We at Cheese Grotto love using bamboo for our cheese storage boxes and cheese boards. It’s sustainable, beautiful, durable, and easy to clean. The best bamboo cheese servers can last a lifetime with the right care and a little maintenance. Here’s how to clean yours properly and keep it looking great for years to come.

How to Clean a Bamboo Cheese Board

Wash bamboo cheese servers and cutting boards with mild dish soap and hot water. You can use a sponge or dishcloth for everyday cleaning. Reach for fine steel wool or a scrub brush to remove stubborn stuck-on food.

If you’d like to disinfect the board or remove odors, wipe it down with a paper towel soaked in a three-to-one solution of hot water and distilled white vinegar. One of the benefits of bamboo is that it’s unfinished, so you can deep clean or even sand down the surface with 400-grit sandpaper if stubborn stains appear.

After washing and disinfecting, rinse your bamboo board thoroughly. You can wipe it down with a clean dish towel if you’d like to use it right away, but it’s best to stand up the board in a drying rack with good air circulation and allow it to air dry for several hours or overnight.

Can a Bamboo Cutting Board Go in the Dishwasher?

Like wooden boards, bamboo cheese servers and cutting boards should be washed by hand and never put in the dishwasher. Why? The dishwasher’s wet environment and high heat can cause your board to warp or crack.

The best way to clean bamboo boards is with mild soap, hot water, and a little elbow grease. Save your dishwasher space for glass, plastic, ceramic, and stainless steel so you can focus on cleaning and caring for your wood or bamboo utensils and servingware.

Why Bamboo Is a Great Material for Cheese Boards

Wooden cheese boards look beautiful but can be pricey, heavy, and difficult to clean and maintain. Bamboo offers the warm, natural look of wood for a more affordable price.

Well-made bamboo cheese servers are often more durable than wooden ones. Because bamboo boards don’t absorb water as easily as wood, they’re less likely to warp or split. Both wooden and bamboo cheese boards should be cleaned and maintained with care.

Maintaining Your Bamboo Cheese Server

Once your bamboo cheese board is completely dry, it’s ready to be put away (or used to serve more cheese). Every once in a while, you’ll want to oil your board to keep it in good condition.

Can I Use Mineral Oil on a Bamboo Cheese Board?

Yes, you can use food-grade, non-formulated mineral oil on your bamboo cheese server. You can find it at drugstores and online. You can also use board balm, a blend of beeswax and mineral oil.

Avoid cooking oils like olive, coconut, walnut, or canola, as these aren’t meant for seasoning boards and can impart flavors or go rancid. Read more about the best oils to use on your bamboo boards.

How to Oil a Bamboo Cheese Board

To oil a bamboo cheese server, apply a generous amount of oil or board balm all over its front, back, and sides—enough to coat it thoroughly but not enough to soak the board, which can damage its construction. Allow the oil or balm to sit on the surface for about 24 hours to be absorbed.

The next day, buff away any excess with a clean, dry cloth. You can test your boards’ seasoning by putting a drop of water on the surface. If it stays on the surface and isn’t absorbed, you’re good to go—and your board is ready to serve another delicious cheesy spread.

How do you clean and maintain your bamboo cheese boards? Tag us @cheesegrotto on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and let us know!