oil for cutting board?

[Jonathan Flachman]

I had heard that you should not use cooking oil (vegetable, olive, etc) for oiling cutting boards because it will go rancid. What other oils are safe for food prep?

[Todd Burch]

Editble Mineral Oil. I buy Norton brand. They call it sharpening oil, but listed on the front it is also marked "kitchen safe."

DID YOU KNOW... that mineral oil is a natural laxative? Just thought I'ld throw that in there.

Behlens (I think) also sells a product called "Salad Bowl Finish." It's most likely mineral oil.

Todd.

[Diane Maluso]

I've used mineral oil quite successfully, too. for a while I was finishing some bowls with that Behlen's finish that Todd mentioned but plain mineral oil was better. BTW, Bill Grumbine taught me a great way to wetsand bowls on the lathe using mineral oil. It really soaks in and stands up well.

Diane

[Jonathan Flachman]

Perfect. For now, its just the cutting board that came with the cabinets in our new house, but I also have an old cutting board that LOML made when she was young. Whoever helped her do it put tung oil on it. I think I may scrape that all off and put the mineral oil on that too.

One more question, I don't know what glue was used on this old one, but I suspect white or yellow glue. Over time it is coming apart at some joints. Is there a better glue that is foodsafe? I know PU glue is better for things that will be wet (washed repeatedly) but I don't know if it is foodsafe.

[Brad Hammond]

and yes to the laxative question. been giving horses mineral oil for colic for years......they hate it.
lol
cya
brad

[Todd Burch]

to quote Dr. Seuss... :-)

I use either Titebond 2, or polyurethane (I typically use Elmer's ProBond). Which one I use for cutting boards depends on how much time I want to jack with said board. Titebond 2 sets very quick. Poly sets slow, but wetting both surfaces REALLY speeds up the cure. If I need gap filling, I use poly. If I want strength, I use Titebond.

BTW, I've made a bunch of these cutting boards: <br /><br />

<img src="http://www.burchwoodusa.com/miscpix/household/domino_4x4.jpg" width="300"><br /><br />
Hard maple with walnut inlays.

Todd.

[robertfsmith]

Todd,
You want to becareful using walnut. It is toxic to people and animals. If the cutting board is gonna be used I would use something like cherry, or maple heartwood instead of walnut. Better safe than sorry.

[PeterTorresani]

Heat the cutting board in the oven (lowest setting) and then use mineral oil. This helps it soak in.

WARNING - It is commonly stated that walnut, or other nut, oil is a good finish for cutting boards. Although it works extremely well, it is also dangerous to a small percentage of people who have allergies to the oils.

[Todd Burch]

Rob, I believe your comment about walnut being toxic to humans to be wrong.

At the "Walnut toxicity fact or fiction" link below, edited by Dr. Gene Wengert, I would take as gospel on the subject.

http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Walnut_toxicity_fact_and_fiction.html

In summary, walnut chips and dust are bad for horses. Walnut dust is probably bad for humans too, as any wood dust is.

I would venture to say, that the only person affected by the walnut being inlayed in the cutting board is me - the guy who sands everything smooth!

Todd.

[robertfsmith]

Yes, I believe they are right, serving food in a walnut bowl is safe. But used in a cutting board that is being cut, I beleive is unsafe. Their are chips of wood being cut from the board, and being deposited to the food being prepared. If the sawdust and chips are toxic to breath, then what would happen if someone ingests the stuff day after day? The toxins will build up and be deposited in fat cells. If someone happens to be really alergic to walnut, then they will be in trouble.

[Bradley Harp]

I have used Walnut oil on both cutting boards and bowls for many years. I never have heard of any allergic reactions, But maybe I should do some homework. I have never have cared for mineral oil because it never dries so everything sticks to it, that don't sound to healthy itself when you think about it.
Brad

[Don Henthorn Smithville, TX]

Originally posted by robertfsmith
Todd,
You want to becareful using walnut. It is toxic to people and animals. If the cutting board is gonna be used I would use something like cherry, or maple heartwood instead of walnut. Better safe than sorry.

Not trying to be disagreeable here, but I have been making cutting boards out of walnut for fifty years and have never had anyone sick because of it. You'd have to eat the wood to experience any of the toxins in walnut. Most people use mineral oil on the surface of their boards. We wash our cutting boards in the dishpan frequently and although the oil is often absent, there have been no problems. JMHO.

[Bradley Harp]

I must have been dozing when I made that last post. I was actually about to do some research into my use of walnut oil as a finish, till I got to thinking, hell I buy it at the health food store, and not only use it to finish cutting boards and bowls but also finish my salad with it. Although I have been feeling rather poorly lately:).
Brad

[PeterTorresani]

Brad, et al,

My comments on walnut and other nut oils may not have been clear. A small percentage of people are allergic to nut oils. Most people, myself included, can and have eaten nut oils with no adverse affects (well, maybe an extra pound or two :) ).

This is like any other allergy, some people are allergic, some worse than others. Latex is a perfect example, some people wear the gloves forever, others go into anaphylactic shock and die.

I'm not telling anyone not to use walnut oil, but just thought that I would mention it as a warning.