How to Season Wooden Spoons & Cutting Boards
I’m going to teach you how to season wooden spoons and cutting boards in this post. I’ll also give you a wood butter recipe! Are you scratching your head? Well, if you want to preserve your wooden spoons and cutting boards so they last forever then read on!
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This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
Wooden spoons and cutting boards are old-fashioned kitchen utensils that are made to last! But with frequent use and improper care, they start to dry out, crack and look dull. Seasoning them is like giving them a facial! They look glowing after you’re done – and it only takes a few seconds!
how to clean wooden spoons and cutting boards
First, remove any buildup by soaking overnight in a 1:1 ratio of white vinegar and water. (Note: you typically don’t want to submerge wooden spoons or cutting boards in water but a once-off is fine).
Then, for daily cleanings, you’ll just wash your wooden spoons and cutting boards with soap and warm water.
Lastly, use a clean dry towel to dry your wood spoons and cutting boards thoroughly. Never put them in the dishwasher.
Continue to season your wooden spoons and cutting board every few uses with my wood butter recipe below. I use coconut oil and beeswax so they don’t go rancid.
how to season wooden spoons and cutting boards
Step 1. Clean and dry your wooden spoons and cutting boards before seasoning. Make sure any build-up is removed.
Step 2. Use my wood butter recipe and lather a light layer onto the wooden kitchen utensils using a clean, dry towel.
Step 3. Repeat step 2 as many times as necessary if they still look dry. You may need to lather a very thick coat onto your wooden spoons and cutting boards and leave it overnight. The next day just wipe off any excess with a clean, dry towel.
Step 4. Maintain your wooden spoons and cutting boards by repeating this seasoning process every few uses. Season your wooden spoons and cutting boards monthly at a minimum.
homemade wood butter
When we bought our Boos block wooden cutting board, naturally we looked for an oil to preserve it. The main oil is called “mystery oil” and if you know me at all, you know I’m not putting anything on my kitchen utensils that is a mystery! So, I set out to make my own.
My wood butter recipe uses oils that have a very long shelf life – so they won’t go rancid and rosemary essential oil which helps to prevent food poisoning causing bacteria and helps with digestion!
Related: Read: 13 easy changes for a clean-living lifestyle.
How to make homemade wood butter
Mix 3 tablespoons beeswax and 9 tablespoons coconut oil in a double broiler until melted.
Add about 10 drops of rosemary essential oil (optional) to the melted butter. I use this in my recipe because rosemary oil may help with digestion, liver function, and inhibits the strains of certain bacteria that can cause food poisoning!
Put in a mason jar and let cool.
Apply liberally to very dry spoons and boards and let them soak it up! Apply a thin layer every few uses after cleaning.
Tips for preserving your wooden kitchen utensils
Tips for preserving your wooden kitchen utensils
- Never put them in the dishwasher
The harsh detergents and high heat can ruin your wooden spoons and cutting boards by drying them out and cracking them.
- Don’t submerge in water
Don’t let your wooden kitchen utensils soak in water.
- Dry them off with a clean, dry towel then continue to air dry
Get as much water off as possible, then let them finish drying by leaving them out to air dry so they don’t mold.
- Season after every few uses
You’ll want to keep your wooden spoons and cutting boards well-oiled by seasoning them (just as you would a cast-iron skillet). Season your wooden spoons and cutting boards at least monthly.
- Toss after they split, chip, or crack
So to not invite bacteria into your wooden spoons and cutting boards, you’ll want to toss them if they split, chip, or crack.
- Use homemade wood butter
This way you can control the ingredient you put on your wooden kitchen utensils. Coconut oil, beeswax, and rosemary essential oil are my favorite ingredients to use.
Seasoning wooden spoons and cutting board faqs
Use an oil that won’t go rancid or has a long shelf life such as coconut oil and beeswax. My wood butter recipe uses both.
Oil your wooden kitchen utensils every few uses – monthly at a minimum. You’ll see when they start to dry out – try to get ahead of this by oiling after almost every use.
Apply a very thick coat of wood butter on your wooden spoons and let soak overnight. Wipe any excess off in the morning. Keep repeating this process until they’re revived.
If your wooden spoons have split, cracked, or chipped you’ll want to throw them away so they don’t harvest any bacteria which can leach into your food.
Wooden spoons are better than plastic because they don’t leach any harmful chemicals into your food like plastic can. They also last much longer if well cared for and won’t melt when using very hot skillets.
They can hold bacteria if they’re split or chipped. This is why you want to use proper care and maintenance for your wooden spoons by seasoning them often.
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This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
- Berkey water filter (we use the Royal because we drink an insane amount of water!)
- Simply Earth essential oils – They send super fun monthly kits with a theme and everything you need to make that month’s themed product. This month is was non-toxic candles! You can also just buy one-off purchases.
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pin it for later – seasoning wooden kitchen utensils
Print the wood butter recipe
Wood Butter
Equipment
- Wooden kitchen utensils (spoons, cutting boards, rolling pins, etc.)
- Small mason jar with lid
- Sauce pan
- Glass bowl
Materials
- 3 tbs Beeswax
- 1/2 cup Unrefined coconnut oil
- 10 drops Rosemary essential oil (optional) use food grade, therapeutic grade, high quality essential oils.
Instructions
- Make a double boiler with your glass bowl and sauce pan filled about 1/3 way with water.
- Turn on medium-low heat.
- Place beeswax and coconut oil in the glass bowl.
- Stir as the oil and wax start to melt.
- Once this has completely melted, turn off burner and add your rosemary essential oil.
- Pour into your mason jar and let cool completely before applying to your wooden kitchen utensils.
Notes
- Rosemary oil is optional.
- You could also use sweet orange or lemon oil which work great in this recipe too!
About Me
Great idea for the wood butter and adding the rosemary essential oil to it. I’m just starting to get into having more wood items in the kitchen. At first it seems like a big deal that they can’t go in the dishwasher. But if you take care of them properly so they don’t crack, they’ll last forever. And they’re so much nicer than plastic.
Thank you Danielle. Sometimes it’s a pain to have a couple extra steps – but it’s oddly therapeutic seasoning my wooden kitchen utensils!
Thanks for sharing how to season wooden spoons! Someone in the house often tries to help and soaks mine, so they could use a little tlc!
Thank you Tara. I know the feeling. Someone in my house has put them in the dishwasher. lol
I had no idea you had to season wood. Thanks for such a helpful post. I am definitely going to be using all your great tips.
Hi Allie,
Isn’t that crazy?! But in hindsight it makes sense! Glad this was helpful for you. 🙂
Confession…I have never seasoned my wood utensils and they look horrible! I am so excited for this recipe! Love this post!
Oh yay! Thank you, Candice! I hope you love the recipe 🙂
I love my wooden utensils, but I had no idea I should do this! I definitely want to start taking better care of them, so thanks so much for sharing!
You’re welcome Betsy! So glad this was helpful. Let me know how you like this recipe too 🙂
This post’s super informative! I love my wooden kitchen utensils and boards. I didn’t know I have to season them. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Ada! Glad this was helpful for you. 🙂
How beautiful and helpful too! Love all the photographs!
Thank you so much, Jenna!
Please let me know your questions and how you like this recipe!
Unique information over here.
You are completely right, To keep your wooden utensils glowing and in the best possible condition, about once a month rub them with mineral oil.
Hey, you have shared very nice information.
In my opinion, Wooden spoons give you a firm strong handle to hold, making stirring easier and more effective and without any fear of the handle breaking.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Yes, they absolutely do. I’ve actually had flimsy handles break on me in the past – which is why I LOVE wooden spoons. 🙂
I love this recipe, however I don’t happen to have the proper grade of Rosemary on hand, could I maybe use oregano oil instead? It has similar properties. Thank for the recipe!
Hello! Yes, absolutely. You can use oregano, lemon, or any other oil that sounds good to you. You could even omit the oil entirely.
Thank you so much!
Your instructions were very interesting, but where do you find bee’s wax pellits?
I get mine on amazon. There’s a link in the “shop this post” section for the ones I use.