Your Simple Guide to Cleaning Bamboo Cutting Boards

Bamboo cutting boards are a fantastic addition to any kitchen. They are not only durable and gentle on knives but also lightweight, beautiful, and ideal for various cooking and serving tasks. With proper care, a bamboo cutting board can last a lifetime. However, they do require a bit more TLC than plastic cutting boards.

In this article, we will provide you with comprehensive information on how to clean and care for your bamboo cutting board.

Cleaning Your Bamboo Cutting Board

1. What Not to Do: Bamboo cutting boards are relatively non-porous and don't absorb water or moisture from foods easily. However, it's still crucial to avoid soaking your cutting board in water or letting it sit with meat juices on it. Cleaning your bamboo cutting board in the dishwasher is another big no-no. Extended exposure to moisture and heat may cause your bamboo cutting board to split.
2. Proper Cleaning: Cleaning your bamboo cutting board is quite easy! After use, simply hand wash your board with dish soap and hot water. Be sure to rinse it well. To dry the board, use a towel to wipe away any excess moisture. Then, stand the board upright and allow it to continue drying for several hours or overnight before using it again. We recommend using a drying rack, like the 7-Slot Bamboo Rack, so air can circulate around all sides of the board. Once your board is completely dry, it's ready to be stored or used again.

Disinfecting Your Bamboo Cutting Board

1. White Vinegar: Pure white vinegar is great to use when disinfecting your bamboo cutting board. First, clean your board with dish soap and water. Then, wipe the board with the white vinegar using a cloth. Be sure to thoroughly rinse your board with water before drying.
2. Bleach Solution: If a stronger disinfectant is needed, mix one teaspoon of bleach with two quarts of water and follow the same process.
3. Natural Disinfectant: For a more natural disinfectant, try using lemon juice and salt. Generously sprinkle salt over the surface of your clean cutting board. Cut a fresh lemon in half and use it to work the salt into the surface. The salt will lift tough stains and food particles out of any cracks, grooves, or cuts in the cutting board, and the lemon will leave it smelling fresh.

Oiling Your Bamboo Cutting Board

To extend the life of your bamboo cutting board and keep it looking new, oil it at least once per month. To do this, apply mineral oil directly to the surface of your board and rub it in with a cloth.

Let the oil sit on the cutting board and soak in for at least a few hours, ideally overnight. Then, wipe off any remaining oil from the surface and allow the board to fully dry before using. You shouldn't use anything other than food-grade mineral oil to oil your bamboo cutting board.

Other types of oil—like vegetable, olive, or avocado oil—will eventually go rancid and cause your cutting board to have an unpleasant smell.

Bonus Tips

• Disinfect your board after cutting raw meat or smelly foods like onions and garlic.
• Clean your cutting board immediately after you’ve finished using it.
• If you don’t use your cutting board often, then it’s okay to oil it less frequently.
• If you live in a dry climate, then you may have to oil your board more frequently.
• Consider owning more than one cutting board, so you have one for cutting meat and another for fruits and vegetables, for example.