Why You Should Never Use Cooking Oil on Wooden Cutting Boards | Safe Cutting Board Care
Learn why regular cooking oils like olive, vegetable, and canola oil can damage wooden cutting boards. Discover the best food‑safe oils for conditioning wood and keeping your cutting board sanitary, durable, and long‑lasting
Cutting boards—especially wooden ones—are essential tools in any kitchen. They endure constant chopping, moisture, and cleaning, so proper maintenance is crucial. Unfortunately, one of the most common myths is also one of the most damaging:
“Just oil your cutting board with whatever cooking oil you have at home.”
It sounds simple, but it can ruin your board over time. Here’s why.
🛑 1. Cooking Oils Turn Rancid Quickly
Regular cooking oils like olive, vegetable, canola, sunflower, and corn oil oxidize fast. As they break down, they become rancid, producing:
- Sour, unpleasant odors
- Sticky residue
- A surface that traps bacteria
Once rancid oil penetrates the wood fibers, the smell is extremely difficult to remove.
🧫 2. Rancid Oils Create a Bacteria‑Friendly Surface
When cooking oils spoil, they become tacky. This sticky layer:
- Holds onto food particles
- Retains moisture
- Encourages bacterial growth
- Makes the board harder to clean
A cutting board should be smooth, dry, and sanitary—not gummy.
🥜 3. Some Cooking Oils Can Trigger Allergies
Nut‑based oils (like walnut oil) are sometimes recommended for wood, but they can be dangerous in households with allergies. Even trace amounts can cause reactions.
✔️What you should use on Cutting Boards
To keep your cutting board healthy and long‑lasting, choose oils that are food‑safe, non‑rancid, or designed for wood conditioning.
Best Options for Cutting Board Care
Food‑Grade Mineral Oil or Fractionated Coconut Oil
- Doesn’t go rancid
- Affordable
- Deeply penetrates wood fibers
Beeswax + Mineral Oil Blends or Beeswax + Fractionated Coconut Oil Blends
- Adds a protective topcoat
- Helps repel water
- Leaves a silky, smooth finish
Specialized Cutting Board Conditioners
- Formulated for kitchen wood
- Long‑lasting protection
- Ideal for heavy‑use boards
🧰 How to Properly Oil Your Cutting Board
Step‑by‑Step Guide
- Clean and dry the board thoroughly.
- Apply a generous layer of food‑grade mineral oil, or fractionated coconut Oil. (Fractionated Coconut Oil does NOT go rancid.)
- Let it soak into the board overnight. Make sure the cutting board dries upright on its side.
- Wipe off any excess.
- Optional: Apply our Mineral Oil and Beeswax or Coconut Oil and Beeswax Blend for extra protection.
Repeat monthly—or more often if you use the board daily.
🌟 Final Thoughts
Your cutting board is more than a kitchen tool—it’s an investment in your cooking and your health. Treating it with the right oil keeps it beautiful, durable, and safe for years to come.
Regular cooking oils may seem convenient, but they cause far more harm than good. With proper care, your wooden cutting board will stay smooth, sanitary, and ready for every meal you create.