Finishing Wooden Chopping Block

Q: What type of safe finish can I apply to my built-in oak countertop chopping block?

A: Finishing your chopping block demands the same approach you’d use for any wooden food-contact item. You could use food-grade mineral oil (available from any drug store), 100% pure tung oil (don’t get the kind that’s polymerized with synthetic drying agents), or a designated salad bowl finish. You could also leave your chopping block bare without trouble, though it will take on a dry look in time. Either way, don’t finish the wood with anything that forms a surface film. Even if you could find something non-toxic, it would get scratched and flake off into your food.