Feb 21 2007
How To Wax A Wood Cutting Board
- Wash the wood cutting board well and rinse in a sink of hot water with a splash of bleach.
- Dry the board as best you can, then let sit overnight to ensure there is no moisture left in the wood.
- Pour melted paraffin wax over the board with enough wax to cover it completely.
- Now iron the wax into the board using an old iron.
- The wax will seal the cutting board and any cracks to protect it from bacteria and stains being absorbed in the wood.
- Leave cutting board aside for another night before using.
- Repeat this process whenever you notice bare spots in the wood.
Once you’ve completely waxed the cutting board, rub the heated iron on an old towel to remove the wax.
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Posted in Kitchen Tips | 
( 4 )
21 Feb 2007 at 2:02 pm
I have a bamboo cutting board, so I don’t know if I need to wax it.
Would waxing be mainly for softer woods, which will form crevices for bacteria?
22 Feb 2007 at 1:58 am
Hi Lionel, I’m not familiar with bamboo cutting boards so I can’t say whether this would help or not. You’re right, this waxing process is for woods that form cracks and nics and seals those against bacteria.
01 Mar 2007 at 4:04 pm
There is no need to wax a wood cutting board. Wood has a natural ability to deter bacterial growth. See here:
naturalhandyman.com
or do a search with the keywords “wood cutting boards and bacteria”.
Also, wouldn’t the wax leav a slight residue or odour / taste to your food.
Admin Edit: Andii I just added text to the link to shorten it, everything else is as you wrote it.
01 Mar 2007 at 4:33 pm
Thanks for that link Andii, interesting! No the wax doesn’t affect the food at all with residue or odor that I’ve noticed.