How to Care + Clean: Olive Wood Cutting Boards & Cooking Utensils

It’s official—you’ve kicked those flimsy plastic kitchen tools to the curb and made the upgrade to the timeless beauty of olive wood. You’re suddenly inspired to try new recipes, emboldened by the weight and feel of your new olive wood spatula in your hand. You even invite a few guests over for an impromptu dinner party, eager to serve an elaborate charcuterie board on your olive wood cutting board.

You love your olive wood cutting board and cooking utensils and you want them to last you a lifetime of family meals, dinner parties and holiday celebrations. The good news? They can! With proper care and cleaning, your olive wood kitchen tools will see you and your family through years of delicious meals.

Why Olive Wood?

Olive wood is known for its striking grain patterns and natural beauty, bringing timeless elegance to any home. Each kitchen tool crafted from olive wood is unique, showcasing the distinctive wavy pattern and warm, golden tones that make this wood so beautiful.

Not only is olive wood the perfect canvas for a stunning charcuterie board, but the material’s durability and knife-friendly surface makes it an excellent cutting board. It’s also ideal for cooking utensils, as it’s gentle on cookware and stain resistant.

Like any wooden kitchen tool, olive wood does require a bit more care than plastic utensils. But that extra effort will pay off with years of durability and timeless appeal, far beyond what any plastic kitchen tool can offer.

How to Clean Your Olive Wood Cutting Board and Cooking Utensils

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the cleaning details, let’s go over a few things to steer clear of when caring for olive wood.

Olive wood cleans easily with a quick handwashing, but soaking is a no-go—it can cause the wood to warp. And absolutely do not put it in the dishwasher: the mix of soaking and heat can lead the wood to warping and cracking.

The best way to clean your olive wood kitchen tools is by handwashing them with warm water and mild soap. Avoid anything abrasive, such as scouring pads or harsh chemicals like bleach. Your day-to-day sponge should do the job. It’s also a good idea to clean your olive wood tools right after use, so food doesn’t have a chance to stain the wood.

Once your olive wood cutting board or utensil is clean, use a towel to wipe away any excess water and allow the kitchen tools to air dry completely. For cutting boards, prop the board upright to allow an even airflow when drying.

How to Keep Your Olive Wood Kitchen Tools Looking Gorgeous

Your olive wood kitchen tools are sparkling clean, now, how do you keep them looking fabulous? The secret is in oiling!

Oiling your olive wood cutting board or utensils helps prevent them from drying out and cracking, while creating a protective layer against water damage such as warping. Plus, it gives them a gorgeous glossy finish that highlights the rich, caramel tones natural to olive wood.

To properly oil your olive wood kitchen tools, you will need:

A soft cloth or paper towel

A food-safe mineral oil (we recommend our Revitalizing Oil)

Take your clean, dry olive wood kitchen tool and apply a generous amount of mineral oil with a soft cloth. Make sure you apply enough oil to coat the surface of your kitchen tool. Rub the oil into the wood and wipe away any excess with a cloth or paper towel. Allow the olive wood cutting board or utensil to air dry completely before you use it again. In a matter of minutes, your olive wood kitchen tools will look brand new!

For the best results, we recommend oiling your olive wood kitchen tools at least once a month.

If you want your olive wood kitchen tools to stand the test of time, they’ll need a bit of TLC. Just a few minutes of care and cleaning will keep your cutting boards and utensils looking stunning and ready to last a lifetime.

Shop our olive wood collection for beautiful, versatile kitchen tools that will serve you through countless meals and moments in the kitchen.