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Food Safe Wood Conditioning Cream

Protect your wooden cutting boards, bowls and spoon with food safe DIY wood conditioning cream

I’ve been noticing my wooden spoons getting sadder and sadder. We don’t run them through the dishwasher, which can do some serious damage to wood, but eventually hand washing will take it’s toll.

I’d seen quite a few wood conditioning creams online (ok, on Pinterest) but they all required mineral oil. I’m not sure about you but mineral oil in not on my list of things to eat more off this year. 

Supplies:

Protect your wooden cutting boards, bowls and spoon with food safe DIY wood conditioning cream
  • Glass Pint Jar
  • Beeswax, 1 oz bar
  • Coconut Oil, 3 oz
  • Old Pot
  • Canning Ring
  • Wooden Skewer

Instructions:

1. Set up the pot with a canning ring in the bottom, place in jar on the ring and add enough water to the pot to go about 2/3 of the way up the jar. Remove the jar and bring the water to a simmerProtect your wooden cutting boards, bowls and spoon with food safe DIY wood conditioning cream

2. Cut the beeswax into chunks (or weigh out one ounce of beeswax pastilles) and place in the jar. Beeswax melts around 150 so will take a little while to melt.

Keep an eye on it and stir occasionally with the wooden skewer. As it heats up it turns to a light yellow and then melts away.

3. When the wax is completely melted turn off the stove, leave the jar in the water and stir in the coconut oil

Protect your wooden cutting boards, bowls and spoon with food safe DIY wood conditioning cream

4. Remove the jar from the pan and allow to cool

Protect your wooden cutting boards, bowls and spoon with food safe DIY wood conditioning cream

To use the cream apply to wood item with a clean cloth, really work it in. Let it sit for a few minutes and them buff with a clean cloth until no longer tacky

Protect your wooden cutting boards, bowls and spoon with food safe DIY wood conditioning cream

A little bit goes a long way so this jar should last you a long time. My house tends to be cold in the winter so when I want to use the cream and it’s too solid to scoop out with a finger I scrape out a little with a spoon and the heat from my hands is enough to make the paste workable.

The cream really improves the look of the wood, in the picture above you can see where I applied the cream to the top of the spoon ans buffed it off. It’s a lot smoother and shinier, the oil conditions the wood and the beeswax creates a seal to protect it from water damage.

This cream is even good for your hands, the coconut oil moisturizes and the beeswax protects, so no need to wear gloves while working with it.

Bob

Monday 21st of August 2023

This is a good find for me, thanks

Mk Branch

Monday 27th of November 2017

I live in NW Arkansas, retired from an airline. I have a pet tortoise named Miles Davis. Last Christmas I made wood butter for gifts and tied a wooden spoon to the jar. I'll make more this yr but attach wooden spatula to jar.

Ckiff

Saturday 29th of February 2020

No disrespect intended at all but just curious as why you mentioned that you had a pet tortoise and specifically that his name was 'Miles Davis'? Maybe I'm just slow.

Mk Branch

Monday 27th of November 2017

I made mine with mineral oil and beeswax. I put it on my butcher block table. It was so dry I had to make several applications.

Joseph Erisman

Saturday 23rd of January 2016

Coconut oil has a very long shelf life. I certainly would not worry about it turning rancid.

Pamela @ FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com

Wednesday 7th of January 2015

The reason people use mineral oil is that it does not go rancid. Coconut oil will, even in wood. But for wooden spoons this should work just fine because they do get washed frequently. I have butcher block counters and I have learned from experience. :) I love my butcher block counters and there is an organic food grade tung oil that is great for using in place of mineral oil and I wax mine with the beeswax after the oil has sunk it well.

D

Friday 12th of August 2016

Refined conutut oil will not go rancid. Just don't get the refined oil that is defined with bleach.

cindi

Sunday 11th of January 2015

pamela, where do you find the organic food grade tung oil? thanks!