Wood Choices and Finishes for Wholesale Cutting Boards

Among the requests we receive from our website, many customers ask us about the woods we use to manufacture our wholesale cutting boards and the finishes available. You will find below a little more on the topic.

All Woods Are Not Growing Equal

We chose to narrow the wood choices we offer down to maple, walnut and cherry. Why? Because these are close-grained types of hardwood, and only closed-grained hardwoods are suitable for food preparation. Although ash, oak or hickory for example are also hardwoods, they have open wood pores, which makes them unfit for food preparation use. The resistance to deterioration due to knifes cuts they offer is not as good; to ensure better quality products, we chose to go with products made with a wood structure more appropriate to the purpose they will serve. 

“Finish” May Not Be the Right Word

All of our cutting boards are sold untreated, with a smooth sanded finish. This is to allow any retailer who purchases them to get a product that is “customization-ready”.

For wood cutting boards meant to be used for food preparation, some kind of seasoning is required to prevent bacteria growth or germs in the wood pores, or nooks and crannies made by the repeated cuts. This being said, the wood pores need to be filled with some kind of sealant.

Wood can be compared to skin. Just like you would put some moisturizing cream on, oil needs to be applied to seal and protect wood cutting boards before they are used for food preparation. It needs to be reapplied frequently to maintain cutting boards so they can fulfill their use for a long time. Complete instructions regarding the best ways to do so and what should be used can be found on our website.

This step can be left to the discretion of your clients, or can be part of the customization you want to offer for your products. 

Save Stains or Varnishes for Furniture and Floors

Chemicals that are found in varnishes and stains are not FDA compliant. This means that if the boards are to be used as a cooking tool, it is not a good idea to use such products to customize them. If you would like a darker wood, opt for walnut. Cherry will take a reddish tint as it ages, while maple will take a yellowish one. Oils will enhance the natural grain and color of any kind of wood. If the boards are intended for another use, not food preparation, then they can be stained and varnished to suit your taste and needs.

Untreated boards are also easier to store and offer more flexibility customization-wise than finished boards. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions on that subject or should you have any special needs!