Cleaning a Butcher Block Cutting Board

[judyjht]

I have an old Jenn Air stove/grill and have a cutting board that fits over the grill - it is really gruimy and needs to be thoroughly cleaned and maybe re-oiled or whatever you do to trhem?? What do I do - if anyone knows - Tuiggers will know!

 

[MULTIZ321]

Cutting Block Cleaning Care and Repair

Care and Cleaning of Butcher Blocks and Wooden Cutting Boards - from University of Wisconsin


Richard

 

[pjrose]

If it's pretty grungy/gooky, you'll need to scrub it first - I'd put a bit of water and detergent on it and get working with a scrub brush. I know water and detergent aren't good for the wood - I certainly wouldn't soak it - but the grunge has to come off. Vinegar might also help.

Once it's dry, use oil as suggested above. Some may say to put on some kind of finish like varnish etc; if the goal is to use it, you won't want anything non-edible to end up in your food.

I definitely wouldn't cut raw meat on it, but I wouldn't hesitate to cut vegetables and fruits and bread - that's what a cutting board is for! Yes it will get scratches, but to me that shows a well-used and well-loved item.

I have a wood cutting board that is at least 50 years old. I use it every day, wipe it down with a damp sponge, and occasionally dunk it in a sink full of water and bleach for a few minutes. I don't bother with the oil though I probably should. My father was the cook in our family and this was his favorite board. I often think of him and his joy in cooking when I use it and see the many many cut marks and dings.

 

[ScoopKona]

Forget the scrubbing. It's made of wood.

Break out a sander. Sand it down to bare wood, then finish with mineral oil. There's probably someone in your neighborhood who owns a drum sander. It's a 10 second job if you have access to one.

 

[pjrose]

Re sanding - if it's really gummy, won't it just glom up the sandpaper?

When I used to use wooden salad bowls, if they were gunky I'd use steel wool (not the soapy kind) and oil.

 

[ScoopKona]

Re sanding - if it's really gummy, won't it just glom up the sandpaper?

When I used to use wooden salad bowls, if they were gunky I'd use steel wool (not the soapy kind) and oil.

If it was REALLY gummy, I'd use a card scraper to get the worst off, then run it though my sander. There's an amateur woodworker on just about every block in North America who has the tools to make this an easy task.

 

[Arnie]

try this!!!

I used to hang around an old butcher shop a lot of years ago. The old German guy used to give me the ends of the baloney sticks. They were homemade back then.
Anyway, he used to clean his block with salt and a wire brush. would use at least 3 or 4 lbs of salt back then. But he was doing a lot of cutting.
get a good wire brush and you can prob use table salt.

 

[javabean]

I use a paste made of baking soda and a little water. It is a bit abrasive, has no detergent, removes any odors, is natural and it just makes me feel like I am doing something to get into the grooves and grain of the wood. This suggestion has no basis in fact, it is just what I do to make me feel like I am doing something so I don't have to get rid of all my favorite cutting boards. I do try and keep boards for meat and vegetables separate.