What is the best vegetable oil to rub into a chopping board? Is there one
that doesn't go rancid and is going to be easily available in a supermarket?
Grainger

Sat, Dec 13, 2003, 9:16pm (EST+16)
(Grainger=A0Morris) asks:
What is the best vegetable oil to rub into a chopping board? Is there
one that doesn't go rancid and is going to be easily available in a
supermarket?

People will tell you it'll go rancid, but I've been experimenting
with it for years, and ain't had any go rancid yet. It will go rancid
after it's been heated - as in cooked with.

So, you can just play it safe, and use mineral oil. That'll work.
We can get it in grocery stores here, or drugstores. Cheap, and safe.
Don't get any that's scented.

JOAT
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might
as well dance.
- Unknown

Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
Web Page Update 12 Dec 2003.
Some tunes I like.
http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofal...OMETUNESILIKE/

I plan to use mineral oil on mine 3 coats heated up so it will penetrate
then with some beeswax melted in via microwave for finale finish
--
"If you are arrogant, who's going to care if you're the best?"

On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 21:16:43 +1100, "Grainger Morris"
wrote:

What is the best vegetable oil to rub into a chopping board?

Vegetable oil, made from vegetables. So long as the petro-food
industry hasn't got near it and "hydrogenated" or "hardened" anything,
then it's usually pretty good.

Personally I use walnut oil (which I buy anyway, for salads). Olive
isn't so good, even the good stuff, as it can go rancid. Corn oil
(again IMHE) can become sticky.

Or if you have it, mineral oil. But my mineral oil is in the workshop,
so I use what's in the kitchen instead.

--
Die Gotterspammerung - Junkmail of the Gods

On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 21:16:43 +1100, "Grainger Morris"
wrote:

What is the best vegetable oil to rub into a chopping board? Is there one
that doesn't go rancid and is going to be easily available in a supermarket?
Grainger


Mineral oil is not organic and will not deteriorate like food oils.
Get it at the pharmacy.

It was also suggested that peanut oil will work. Dunno, I used mineral oil
on mine. Sold in the laxative aisle at the drug stores.


--
This space for rent.
Jerry© The Phoneman®
"Grainger Morris" wrote in message
...
What is the best vegetable oil to rub into a chopping board? Is there one
that doesn't go rancid and is going to be easily available in a
supermarket?
Grainger

"Grainger Morris" wrote:

What is the best vegetable oil to rub into a chopping board? Is there one
that doesn't go rancid and is going to be easily available in a supermarket?

Mineral oil, laxative grade, available at the drug store or section.

On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 16:32:16 +0000, Jerry Gilreath wrote:

It was also suggested that peanut oil will work. Dunno, I used mineral oil
on mine. Sold in the laxative aisle at the drug stores.


Mineral oil works quite nicely... I was so apologetic to the folks at the
store when I bought mine: I'm using it for a cutting board. Smiles
followed me all the way to the store's front door.

Grainger Morris wrote:

What is the best vegetable oil to rub into a chopping board? Is there one
that doesn't go rancid and is going to be easily available in a supermarket?
Grainger



Never use vegetable oil. This can't be over stated.


I had thought of using walnut oil but after looking a few places I gave
up and settled on mineral oil and beeswax.

Mineral oil without the wax would give better penetration, so you may
want to use the oil plain a few times before adding wax (as has been
previously posted by Mel)

I melted the wax into the oil using a double boiler, I poured the hot
mix on the board, let it set up, scrapped off the excess and reapplied a
second coat. NOTE: The excess was not reused, it seems to pick up allot
of wood dust. You may want to seal/ treat both sides. Seemed to be a
good idea to me.

It takes a surprisingly small amount of the mix to coat the board.

Just so you know, a wooden cutting board requires ongoing maintenance.
Anytime you think it's getting a bit dry it needs cleaned and whatever
oil or concoction your using reapplied.

Also you may/ will get a bit of grain raising after treatment (unless
you went and paid for an end grain board, in which case you suck ;}).
You have to keep this knocked down to prevent bits of food from getting
stuck in the grain and festering. This is no big deal, it should hand
sand easily with some 220 or 280.


I did a bit of research on the 'cleanliness' of various materials used
in cutting boards. Wood was the 'dirtiest'. But if it's properly
maintained there is little if any risk as the bacterial count can be
kept well below what's considered unhealthy. The key is to keep the
surface sealed with an inert substance to inhibit bacteria growth.

For me there really was no choice in which material I was going to use
for a cutting surface, some POS sheet of polymer or glass verses a
beautiful wood grain, there is no choice. Plus I can set a hot pan on it
without worrying about it melting or cracking. And a little charring
adds character.




--

Mark

N.E. Ohio


Never argue with a fool, a bystander can't tell you apart. (S. Clemens,
A.K.A. Mark Twain)

When in doubt hit the throttle. It may not help but it sure ends the
suspense. (Gaz, r.moto)

Pecan or walnut oil. I like them both, but use pecan the most.

"Grainger Morris" wrote in message
...
What is the best vegetable oil to rub into a chopping board? Is there one
that doesn't go rancid and is going to be easily available in a
supermarket?
Grainger

On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 21:16:43 +1100, "Grainger Morris"
wrote:

What is the best vegetable oil to rub into a chopping board? Is there one
that doesn't go rancid and is going to be easily available in a supermarket?
Grainger


Linseed oil tends to go rancid IMO. Changed to Soya bean some years
ago, and never had a problem since. It comes up nice and is very
cheap.

Barry Lennox

On 13-Dec-2003, Mark wrote:

I melted the wax into the oil using a double boiler, I poured the hot
mix on the board, let it set up, scrapped off the excess and reapplied a
second coat.

If you want to increase penetration a bit, you can iron the waxy stuff
into the wood. If the iron is smoking, it's too hot. Otherwise, the
heating of the wood will draw the stuff into the grain.

Mike

Michael Daly wrote:



If you want to increase penetration a bit, you can iron the waxy stuff
into the wood. If the iron is smoking, it's too hot. Otherwise, the
heating of the wood will draw the stuff into the grain.

Mike


Thanks for the suggestion. Makes sense.

I have a small confession. I can't remember the last time I saw an iron
in this house. I asked Wife, she laughed. I have a dim memory of ironing
something since we've been married, that would put it sometime in the
last 12 years.

I guess a trip to Goodwills in my future.







--
--

Mark

N.E. Ohio


Never argue with a fool, a bystander can't tell you apart. (S. Clemens,
A.K.A. Mark Twain)

When in doubt hit the throttle. It may not help but it sure ends the
suspense. (Gaz, r.moto)

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 03:15:20 +0000, Mark wrote:



Michael Daly wrote:



If you want to increase penetration a bit, you can iron the waxy stuff
into the wood. If the iron is smoking, it's too hot. Otherwise, the
heating of the wood will draw the stuff into the grain.

Mike


Thanks for the suggestion. Makes sense.

I have a small confession. I can't remember the last time I saw an iron
in this house. I asked Wife, she laughed. I have a dim memory of ironing
something since we've been married, that would put it sometime in the
last 12 years.

I guess a trip to Goodwills in my future.

You need a shop iron for edge banding (unless you can sneak SWMBO's for a
few minutes).

-Doug

Sat, Dec 13, 2003, 6:26pm (EST+5) (Mark)
says:
Never use vegetable oil. This can't be over stated.

Certainly it can, it's done all the time.

I had thought of using walnut oil but after looking a few places I gave
up snip

My local grocery store carries it.

I did a bit of research on the 'cleanliness' of various materials used
in cutting boards. Wood was the 'dirtiest'. snip

That's interesting. Awhile back I read a paper comparing wood
cutting boards with plastic cutting boards. Turned out the wood was
more sterile. And, no I don't remember where I read it. But, I'll try
to come up with it when you come up with somehing on not using vegetable
oills. By the way, I contacted a food scientist on the issue, he said
as long as it wasn't heated, shouldn't go rancid. I've never used it on
a cutting board, but been experimenting with it on furniture, and tool
handles, for years, and never, ever gone rancid. When I say vegetable
oils, I'm referring to various types of cooking oils, available in any
supermarket.

JOAT
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might
as well dance.
- Unknown

Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
Web Page Update 12 Dec 2003.
Some tunes I like.
http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofal...OMETUNESILIKE/

T. wrote:


Mark wrote
Never use vegetable oil. This can't be over stated.
Certainly it can, it's done all the time.


I thought I had all this stuff bookmarked. Not the best site I had found:


http://www.woodfinishsupply.com/butcherblock.html





I had thought of using walnut oil but after looking a few places I gave
up snip

My local grocery store carries it.



Lucky you. We had a privately owned Giant Eagle, it had stuff I had
forgotten existed. It was one of the high points of moving to this
'Hillbilly Heaven'. Unfortunately it was taken down and a corporate Big
Bird put in. I ... Must ... Resist .... THE RANT!



I did a bit of research on the 'cleanliness' of various materials used
in cutting boards. Wood was the 'dirtiest'. snip

That's interesting. Awhile back I read a paper comparing wood
cutting boards with plastic cutting boards. Turned out the wood was
more sterile. And, no I don't remember where I read it.

Here?

http://www.hi-tm.com/Documents/Cutboard.html

I stipulate that wood is not always the least clean, just usually.




But, I'll try
to come up with it when you come up with somehing on not using vegetable
oills.


http://www.woodfinishsupply.com/butcherblock.html


I thought I had more sites on this subject bookmarked. I'll go looking
again just not at 02:30.

It may have been the Boos site that stated one reason plastic can become
less sanitary than wood due to it's being nicked/ sliced giving food
particles a place to attach themselves and resist cleaning, where wood
can be self healing (end grain) and/ or the damage in wood can be sanded
smooth and treated with an inert material (wax and mineral oil).

I thought I also had sites bookmarked that had recipes for making your
own concoctions for treating and preserving boards.

Maybe later, it's too damned late.


--

Mark

N.E. Ohio


Never argue with a fool, a bystander can't tell you apart. (S. Clemens,
A.K.A. Mark Twain)

When in doubt hit the throttle. It may not help but it sure ends the
suspense. (Gaz, r.moto)

Mineral oil IS organic. It's a light HYDROCARBON oil.


"Phisherman" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 21:16:43 +1100, "Grainger Morris"
wrote:

What is the best vegetable oil to rub into a chopping board? Is there one
that doesn't go rancid and is going to be easily available in a
supermarket?
Grainger


Mineral oil is not organic and will not deteriorate like food oils.
Get it at the pharmacy.