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Wooden cutting boards need a little TLC every now and then, but not just any oil will do for maintenance. When shopping for the best cutting board oils, opt for a food-grade mineral oil or a fractionated coconut oil. You can also find cutting board conditioners that pack an extra punch of hydration.
What To Look For In A Cutting Board Oil
Mineral oil is the standard for conditioning wooden cutting boards (as well as wooden cooking spoons and bowls) for its resistance to oxidation and odorless, flavorless nature. Be sure to look for food-grade mineral oil or oil labeled as USP grade, which is processed to pharmaceutical standards and is also food-grade.
Some cooks may prefer a petroleum-free alternative to mineral oil, but you want to be careful to choose an oil that won’t absorb into the wood and potentially turn rancid like most cooking oils will. Fractionated coconut oil can moisturize a wooden cutting board without going rancid, and no, it won’t make your food taste like coconut.
Shop The Best Cutting Board Oils
In a hurry? These are the best cutting board oils:
- The Overall Best Cutting Board Oil: Thirteen Chefs Food Grade Mineral Oil, 12 Oz.
- The Best Coconut Oil For Cutting Boards: Majestic Pure Fractionated Coconut Oil, 16 Oz.
- The Best Value Cutting Board Oil: UltraPro Food Grade Mineral Oil, 128 Oz.
- Also Great: The Best Cutting Board Conditioner For Added Hydration: Howard Products Butcher Block Conditioner, 12 Oz.
Any of the oils below will hydrate your wood and in doing so make them less permeable to water or stains, which also helps keep bacteria at bay. With all this in mind, below are the best cutting board oils, including a moisturizing conditioner that incorporates oils and wax for extra hydration.
1. The Overall Best Cutting Board Oil
The overall best cutting board oil for keeping wood in tip-top shape is this food-grade, USP-grade mineral oil. This particular bottle has a near-perfect 4.8-star overall rating after more than 28,000 reviews, and shoppers have commented it’s easy to use and that a little bit of product goes a long way. The squeeze bottle and cap make it easy to quickly season your board.
Looking to stock up? Snag the cutting board oil in a half-gallon or gallon size. You can apply this mineral oil to any kind of wood utensil or bowl to keep it from cracking and drying. You can even use it on marble, granite, and stainless steel appliances, countertops, or other kitchen tools to keep them looking like new.
One reviewer wrote: “This oil was so easy to spread over my new board and really soaked in overnight. After wiping the excess with a paper towel, I was really pleased to find no oily, greasy feel to the board.”
Type: Food-grade mineral oil
2. The Best Coconut Oil For Cutting Boards
The best coconut oil for cutting board maintenance is fractionated for long shelf life and a permanent ready-to-use liquid state. It’s also surprisingly odorless when compared to standard coconut oils at the grocery store, according to reviewers. With over 28,000 reviews, one shopper commented, “I bought this fractionated coconut oil to season my bamboo cutting boards and to cook with. It works nicely for that and I’ve been experimenting with it for other things too.” It’s also a multitasking dynamo: Beyond moisturizing wooden boards, reviewers have used it as a lotion, makeup remover, and carrier oil for essential oil blends.
One reviewer wrote: “Applied the oil to wooden boards. Did an awesome job.”
Type: Fractionated coconut oil
Also available on: Walmart, $17
3. The Best Value Cutting Board Oil
For under $25, you’re all set for keeping any wooden cutting boards in excellent condition with this big jug of food-grade mineral oil. One reviewer commented that this gallon of highly rated mineral oil is a lifetime supply for oiling cutting boards. Other shoppers have raved about the unbeatable value of this pick and claimed that they love using it to keep their stainless steel and other surfaces gleaming like new.
One reviewer wrote: “I received my UltraPro mineral oil yesterday afternoon and applied it to all my wooden cutting boards and left it on overnight. Wiped them down this morning. WOW! They almost look new now, except for the cut marks from many many years of usage [...] Oh, and the application was very easy. Pour a little on and wipe it around.”
Type: Food-grade mineral oil
Also available on: Walmart, $42
Also Great: The Best Cutting Board Conditioner For Added Hydration
Once you start oiling your cutting boards, you might get really into keeping them at their best. If that’s the case with you, follow up the oil with butcher block conditioner for added protection and hydration of your wooden cutting boards. In this formula, USP-grade mineral oil is combined with beeswax for extra conditioning and wood protection, vitamin E, and carnauba wax for additional resistance to water and durability. Got stubborn knife marks on your board? This highly rated creamy conditioner helps minimize those and creates a better seal on the board to retain moisture and prevent new knife marks.
One reviewer wrote: “This stuff is great, deeply penetrates, and will help my board last for years if not a life time. Just remember you have to reapply during the life of the board. No scent at all, and very easy to apply.”
Type: USP-grade mineral oil
Also available on: Walmart, $15, and Ace Hardware, $10
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