Best Practices for Maintaining Wooden Salad Bowls and Grazing Platters

Nothing quite as eye-catching as a leafy green salad served up in your newly purchased wooden salad bowl. With a little bit of care and maintenance you should be able to enjoy your new acquisition for many years to come and possibly be passed on as a family heirloom.

Before we talk about maintaining wooden bowls, let’s just briefly touch on which woods work best. Woods that make excellent salad bowls include Mango, Bamboo, Olive, Teak and Cherry. They generally come from slow growing, broad-leaved trees which gives them a higher density than soft woods, hence making them more durable. While bamboo is a type of grass it is eco-friendly, extremely strong and durable, yet at the same time light.

Once a tree is cut down water and heat are its biggest enemies. These do not go hand in hand.  So how do you go about cleaning that wooden salad bowl or bamboo grazing platter once used? The biggest DON’Ts…..soaking any wooden utensils for any period of time is a definite No-No as this would cause them to split and crack. Don’t ever put them in the dishwasher either as the long washing cycles will shorten the lifespan of your beautiful wooden kitchenware. And don’t forget…never place them in any form of oven (microwave or conventional).

So a few easy steps to help you maintain all your wooden kitchenware and hopefully pass it down the generations as an heirloom.

 General Care

Wash immediately after use so any left-over particles do not stain the wood. Wash with warm water and dishwashing soap, and please use a soft, non-abrasive sponge to clean. Dry immediately with a tea towel. Most importantly, do not leave them under running water either.

Heat and wooden boards and bowls are also not compatible. Do not place wooden utensils in the microwave or an oven as the heat can cause the wood to warp and split. After use, store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight in order to save the wood from drying up prematurely. Also if the wood dish is dried out enough and heats up for long enough, it can eventually catch fire.

Deep Cleaning your wooden utensils

If you notice stains and odours emanating from the bowls it might be time for a deep clean. Time to control any bacteria growth that could be the cause of the stains and odours. 2 easy ways to sanitize the bowls.

1. Cut a lemon in half and rub along the entire area of the bowl
2. Alternatively mix 1 part vinegar with 4 parts water and spray the bowl.

Whichever method you choose to sanitize the bowl let it sit for a minute or two and then rinse out thoroughly in warm water. Now proceed to wash with a mild dishwashing detergent (refer General Care).

Is it time to oil your wooden kitchenware?

Should wooden bowls be oiled to ensure longevity? The answer is a resounding yes, especially if the wood starts to look dry or the colour starts to fade. Oiling wooden utensils adds a protective layer, helps maintain its lustre and ensures that it lasts longer. Sanitizing the wooden item with oil protects  it from drying out and subsequently cracking and fading. The oil used should be of food grade quality, however, most oils used in the kitchen are not suitable as they will turn rancid. Vegetable or olive oil are prone to rancidity. Coconut oil is a good option as it doesn’t go rancid. Linseed and walnut oils work well, however one needs to keep nut allergies in mind when using these 2 oils. Mineral oils which are petroleum based are also highly recommended. There is a certain amount of scepticism regarding the use of mineral oils as they are petroleum based, however they are food safe and won’t turn rancid or leave a sticky residue. Food grade mineral oil will improve the wooden bowl’s ability to repel water. If in doubt stick with the vegetable oils mentioned above.

Apply the oil using a soft, microfibre cloth over the entire surface of the wooden bowl. Now allow to sit for a while and then wipe off the excess oil.

One might well ask what makes wooden kitchenware so wonderful? The fact that a little TLC goes a long way in ensuring that this precious bowl can be handed down from generation to generation.