Most people treat their wooden utensils, wooden salad bowls and wooden cutting boards like some ordinary kitchenware. Not a lot of people seem to think that they are items to be cared for; they spend more time caring for their metal kitchen implements than the ones made of wood. But taking care of your wooden kitchenware is important so that they can last a long time and to preserve their strength and beauty.

Seasoning your wooden kitchenware

Before using your wooden kitchenware for the first time, it is important to season them first. Seasoning is the process of treating your wooden bowls, cutting boards, spoons and other utensils with food-safe oil to prevent them from cracking over time. Use an oil preserver like mineral oil or bee’s oil made from beeswax. You are discouraged from using spoilable types of oils like vegetable oil because they can cause bacteria to grow within the tiny crevices of the wood.

Mix just a couple of tablespoons of oil with a couple of teaspoons of salt or just enough to allow you to massage the oil and salt mixture all over your kitchenware items using a piece of cloth. Let the treated kitchenware sit for a few hours in order for the oil to seep deeper into them. After this, you can wipe your bowls, cutting boards and utensils with dry paper towel to remove any excess oil that has not been absorbed.

Cleaning your wooden kitchenware

First, you may wash your wooden kitchenware as you normally would all your other kitchen implements. Start by washing your cutting board, salad bowls and utensils with a safe and natural dishwashing soap like BabyGanics’ Dish Dazzler Foaming Dish and Bottle Soap and rinsing them with warm water. Air-dry your wooden kitchenware and afterwards, you can rub them with a lemon cut in half and some coarse table salt. Rinse them with warm water afterwards, and air-dry again.

To preserve the strength of your wooden kitchenware, always make sure to wipe them after washing. Not a lot of them are safe for drying in the dishwasher so always read manufacturer’s recommendations first. Always store them in a dry, cool place because constant exposure to heat, moisture or humidity can cause them to break easily.