Christmas kitchen clean – pans, boards and utensils before the holidays
Time: about 120 min
Before Christmas the kitchen has to cope with more than usual. Go through pans, pots, boards and utensils at a calm pace, and everything will be clean, dry and ready when the table is laid.
Short answer
Clean the kitchen one material at a time. Rinse carbon steel pans in hot water without detergent, dry them well and oil them lightly. Soak burnt-on food in enamel pots, then lift the rest with lemon juice or linseed oil soap. Wash boards and wooden utensils by hand and oil them with paraffin oil until saturated. Wipe shelves and floors with 1 dl linseed oil soap in 10 litres of lukewarm water.
What you need
- Linseed oil soap
- Paraffin oil (mineral oil)
- Beech and horsehair dish brush
- Soft nylon sponge and baking powder
- Clean cloths and tea towels
How to do it
- Start with the carbon steelRinse frying pans and griddles in hot water and brush off any residue with the dish brush, without washing-up liquid. Dry thoroughly, underside included, and wipe on a few drops of neutral oil. Burnt-on residue or rust spots come off with steel wool, after which you season the surface again.
- Loosen burnt-on food in enamelFill the enamel pot with water and leave it for 10–15 minutes. Pour it out, add a little lemon juice or linseed oil soap, wait a few minutes and wipe clean with a soft sponge. Rub stubborn stains away with a paste of baking powder and a few drops of water.
- Wash boards and wooden utensilsWash cutting boards, spoons and spatulas by hand and dry them straight away with a tea towel. Never leave them to soak.
- Oil the woodOnce the wood is dry, wipe paraffin oil over the whole board and the whole utensil with a cloth. Repeat until the wood stops absorbing it, then wipe off the excess.
- Wipe shelves, doors and floorsMix 1 dl linseed oil soap into 10 litres of lukewarm water and wipe with a well wrung-out cloth. Dampen dry wood with water first to avoid brown marks, and never let the soapy water dry on the surface.
- Put everything away dryLet pots and utensils dry completely before they go back in the cupboard. If the bristles on the dish brush are worn, fit a new head – it is replaceable.
Common mistakes
- Washing the carbon steel pan with washing-up liquid or in the dishwasher before guests arrive – the surface suffers and the pan can rust.
- Using linseed oil soap on the frying pan or the cutting boards; carbon steel is cleaned with hot water only and boards are washed by hand.
- Putting neat soap straight onto dry wood, which can leave brown marks that will not come out.
- Leaving cutting boards and wooden utensils to soak in the sink.
Why this order works
Carbon steel is protected by its seasoned surface, which tolerates neither detergent nor standing wet, so it does best with hot water and a thin film of oil. Paraffin oil is a non-drying oil that the wood absorbs, and regular oiling helps the board keep its properties. Linseed oil soap cleans most materials gently, but it does not belong in the frying pan.
FAQ
Can I clean my frying pan with linseed oil soap?
No. Carbon steel pans are cleaned with hot water only, without detergent or soap, then dried thoroughly and wiped with a few drops of oil.
How often should a cutting board be oiled?
Regularly, and whenever the wood looks dry and pale. Christmas is a good moment: oil until the wood is saturated and wipe off the excess.
Can I use cooking oil instead of paraffin oil?
Kockums specifies cooking oil for beech boards and utensils, and paraffin oil suits most types of wood. We recommend paraffin oil as the first choice.
Can I wash the kitchen floor with linseed oil soap?
Yes. For everyday cleaning, 1 dl in 10 litres of lukewarm water is enough; for scrubbing use 5–8 dl in 10 litres of cold water. Let the floor dry before putting the rugs back.
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