Is Mineral Oil The Best Oil For Chopping Boards?

Why use oil on a wooden chopping board?

Wood is absorbent and when untreated, it can soak up food odours that can attract bacteria, causing the wood to dry out, become brittle and be in danger of cracking. Therefore, regular maintenance with a specialist Chopping Board Oil is a must if you want to prolong the life of the wood.

What is the best oil for wooden chopping boards?

Our Cutting Board Oil is a food grade, pure mineral oil and is perfect for protecting, maintaining and restoring chopping boards, as well as other wooden kitchen items including utensils, wooden bowls and counter tops.

Mineral Oil is the best oil for chopping boards for the following reasons:

1. It is a clear, odourless, tasteless, pure mineral oil making it completely safe for all wooden surfaces and utensils that are used to prepare food.

2. Enriched with Vitamin E, used as a stabiliser, this ensures it will never turn rancid when applied unlike some other oils, and guarantees a long product shelf life.

3. Regular application will prevent chopping boards from becoming dry, cracked and brittle.

4. It forms a protective barrier that prevents liquid from penetrating the surface, working to reduce the proliferation of germs and bacteria.

5. It restores and enhances the natural colour and appearance of the wood.

6. It is quick and easy to apply, allowing you to achieve great results with little effort.

If you want to know how to oil a chopping board, watch our instructional video and read our How to oil a Chopping Board guide.

What is the best oil for an oak Chopping Board?

Our specialist Cutting Board Oil is perfect for use on all types of wood and bamboo, including:

• Chopping boards

• Butcher blocks

• Countertops

• Kitchen utensils

Is mineral oil a food safe oil for chopping boards?

It’s important to know that not all mineral oils are food safe, but our Cutting Board Oil is. It is a non-drying oil that has no colour, taste or odour. It also meets the standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, making it perfect for use on items used for food preparation.

Can I use Danish Oil on my chopping Board?

We don’t recommend it because Danish Oil, along with all other drying wood oils, such as linseed oil, are prone to rancidification. This is a common problem caused with organic oils, where autoxidation of the fats causes an unpleasant odour or taste on the chopping board. However, Danish Oil is a food safe oil, to find out more read our blog - Is Danish Oil food safe

Can I use Linseed Oil on my chopping board?

We don’t recommend it because it has a very strong odour and can take up to three days to dry. In addition, as mentioned above it is prone to rancidification and so can produce unpleasant odours and tastes on the chopping board.

Can I use Vegetable Oil or Nut Oil on my chopping board?

Vegetable oils such as olive oil, and nut oils such as peanut or walnut oil are non-drying and contain fats that oxidise and go rancid, leading to unpleasant odours so we don’t recommend that these are used on a chopping board. It is also very important to consider nut allergies!

What else can I use to further protect my chopping board?

Intended for use after applying our Cutting Board Oil, our Cutting Board Conditioner works to seal in the oil, further preventing drying and cracking. It also contains beeswax and carnauba wax that fill cut marks to restore and create an even surface.

This dual-action is ideal for items that see heavy use, preserving the natural beauty of the wood while also extending its functional life compared to untreated boards and blocks.

For more information on our Cutting Board Oil and any of our other products, get in touch.