MSW Handcrafted Hardwood Boards
Our charcuterie and cutting boards are made to be USED. The hardwood and craftsmanship that is utilized in each of our designs can last a lifetime if well taken care of. Even if you are determined to only have it on display we still have some recommendations to ensure your board lasts and retains its glossy shine over the years to come. Epoxy Resin is a food safe material once it is cured into an inert plastic and will not leach any substances into food that comes into contact with it.**Please note that any board containing resin is not designed to be used as a cutting board as resin is NOT intended to receive knife cuts and can chip plastic into your food.** Other than this, resin board care and maintenance will follow these same care instructions.
Quick Care Instructions
Hand wash ONLY (wet both sides when washing)
Do NOT soak
NOT dishwasher safe
Do not microwave
Your board is thirsty give it Oil, but NOT cooking oil
General Care Instructions
Wooden boards are a gorgeous showpiece of the kitchen, relatively low-maintenance, they are gentler on knife edges, and if you clean them right, can be more sanitary than a plastic cutting board. Like any beloved and well used member of the kitchen family it does need a little bit of love and attention. Here is a detailed guide for hardwood board care.
Do wash your board by hand. If you are just cutting bread or something that you can wipe off then you do not have to wash, otherwise you will want to wash and rinse it.
Do use a mild liquid dish soap. Just a gentle scrub with a sponge and hot, soapy water. We recommend washing both sides (even if you just chopped on one side) to prevent it from drying unevenly which could cause the board to warp.
Do dry the wood THOROUGHLY. Wipe your cutting board dry and let it finish air-drying. For bonus points try and let it air-dry on its side so both sides are exposed to air. Do Moisturize. Just like washing our hands over and over can cause our skin to dry out the same can be said of hardwood boards. When the board is totally dry rub in some food-safe oil and let it stand for a few minutes to overnight and then wipe off the extra.
Don’t soak a hardwood board. You can quickly submerge it in water but only for a quick dunk. Soaking can cause the board to warp.
Don’t put your hardwood board in the dishwasher. The high heat and harsh chemicals will cause the wood to dry out and will cause warpage and cracking.
Don’t use harsh, concentrated cleaners or chemicals on your board. Things like bleach is NOT recommended as it breaks down the wood’s natural fibers.
Detailed Care Instructions
Stained areas - like from blackberries, beets, or even a very juicy brisket do not have to stay forever. Make a coarse paste for salt, water, and baking soda and scrub that area with a sponge or brush. Let it sit a few minutes, this will allow the baking soda to pull up any remaining stains, then rinse and dry thoroughly.
Odor - If you have any odors that retain in the board (our family favorites are garlic and the occasional onion) then a quick spray of vinegar should do the trick. The vinegar will get rid of the odor and as for the vinegar smell itself, it will evaporate once dry. If you have tough stuck on odor than use half a lemon and a little kosher salt to scrub the surface of the board. Lightly scrub and let it the mixture sit for a few minutes then rinse thoroughly.
Disinfecting - White Vinegar can also be used to help sanitize a board after prepping meat, or a 3% Hydrogen Peroxide could also be used, separately. They are both effective cleaners that can be used at the full strength or dilute 1:1 ratio with water. Please Note the USDA does NOT register white vinegar as a disinfectant and we do not recommend using our boards with raw meats as the items recommended to properly kill microorganisms will also discolor and dry out our boards. Once cleaned toughly do not forget to season or oil your board.
Moisturize Me - Wood naturally dries out in drier climates as well as after frequent use and washings. Properly seasoning your board will help create a protective barrier against moisture, help keep it from cracking and warping, and helps prevent it from staining and absorbing strong odors.
