How to finish cutting board

[blaine121001]

Hey all, I've just got my hands on a new bamboo wood butchers block from Argos. I've checked that it's untreated. What's the best place where I can buy food grade mineral oil? Boots/Screwfix or which other places might have it?

I've also looked at getting tung oil but apparently it needs to be mixed with some solvents? Any advice on that would be much appreciated.

 

[SkinnyB]

I would recommend Mineral Oil and Board wax.
Check my signature.

 

[Oakay]

I wouldn't be too fussy, give it a bit of a pan-scouring, slap some sunflower oil or any other cooking oil on it and give it a good rub. Leave to dry and use. Repeat as often as you feel like it. It's for food preparation after all so unlikely to stay pristine for long as will require regular cleaning and scrubbing.

 

[Essex Barn Workshop]

Please don't use sunflower oil. A quick google search affirms what I had thought:

Olive oil, corn oil, and sunflower oil should NOT be used to maintain a cutting board or butcher block. These oils will go rancid. It is very dangerous, as it is a process that yields a rank smell and unpleasant taste. As a cutting board touches your food, substances that can turn rancid should be avoided.
I make my own wax finish from bees wax and mineral oil, and when I researched there doesn't seem to be any discernable difference between food grade mineral oil, but do check that it is food safe. I am NOT currently selling my wax finish, but may do soon.

 

[okeydokey]

For mineral oil in the UK are we are talking about unscented baby oil which is cheap or is it best to buy a branded product specifically designed for wooden chopping boards?

 

[robgul]

I use this https://chestnutproducts.co.uk/product/food-safe-finish/ - excellent

 

[--Tom--]

I’ve always used it pharmaceutical grade min oil

Odd they describe bamboo as wood. It’s an edge killer on knives so be prepared to sharpen a bit more regularly.

 

[brittonc]

On a new board, I give 4 coats of mineral oil and then finish with a board wax. Then every few months, give a coat of the wax again and the boards look great.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0913LY1W8?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09CX4L9PK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

 

[Essex Barn Workshop]

This is the mineral oil I bought:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0D3Q45ZW1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[benitod]

I use baby mineral oil, such as Okeydokey followed by two or three coats of Howard Clear Food-grade Mineral Interior Butcher.