except for those allergic to pine and fir resin - which is very rare). From us you can get detailed information on such issues as: Master Oil Wax, Oil Wax with hard wax, Hard Oil Wax, Hard wax for wood, Impregnation based on natural oil for wooden objects, mastic for wooden decorations, mastic for wooden utensils based on natural wax , Wax for wood, how to choose wax to protect wood and how to coat wooden household objects made of wood, how to treat carved wooden jewelry, how to treat a wooden cutting board, what is Wax for wood, impregnation for a barrel for pickling cucumbers on wax , Waxes for food use, Wax for carved wooden decorations and objects.

If you are lucky enough to buy wooden cutlery at a fair, or with your own hands,

then, following the joy of new things, you will think about what and how to process wooden utensils for food?

Various types of stains and varnishes are no longer needed; they are not at all suitable for processing wooden cutlery, as they can be harmful to health.

In any undertaking, it is better to rely on the advice and recommendations of craftsmen for whom the procedure of impregnating wood products has already become “native”. In the process of mastering different methods, you will probably settle on the one that is most suitable for you, or you will be able to develop your own unique method.

No matter how the processing recipes differ among different craftsmen, two main impregnation methods can be distinguished:

• Treating wooden utensils with oil (vegetable or linseed)
• Impregnation of wood products with mastic (oil mixed with beeswax)

How to evaluate the quality of mineral oil

When choosing mineral oil, there are certain requirements for the product. You should pay attention to the following quality parameters:

• Safety. The product must not release toxins when used. This is especially true for wooden products that are located in rooms with an unstable microclimate (high humidity, temperature fluctuations).
• Depth of penetration into the wood structure. Oil must be absorbed, unlike varnishes, glazes and a number of impregnations.
• Water-repellent qualities. A low-quality product will lead to rotting and rapid deterioration of products.
• The ratio of mineral and natural oils. It is desirable that the percentage of natural components be higher.
• Vapor permeability. High-quality oil should not create a film on the wood, since the main advantage of wood disappears - the ability to “breathe”.
• Transparency. As a result of application, the high-quality composition does not change the appearance of the wood (structure, color, pattern). But if you wish, you can add safe colors that will paint the surface of the object in the desired color.
• No smell. If the oil does not smell of anything, then it contains a minimal amount of chemicals.

When choosing a mineral product, be sure to read the manufacturer's recommendation!

How to prepare the mixture at home

It is not necessary to buy impregnation to protect the cutting board in the store; you can prepare the mixture yourself at home. To do this, you need to buy petroleum jelly at the pharmacy for internal use - it will not go rancid over time, it has no color, no taste, no smell. Vaseline oil is an excellent wood protectant, but a mixture of Vaseline and beeswax is considered the most effective. The beekeeping product is used clean, it is best to purchase it from trusted beekeepers. Since the cutting board is constantly in contact with food, the natural bee product cannot be replaced with paraffin or stearin under any circumstances.

A set of basic tools

To make a wooden spoon with your own hands you will need a minimum set of simple tools:

1. Knife
   . For wood carving, it is better to use a Bogorodsk knife. Its double-sided sharpening makes it equally convenient to work both “pull” and “pull”, and the narrow nose makes it possible to cut wood along internal lines.
2. Spoon cutter (scraper)
   . This is a chisel with a sharp bend, designed for scraping wood in recesses and working on the internal walls when carving dishes. An alternative to a spoon cutter can be a wide cranberry or a regular semicircular chisel.
3. Straight chisel
   – used for even cutting of solid wood from a workpiece.
4. Clamp
   – necessary for conveniently fixing a piece of wood.
5. 
   Roughing file
6. Stikhel
   is a thin steel cutter for creating decorative carvings on the handle.

The nuances of processing plywood boards for cutting food

Unlike wood, plywood cutting boards are made from several sheets of wood that are glued together. Multilayer plywood material can be very sensitive to water, since the adhesive has low moisture resistance. For this reason, the product is prone to swelling, mold formation, the appearance of microbes, and destruction. To improve performance, it is necessary to treat the cutting board with products, the selection of which must be approached extremely carefully.

The plywood product must be well protected from water penetration, otherwise it will quickly become unusable. In addition, toxic glue can enter the human body, causing harm to health. A waterproof layer on the surface of the board will be created by mineral oil with beeswax added to it. You need to treat the plywood board with a soft brush or roller. Impregnation is applied to the material along the fibers, with the product located in a horizontal position. Several layers must be applied to a new plywood board, the optimal number is 3. Each layer takes approximately 12 hours to dry. If excess product appears on the product during the soaking process, it should be carefully removed with a soft cloth. It is recommended to treat the surface once a month to ensure that the cutting board remains safe for people. When properly treated, a plywood cutting board will last a long time without changing its appearance and remaining safe.

What are wooden spoons made of?

What kind of wood is best to carve wooden utensils from? This important question worries all novice carvers. Best suited for carving spoons

blanks made from hard, but not splintered, hardwood - aspen, ash, maple, birch, elm, walnut, cherry or maple.

For beginner carvers

It's better to use linden. This wood is softer and lighter, has a uniform density and is well planed in all directions. For gaining experience and practicing basic carving skills, this is the most suitable material. Among other things, linden products are not prone to warping and do not emit tannins.

Coniferous trees are not suitable

for making spoons due to its high resin content and characteristic odor. Also avoid exotic tropical woods such as teak, which can be toxic.

You can use planks as a blank, or split the whole ridge deck into small logs. The first option is more practical, the second is more traditional. The orientation of the wood fibers in the workpiece determines the symmetry of the pattern of the spoon bowl as shown in the photo.

Popular mineral oils

Mineral oils are produced by many manufacturers, but it is rare to obtain a quality product. The most popular manufacturers are the following:

• RuChet-100. Russian-made mineral oil contains petroleum jelly, so it is used as a universal remedy. The product is completely safe and protects product surfaces for a long time. The product is mainly used for sharpening knife edges and for impregnating wooden or plywood cutting boards.
• Belinka-135. Produced by Russian manufacturers. It is characterized by depth of penetration and imparting a pleasant shine to wooden products. Protects kitchen utensils from destruction for a long time. Often used for household purposes.
• Hard Top Oil-265. Italian mineral oil is characterized by high wear resistance, long-term protection, and environmental safety. It has found application in processing both cutting boards made of wood and plywood, and for impregnating the handles of knives and butts of guns for hunting.

There are still many manufacturers of high-quality mineral oil for processing cutting boards and items that require protection. Impregnation products are sold in specialized stores and have instructions for proper use.

If you choose high-quality mineral oil and properly treat your cutting board, it will last for a long time. In this case, the product will be reliably protected from moisture penetration, the formation of harmful bacteria, the appearance of mold and mildew, cracking, and deformation. In addition, the use of effective products for wooden and plywood objects will preserve their original appearance for the entire period of operation.