Frequently Asked Questions

Why shouldn't I just buy a cheap plastic cutting board?

Glad you asked! When you cut into typical plastic cutting boards made out of polypropylene or polyethylene, your knife slices into the plastic and releases dangerous microplastics directly into your food. If you don't believe me, take a look at the below study published in the National Library of Medicine which estimated the per-person annual exposure of microplastics from cutting boards to be between 14-71 million polyethylene microplastics and 79 million polypropylene microplastics each year! Gross!

Separately, plastic cutting boards will dull your knives much faster than wood cutting boards. Wood is a softer, more malleable material than plastic which is easier on your knife's sharp edge when cutting, slicing, or chopping.

Cutting Boards: An Overlooked Source of Microplastics in Human Food? https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c00924

Ok, ok, I get it. Wood boards are safer than plastic. But why?

Couple of reasons... First, wood is naturally antimicrobial. Wood contains extractives that can kill bacteria, mold, and other harmful microbes. Second, the capillary action of wood fibers pull down bacteria and trap them beneath the surface. These bacteria are then killed off as the board dries after cleaning. A University of Wisconsin Food Research Institute study found that 99.9% of bacteria on wooden boards die within minutes. Bacteria inoculated onto plastic boards, on the other hand, were readily recovered from the surface of the board hours later and actually multiplied when recovered the next day.

End grain, face grain? What does it all mean?

End grain boards are the gold standard for not only food safety but keeping your knives sharp. Why? Picture the fibers of end grain boards as a bunch of vertical straws bunched together. When your knife makes contact with the straws, the straws separate and cause less friction (and therefore less wear) on the blade. Separately, once the knife is removed from the board, the straws will essentially "bounce" back into position, leaving less less knife marks on your beautiful board.

Face grain boards still contain all of the same anti-microbial properties as end grain boards; however, they are slightly more harsh on your knives and will also show more knife marks. For that reason, I recommend using face grain boards for displaying food (i.e., charcuterie boards) and end grain boards for chopping/cutting food.

Why is my board a little wet / greasy when I take it out of the box?

Fear not my friend! This is totally normal, and a good thing! Before shipping your board, I apply several coats of NSF certified food grade mineral oil and then an all natural mineral oil and beeswax mix which leaves your board buttery smooth. With changes in humidity, some of the mineral oil will naturally leach out of the wood fibers after application. If this happens, simply wipe off the residue with a clean paper towel. No need to wash the board.

How should I care for my cutting board?

  • First thing's first - please remember that your board cannot go in the dishwasher
  • Never fully submerge or soak your board
  • Do not subject your board to, or store your board in, overly hot or cold and/or moist environments. Wood is a natural material that will expand and contract with temperature and humidity. Over exposing the wood to temperature and/or fluctuating humidity can increase the chances for cracking and warping
  • Do not store your board in direct sunlight
  • When you are done using your board, wipe any large debris from the surface and then clean with warm water and a small amount of mild dish soap on a sponge
  • Make sure you dry your board off with a towel after cleaning and store it either on it's rubber feet or on the board's side. This will provide adequate circulation to the wood fibers so the board can fully dry properly
  • Periodically, if you board starts to look dull or dry, apply some of the supplied board conditioner to the surface. How quickly your board will dry will depend on usage but a good rule of thumb is to apply conditioner around once a month. If you use up your supplied conditioner, you can purchase additional conditioner on the website

Where and how are your products made?

All products are hand made by me at my home in Jupiter, Florida. I source all of my wood from local South Florida lumber yards.

What happens if my order is damaged during shipping?

If your order was damaged in transit, please contact me via email at mike@copperww.com and we will resolve the issue