Detailed Information on how to care for wooden bowls

Wood products utilized in the kitchen need to receive proper care and cleaning. Wooden bowls need mineral oil to preserve the moisture content of the wood. Without a protective coating of mineral oil, the wood surface will dry out and may crack open the wood grain.

To clean the wood surface, wet a cloth or non-abrasive scrub pad in warm sudsy water and scrub the entire surface until free of food. Immediately dry the surface of moisture with a clean cloth or paper towel.

When the wood becomes dry, apply another coat of mineral oil. The use of vegetable oils is not recommended as a finish, as they contain ingredients that may tend to create a culture for bacteria to build up. Vegetable oils tend to become gummy and resist attempts to properly clean wood surfaces. Mineral oil is a non-toxic, inert oil that is light textured and will not build up an excessive coating over time. Mineral oil will not stain the wood, however spices and food may discolor the surface over time, especially if the wood becomes dry.

What to do if your bowl becomes sticky and/or rancid over time

We recommend the use of a non-abrasive scrub pad, lemon juice, and pumice dust to scrub off the oil that has built up over the years. The use of a vegetable based oil, such as corn oil, olive oil, or even lard in the old days, has created a culture for bacteria to build up and become gummy and thick with layers of built up oil. If you scrub the bowl with pumice and lemon juice you will safely take off the layers of oil. After you rinse out the cleaning agents and are satisfied that you have taken the bowl down to the wood, apply a coat of mineral oil to the bowl, allowing it to soak into the wood.