How To Season A Cutting Board (Using Nontoxic Ingredients)

Last Updated on February 28, 2024 by Nico

Learning how to season a cutting board is simple and important to keeping your board well maintained. With a few common household ingredients, you can easily revitalise and preserve the quality of your cutting board.

A newly sealed wooden cutting board on a white background with a water drop in the corner.

Wooden cutting boards are a beautiful and more sustainable alternative to plastic cutting boards. But to keep your wooden board well maintained, it’s important to season it regularly. This will help to prevent the board from cracking and warping, and to ensure it lasts its full lifespan.

Table of Contents

What is the best oil for cutting boards?

There are a range of commercial seasoning products available today. Mineral oil is perhaps the most widely available option. However some of these seasoning products can contain harmful additives that can leach into your food when you use your cutting board.

Oils to stay away from

Canola Oil

Free radicals: Like many vegetable oils, canola oil is prone to oxidation when it is exposed to air, heat, and light. This means that the oil can go rancid relatively quickly. When the oil goes rancid, it can produce free radicals. When free radicals are consumed (which would happen if you use a chopping board seasoned with canola oil), they can damage cells in the body.
Bad smell: When canola oil goes rancid, it can produce an unpleasant scent.
Inflammatory: Canola oil has been linked to inflammation. Long-lasting inflammation can harm your body tissues and make you more likely to get sick. It can lead to problems like cancer, heart issues, and autoimmune diseases.
Environmental harms: The production of canola oil, which comes from rapeseed, involves the spraying of toxic herbicides on an industrial scale. Glyphosate is a common herbicide used on rapeseed and it has been linked to cancer, liver and kidney issues, and even neurological impairment.

Mineral Oil

Petroleum byproduct: Mineral oil is a byproduct that is created in the production of crude oil and other petroleum-based products. Food grade mineral oil is sold as “safe” for consumption in small quantities but there are limited studies and research is ongoing.

Olive Oil

Quick to go rancid: Olive oil is a vegetable oil and tends to go rancid relatively quickly, making it a poor choice of oil to use to season a cutting board
Bad smell: When olive oil goes bad it develops a musty smell.

Best oil for seasoning a cutting board

Coconut oil: the best choice!

Doesn’t go rancid quickly: Coconut oil has a high saturated fat content, predominantly lauric acid, which is more stable than unsaturated fats found in other oils.
Antimicrobial Properties: Lauric acid, which is found in coconut oil, has natural antimicrobial properties. Applying coconut oil to a wooden cutting board can help create a protective barrier against bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. This can contribute to maintaining a cleaner and more hygienic cutting surface.
Nontoxic: Coconut oil is a natural product and does not contain synthetic chemicals or additives.
Mild Flavour: Coconut oil has a mild flavour, which means it won’t give food a strong flavour.

A close up shot of a newly sealed wooden cutting board on a white background.

How To Season A Cutting Board

Supplies

Coconut Oil

Cloth

Small saucepan

Instructions

1. Wash and dry your board

Before seasoning your board make sure your board is completely clean. Wash your board with mild dish soap and warm water to remove any residue. Pat the board to dry and then let it air dry completely.

2. Prepare your oil

Melt your coconut oil in a small saucepan.

A wooden cutting board on a white background. There is a hand wiping coconut oil on the board to seal it.

3. Apply your oil

Pour a small amount of the oil in one section of the board. Use gentle circular motions to rub the oil into the wood. If you rub with the grain, the oil will soak into the wood more quickly.

Keep applying oil until the board is completely covered, including the edges and any handles.

A wooden cutting board on a white background with half the board sealed with coonut oil. The other half is still dry wood.

4. Let it soak

Let the board soak up the oil 5-6 hours or overnight.

5. Remove any excess oil

After the board has sat for many hours, use a cloth to wipe away any excess oil.

That’s it!

A close up of a wooden cutting board. Half has been recently sealed with coconut oil. The background is white.

FAQ

How to know if I need to season my cutting board?

If your board is looking dry or dull, it’s a good idea to season the board. You can also pour a few drops of water on the board. If the water soaks into the board, it likely needs to be seasoned. If it sits on top, the board is likely already well-seasoned.

An unsealed wooden cutting board with a water drop on it that is soaking into the board. It is on a white background. — Before sealing

A water drop on a freshly sealed wooden cutting board. The background is white. — After sealing

How much oil to use to season a cutting board?

Don’t worry about using too much. Once the board has sat for 5-6 hours or overnight, you can simply wipe away any excess oil.

Do you need to season a new cutting board?

You can test if the new board needs seasoning by adding a few drops of water to the board. If the water soaks in, go ahead and season it. You can also choose to re-season the board yourself. Wash it with mild soap and warm water, and allow it to dry. Then follow the steps above to re-season it.

How often do I need to season a cutting board?

Usually once every 1-2 months. If your board looks dry or dull, it’s time to season it.