Regular maintenance and care can help you get the most mileage from your wooden cutting board. Seasoning your board when you first bring it home is the first step.
Wood is naturally porous, so slathering it with a barrier of protective finish keeps it food-safe against bacteria or excess moisture and even prevents splinters, chips, or cracks.
Start by washing, rinsing, and completely drying your board. Then, grab a food-grade mineral oil and pour a generous slug over the entire board, saturating it completely.
Grab a dish towel or kitchen rag you won't miss and rub the oil into the wooden surface in a firm circular motion. Cover the entire area, following the direction of the grain.
The board will absorb the standing oil in about 10 minutes, but allow at least four hours or ideally overnight for total absorption. Then, flip it over and season the other side.
To maintain, repeat this process using less oil roughly once a month or once a fiscal quarter, depending on how often you put your cutting board to use.