Warped or cracked chopping board – causes and what to do
Time: about 20 min
Wood moves with moisture. A board that gets wetter on one side than the other can bow or crack. Sometimes it can be improved, sometimes not – here is how to tell.
Short answer
A chopping board usually warps or cracks because the wood has taken up different amounts of moisture on each side, for example after soaking, a dishwasher cycle or drying flat on the worktop. Let the board dry evenly, standing upright at room temperature, then oil both sides equally. A slight bow can sometimes even out, but a crack that runs right through is rarely fixable at home.
What you need
- The chopping board
- Paraffin oil (PAO-050)
- Fine sandpaper
- Soft cloth
- An airy spot where the board can stand
How to do it
- Check what has happenedLay the board on a flat worktop and see whether it rocks, whether the surface has small cracks, or whether a crack or glue joint runs right through. That decides what you can do.
- Let it dry evenlyStand the board on its edge at room temperature so air reaches both sides, and leave it for a couple of days. Keep it away from the hob, oven, radiators and strong sun.
- Oil both sides equallyOnce the board is completely dry, oil the whole thing with paraffin oil, the same amount on both sides and on the edges. Wipe off the excess once the wood is saturated.
- Sand away rough fibresIf the surface has become rough or has fine surface cracks, sand lightly along the grain with fine sandpaper, brush off the dust and oil again.
- Change your washing and drying habitsWash the board by hand straight away, dry it with a tea towel and let it finish drying upright. Never leave it to soak and never put it in the dishwasher.
- Know when it is time for a new oneIf a crack or glue joint runs right through the board, or it keeps warping, it is hard to get it back to how it was. That is usually the time for a new board.
Common mistakes
- Putting the board by a radiator, on the hob or in the sun to dry it quickly.
- Leaving a wet board lying flat on the worktop, so only the top dries.
- Oiling only the side you cut on.
Why wood moves
Wood swells when it takes up moisture and shrinks as it dries. If one side gets wetter, or dries faster, than the other, the movement is uneven and the board bends or cracks. Even drying and the same amount of oil on both sides keep the wood's movement to a minimum.
FAQ
Why does a chopping board warp?
Because the wood has taken up different amounts of moisture on each side, for example after soaking or when the board has dried flat on the worktop.
Can a warped chopping board be straightened?
A slight bow can sometimes lessen when the board dries evenly and is oiled on both sides. There is no guarantee it will be completely flat again.
What can I do about small surface cracks?
Fine cracks in the surface can often be sanded away with fine sandpaper. Then oil the whole board.
How should I store the board so it keeps its shape?
Upright, or so air reaches both sides, somewhere without strong heat. Don't put it away until it is completely dry.
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