Food-safe Finish

[Mark Hulette]

This is a follow-up on a previous post concerning gift ideas for a small production run.

I'm making several (20+) cutting boards as gifts and need advice on a good food-safe finish. All recipes are welcome. Thanks!

[Steve Cox]

I use mineral oil. Cheap, easy to apply, easy to re-apply, find it everywhere. The board can have an oily feeling for awhile after application but again, it is very easy cleanup. Buy it in the laxative section of your local drugstore.

[Ed Hardin]

All present day finishes once completely cured are food safe. However, with cutting boards, there is a recipe that I use. 9 parts mineral oil, found at drug store or grocery store plus one (1) part parifin, also found in grocery store, usually in canning supplies. Be careful in melting the parifin as it will readily burn. I usually put the mixture in the sun to complete the process.

If you would rather do without the parifin, just wipe the boards down with mineral oil. It will soak in and do great and the persons getting the boards will simply have to rub in mineral oil from time to time to keep it fresh. DO NOT use vegetable oil. It will spoil. Hope this helps.

[David Wilson]

ditto on the mineral oil

[Mark Hulette]

Thanks guys!

You read my mind when you advised where to buy it!

Just a couple of follow up Qs:

1. How many coats for an effective seal and if more than one, how long between coats?
2. What's the working temperature?

Thanks again for all your help...

[Norman Hitt]

The previous replies are right on, but thought you might want to read a little more on the subject, including a link to a test about kitchen sterilization with Vinegar. If so, go to:

http://www.what's cooking america.net/CuttingBoards/AllAbout.htm

It's a good read.............Norm

[Jim Becker]

How many coats for an effective seal and if more than one, how long between coats?

Mineral oil does not seal nor cure...it penetrates. The first two weeks you generally apply it every other day. The next two weeks you apply it twice a week. After that weekly for a month and then monthly or as needed. Some folks do not apply it this often...

What's the working temperature?.

Room temp unless you are using the mineral oil/paraffin combination which is applied hot. For that, you heat it in a double container/water bath until the paraffin melts.

[Charlie Plesums]

... you might want to read a little more on the subject... http://www.what's cooking america.net/CuttingBoards/AllAbout.htm

For the link to work you must lose the apostrophe in "what's" and the spaces, giving
www.whatscookingamerica.net/CuttingBoards/AllAbout.htm

If you are planning Christmas gifts, you might want to only put on a small amount of oil, so it looks nice, and wipe most of it off, but include a "care and feeding" instruction sheet. When we first made cutting boards for gifts, the oil was new enough that it stained the gift wrap. We ended up putting the boards in plastic before wrapping them.

Charlie

[John M. Cioffi]

Hi ALl,

Could shelac work as a 1st application & then mineral spirits, or something as a top coat?

Thanks for replies.

John

[Jim Becker]

Could shelac work as a 1st application & then mineral spirits, or something as a top coat?

Shellac would be "the" finish...and it's fine for the purpose EXCEPT that you'll cut right though it and the board will start to look lousy. That's why film finishes are not suggested for cutting boards, etc. "Mineral spirits" is a solvent. "Mineral Oil", the suggested "finish" for a cutting board does not cure; it soaks in and helps the piece to look good and stand up to washing...which should not be with soap; just warm water. You cannot put mineral oil over a film finish...it will just sit on top.

[Mark Hulette]

If you are planning Christmas gifts, you might want to only put on a small amount of oil, so it looks nice, and wipe most of it off, but include a "care and feeding" instruction sheet.

Charlie

That's exactly what I'm planning on doing. I was going to cut & paste a card from the aforementioned website.

Here's the whole scoop: I'm making these maple cutting boards and my wife is making Amish Friendship bread from a starter (small loaves). I was planning on putting the bread on the cutting board and wrapping in cellophane.

Will I have enough time to apply the mineral oil and it be "dry" enough to do this?

[Jim Becker]

Mark, wrap the bread separately first and then wrap them together. The mineral oil does not "dry"...ever...it just soaks into the wood, but will likely still be on the surface enough to affect the bread.

[Mark Hulette]

Mark, wrap the bread separately first and then wrap them together. The mineral oil does not "dry"...ever...it just soaks into the wood, but will likely still be on the surface enough to affect the bread.

Jim- good idea! Thanks for the heads up... don't want to be giving away soggy bread!!

[Jim Becker]

Bread and mineral oil would NOT make the consuming person very happy....

[Mark Hulette]

Yeah- isn't it some form of laxative!!!!???

Not a pleasant thought. Although... NAH better not.