bread boards and cheese boards

[hammer n nails]

i am going to make a bread board and cheese board for the wife but what finish should i put on it to make it food safe and be able to wipe with soapy water some sort of oil or sealant?

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Years ago, the traditional timber for dairy shelving was sycamore, left unfinished. (I think it was used for butchers' blocks, too.)

About 25 years ago, I used a piece of sycamore for the kitchen chopping board. Again, no finish. The only cleaning it gets is a good wipe down with a dishcloth and soapy water after use, and it just seems to eat stains. So I'd go with plane, scrape, sand and leave it at that.

 

[CHJ]

i am going to make a bread board and cheese board for the wife but what finish should i put on it to make it food safe and be able to wipe with soapy water some sort of oil or sealant?

None, wood such as Beech and Sycamore are naturally food safe, if you must use oil, use Liquid Paraffin BP.

 

[hammer n nails]

i was going to use oak as i have some nice bits but will have a look through my wood pile and see if i have some Beech or Sycamore

 

[CHJ]

When considering any wood for a project, have a think back to how many times you have seen it used for the same purpose.

Preferred woods have a habit of finding an accepted norm over past millennia.

 

[hammer n nails]

I agree with what you say but have seen lots of oak breadboards just wanted to know what oil is best for oak that is food safe walnut oil has been suggested

 

[mn pete]

Oak is very open pored, so small food particles will collect...assuming you're talking about an endgrain board.

We've always used a light coat of mineral oil on ours.

 

[CHJ]

I agree with what you say but have seen lots of oak breadboards just wanted to know what oil is best for oak that is food safe walnut oil has been suggested

Nut oils are not a good idea on food preparation utensils, some can go rancid but more importantly there is always the problem of preparing food for folks with nut allergies, you may not know of any within your household but visitors can be at risk.

 

[hammer n nails]

yes should have thought about nut allergies will go with mineral oil thanks

 

[andersonec]

Rustins chopping board oil, Osmo top oil.........

Andy

 

[cambournepete]

Vegetable oil (cheap stuff).
Works well on my boards

 

[devonwoody]

Vegetable oil (cheap stuff).
Works well on my boards

Hi Pete.

Have you posted your arrival and news on the forum? Hope all is going well.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

When considering any wood for a project, have a think back to how many times you have seen it used for the same purpose.

Preferred woods have a habit of finding an accepted norm over past millennia.

I've seen loads of oak bread boards, but bread is dry - I wouldn't like to trust the open grain of oak too be germ free when cutting wet stuff. That's why chopping boards tend to be made of much tighter grained timbers.

 

[Harbo]

My bread board is oak, my chopping boards in sycamore or beech.
No need for any oils - just scrub them in hot soapy water.

Rod

 

[Steve Maskery]

My breadboard is elm, my chopping board maple. Neither has ever had any finish on it. I've been using them daily for 20 years and have lived to tell the tale.
S

 

[Charlie Woody]

Has anyone tried using Chestnut Food Safe Finish http://chestnutproducts.co.uk/results.php?cat=Oils and if so what do they think of it please?