DJ Delorie wrote in :


"marc rosen" writes:
My question to you all is about making a salad bowl from green wood.
Assuming the wood of choice is compatible with food, is there any
danger or problem in using the bowl immediately after it's turned?
Can an oil finish be applied to a green bowl? I am not concerned
about shape stability.

In general, wood can be used immediately after turning. Wood. Not
the finish, just the wood.

Yes, you can use an oil finish on a green bowl. It will still change
shape as it dries, of course. You may have to allow extra time for
drying and curing.

Nearly all finishes MUST have time to fully cure (not just dry) before
even considering food contact, and even then some finishes should be
avoided. When fully cured (say, a month or two), most finishes are
reasonably safe for food contact, but finishes that specifically say
they're for food use (or are food) are definitely preferred (some say
required).

For example, walnut (100% pure) oil or mineral oil are food safe
because they *are* food (vegetable oil goes rancid with age). Same
with pure beeswax or paraffin, they're edible so you can use them as
finishes. You can buy "salad bowl finish" too.

And, of course, the instructions on the can take precedence over any
of our nonsense you year on Usenet ;-)

Mineral oil is a food? Take a shot of mineral oil, you may find that
food will try to escape from the other end. I've been wiping my salad
bowls with olive oil for at least thirty years and they still are
waiting to turn rancid. Might be the garlic. I believe Raffan uses olive
oil on most of his kitchen type stuff. Regards,
Hank