This natural wood conditioner will help keep your wooden spoons, cutting boards, and bowls in excellent condition.
![wood conditioner in a small glass jar](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/How-to-Make-Food-Safe-Wood-Conditioner-featured-image.png)
It is important to oil or condition your wooden kitchen ware regurlary to keep the wood in good condition.
Wooden serving dishes, cutting boards, and spoons can last for a lifetime if they are properly taken care of.
If they don’t stay well conditioned, however, they may warp, dry out, or even crack.
This easy natural wood conditioner made with just 3 ingredients will help keep your wooden kitchen ware going for years to come.
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![warmed wood conditioner](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/How-to-Make-Food-Safe-Wood-Conditioner-11-1024x768.jpg)
What is the point of using a wood conditioner?
Making and using a conditioner for your wooden utensils, bowls, and cutting boards helps extend their lifetime.
Conditioning your wood helps keep the wood from warping, drying out, or cracking, while also making the wood more water resistant.
Here are some signs that your wood needs conditioned.
- it looks dry
- water absorbs into the wood instead of beading on the surface
- the surface is ruff or dull looking
![wood that needs conditioned beside wood that is conditioned](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/How-to-Make-Food-Safe-Wood-Conditioner-31.jpg)
Sanitize your wood
Before you apply your homemade wood conditioner, you are going to want to clean and sanitize your wood very well.
Wash the wooden board, spoon, or bowl with hot soapy water and then dry thoroughly with a kitchen towel.
Spray with a vinegar water solution that is 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. Wipe dry again.
How to make wood conditioner
Make a double boiler by filling a saucepan with 1 inch of water and bringing it to a simmer.
![double boiler](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/How-to-Make-Food-Safe-Wood-Conditioner-2-1024x768.jpg)
Place a heat safe glass or metal bowl onto the saucepan, making sure that the bowl sits comfortably into but not all the way into the saucepan.
Add 2 tablespoons of shaved or pelleted beeswax and 4 tablespoons of refined coconut oil to the bowl.
![melting oil and beeswax in a double boiler to make wood conditioner](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/How-to-Make-Food-Safe-Wood-Conditioner-4-1024x768.jpg)
Heat the oil and wax until it it melted. Make sure to stir it with a whisk or wooden spoon so that it doesn’t burn.
Take the melted oil off the heat and pour it into a small glass jar.
Let the conditioner cool for a few minutes, then add 8 drops of orange essential oil, if desired.
Let the conditioner cool until you can comfortably touch it, about 30 minutes before using.
![melted wood conditioner](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/How-to-Make-Food-Safe-Wood-Conditioner-10-1024x768.jpg)
Using the wood conditioner
After washing and sanitizing your wood cutting boards, spoons, or bowls, apply a generous amount of conditioner to their surfaces using a cotton rag.
Rub the conditioner in very well, making sure to even condition the bottoms and sides of boards and bowls.
![rubbing the wood conditioner into a wooden bowl](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/How-to-Make-Food-Safe-Wood-Conditioner-29-1024x768.jpg)
If the conditioner is too hard to rub into the wood, heat it up slightly.
Let the conditioner sit on the wood for at least an hour, but preferably overnight.
In the morning, wipe off any excess conditioner and buff the wood with a clean rag.
Wash the wood before using again.
Your’e done!
Why use refined coconut oil instead of unrefined?
When you are cooking and a recipe calls for coconut oil, they proabably will say to use virgin coconut oil.
This is supposed to be the healthiest version of coconut oil.
However, when you are making this conditioner you want to use refined coconut oil.
This is because unrefined coconut oil may go rancid when left exposed to air for long periods of time.
![hardened and ready wood conditioner](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/How-to-Make-Food-Safe-Wood-Conditioner-21.jpg)
Notes
other oils you can use
If you don’t want to use refined coconut oil, you can substitute it for food grade mineral oil or walnut oil.
oils not to use
Vegetable oils such as olive oil, corn oil, sunflower, soy bean oil, or canola oil should not be used, as they will go rancid.
![wood conditioner in a small glass jar](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/How-to-Make-Food-Safe-Wood-Conditioner-featured-image-300x300.png)
Natural Wood Conditioner
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp bees wax
- 4 tbsp coconut oil, refined
- 8 drops orange essential oil, optional
Instructions
- Add bees wax and coconut oil to a double boiler.
- Heat the oil and wax over medium low heat until melted, make sure to stir constantly with a wooden spoon or metal whisk.
- Take off the heat and pour it into a small glass jar, let it cool for a few minutes.
- Stir in the essential oil if using.
- Apply the wood conditioner to wood after it cools down.
pin it for later
![how to make food safe wood conditioner](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/how-to-make-food-safe-Wood-Conditioner-pin-image-683x1024.png)
How often do you like using wood conditioner?
Let us know in the comments, along with your favorite wooden kitchen item you can’t live without!
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