Why You Should Clean Your Cutting Board
Clean your cutting board after each use. Aside from the need to clean any surface you use for food prep, cut marks and scratches from knives on materials such as wood, composite and plastic and the porous nature of materials such as wood and even marble give bacteria a good place to grow.
Your cutting board should come with cleaning instructions that you should follow, but here are some quick tips for cleaning different types of cutting boards.
Cleaners for Cutting Boards
Some types of cutting boards are dishwasher safe so all you need is dishwasher detergent, but some require cleaning by hand. Your cutting board instructions should specify the cleaners that are suitable for your board so always follow those recommendations. Here are ingredients homeowners often use in common cutting board cleaning solutions:
You’ll also need a soft sponge or microfiber cloth and paper towels. Food-grade mineral oil is necessary for long-term care of wood and marble cutting boards.
How to Wash Wooden Cutting Boards and Bamboo Cutting Boards
Wood cutting boards aren’t dishwasher safe, but washing a wooden cutting board in a sink of dish soap and hot water is a good method for general cleaning. Pay special attention to the cuts and grooves that can harbor bacteria and be sure to dry the board thoroughly. You can also deep clean a wooden cutting board with do-it-yourself wood cutting board cleaners.
- If you’ve used the cutting board for any type of raw meat, you need a bleach solution of one tablespoon of unscented chlorine bleach in a gallon of water.
- For general cleaning and odor reduction, you can use a 1:3 solution of white vinegar and water.
Steps for Cleaning a Wood or Bamboo Cutting Board
- Create your wood cutting board cleaning solution.
- Apply the solution to the wood cutting board. Be sure to work it into any grooves or nicks in the wood. Let it sit for a few minutes.
- Rinse the wooden cutting board with clean water.
- Pat the wood surface of the cutting board dry with paper towels. Excess moisture will warp the wood.
- Allow the wood cutting board to air dry.
While bleach will kill bacteria, the porous nature of wood cutting boards make them difficult to sanitize completely and bleach may damage or discolor wood over time. Consider using a plastic or glass cutting board for working with raw meat to make sanitizing easier. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests designating one cutting board for raw meat and another for produce and bread.
How to Remove Stains and Odors From a Wood Cutting Board
If your wood cutting board is holding odors or has stains, lemon juice and coarse salt might be the solution. Simply sprinkle kosher salt on the surface and scrub it over the board with half of a lemon. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
Wooden Cutting Board Care
Conditioning a wood cutting board once a month can help keep it from drying out and extend the life of the material. Apply food-grade mineral oil to the board with a clean microfiber cloth. Let the cutting board sit overnight and then wipe away the excess mineral oil with a clean cloth.
How to Clean a Plastic Cutting Board
Some plastic cutting boards are dishwasher safe, but regular exposure to the heat in a dishwasher might cause the plastic to warp over time. You can wash a plastic cutting board in the sink with hot, soapy water, paying special attention to any cuts or nicks on the board. These imperfections can hold bacteria so they need to be cleaned thoroughly.
If your plastic cutting board needs a deeper clean, try one of a couple of different homemade plastic cutting board cleaners:
- A cleaning solution of a tablespoon of bleach and a gallon of water can sanitize a cutting board. Sanitize a plastic cutting board after using it to cut raw meat.
- A paste of baking soda and vinegar can clean and deodorize a plastic cutting board.
Steps for Cleaning a Plastic Cutting Board With a DIY Cleaner
- Mix your plastic cutting board cleaning solution.
- Wipe the board down with the bleach solution or apply the baking soda paste to the board. Be sure to work the cleaner into cuts and nicks in the plastic.
- Set the cutting board aside for a few minutes to allow the cleaner to work.
- If you used the baking soda mixture, wash the board with soapy water.
- Rinse the cutting board thoroughly in running water and allow it to dry.
How to Remove Stains From a Plastic Cutting Board
If your plastic cutting board is stained, apply a mixture of equal parts baking soda, salt and water. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes, wash it away with soap and water, then rinse and dry.
How to Clean a Glass Cutting Board
Not all glass cutting boards are dishwasher safe, so check the product care instructions. You can hand wash a glass cleaning board in hot, soapy water.
Like wood and plastic boards, you can sanitize a glass cutting board after using it to cut raw meat by cleaning it with a tablespoon of unscented chlorine bleach mixed in a gallon of water.
Steps for Cleaning a Glass Cutting Board
- Mix your glass cleaning board solution.
- Wipe the glass cutting board thoroughly with the bleach solution. If the glass surface is textured, be sure to wipe it thoroughly.
- Set the board aside for a few minutes to allow the bleach to sanitize the surface.
- Rinse the glass surface of the cutting board thoroughly and allow the cutting board to air dry.
How to Clean a Marble Cutting Board
The best way to clean a marble cutting board is to handwash it with mild dish soap and warm water. Scrub it thoroughly with a soft dish cloth or sponge. Avoid any drastic temperature changes, such as putting a cold marble cutting board into very hot water. Some marble cutting boards have wood or metal elements so take this into consideration when planning your cleaning steps.
How to Care for a Marble Cutting Board
- Food-grade mineral oil can return the glossy look to a marble cutting board if the marble has dulled or lost its color over time. Apply, allow it to sit overnight and then wipe away any excess mineral oil with a microfiber cloth.
- Using a marble sealer according to the product instructions protects a marble cutting board from damage.
When to Replace a Cutting Board
Even if you clean them regularly, cutting boards, particularly wood and plastic boards, wear over time and need periodic replacement. If a cutting board has excessive cuts, scuffs and scratches or if you can’t get a cutting board looking clean, it’s time to replace it.