Charcuterie Board Care Instructions

The dos and don’ts of charcuterie board maintenance


 

 DO 

Do clean with dish soap and water

Do dry off thoroughly with a towel after rinsing, rather than leaving in the dish rack 

Do oil regularly. First clean your board thoroughly, then treat it with the oil indicated on the instructions that came with your board, which will be one of the following:

  • Hope’s 100% Pure Tung Oil - reapply this oil (be sure to use the kind that has no petroleum distillates or mineral spirits), or food-grade mineral oil, hemp oil, or flaxseed oil

  • Odie’s Oil - a board treated with Odie’s Oil shouldn’t need much attention, but when it does, refresh with a light coat of Odie’s Oil. If you’re near Ashland, MA, email me and I may have some extra oil to spare (but no promises)

  • Mineral oil and bee’s wax - apply a coat of food-grade butcher block oil or food-grade mineral oil such as can commonly be found at pharmacies. Allow to soak in for a few minutes, then buff with a lint-free cloth. You can then apply a food-grade butcher block wax or food-grade bee’s wax for extra protection.

Do use food-grade wax for extra protection if necessary

Do eliminate smells and bacteria with kosher salt and lemon halves or vinegar with baking soda

If the board is feeling rough, do use a very fine grade sandpaper (400-800 grit) to smooth it out and re-oil

 

 DON’T

Don’t clean your board in the dishwasher - this will ruin the board 

Don’t use abrasive cleaners

Don’t soak your board in water

Don’t treat your board with vegetable or olive oils

Don’t store your board in a closed space with no air flow