Board Care | Old Dogs Workshop

General Board Care

Hand-washing in warm soapy water and towel drying is recommended.
Boards are not dishwasher safe.
Do not leave the boards to soak in water for any length of time, or to leave liquids on them for extended periods.
Never submerge cutting or serving boards.
Store all cutting and serving boards in a cool dry place.
Refrain from using olive oil, canola oil or other fermentable food-based oils to condition the board.
Boards may experience 'raised grain' if the finish wears off: this is where the wood feels rough because the water used has raised the grain of the wood. Use 220 grit, or higher, sandpaper to bring it back to that smooth finish and condition with food safe mineral oil and beeswax.
Use a high-grit sandpaper to buff out any scratches and condition with food safe mineral oil and beeswax.

Charcuterie Board Care

Charcuterie or Cheese Boards are typically face grain boards and are best as serving boards because they are more susceptible to knife marks and warping with changes in humidity. Shallow scratches and scars may be buffed out with high-grit sandpaper and using food grade Mineral Oil/ Wax can usually bring back the intensity of the wood color and grain. We recommend every 3-4 weeks dependent on frequency of use. For any twisting or warping, lay flat with crown side up for as long as it takes to correct. For additional correction, try using a heavy item in the middle of the board to coax it to flat.

Stain & Odor Removal

Pour a little coarse kosher salt on 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. If you experience 'raised grain', where the wood feels rough, after these treatments use 220 grit, or higher, sandpaper to bring it back to that smooth finish and condition with food safe mineral oil and beeswax.