All wood projects that will be in contact with food are usually given food-safe wood finishes. A better way to have safe foods without toxic elements getting into our foods. However, Most wood finishes used on cutting boards, a salad bowl, and plates are safe wood finishes. Every wooden kitchen appliance is consequently of the unvarnished food safe wood finish.
What Is A Food Safe Wood Finish?
Wood finishing is the final step in the production process of furniture. A food-safe wood finish is applied especially to increase the durability of the wood to adverse effects of washing, scraping and eating in the kitchen. A food-safe finish does not contain any toxic elements that can harm people’s health and is also approved by FDA. Further, it is necessary to keep the pores on a wooden surface closed in order to avoid contact with moisture which leads to rotting or bacteria.
At long last, a food-grade wood finish only aims for one thing and that is your wellbeing. Another consideration is also the appearance of your wooden kitchen cutting board accompanied by the shiny finish. Non-toxic wood finishes are made from edible oils like linseed oil, Tung oil, walnut oil and some wax that don’t harm the health of a human being and also have NOX emissions levels below human tolerability limits.
As we now have an idea of what a food safe wood finish is it is now high time that we learn about various wood finishes.
Food Safe Wood Finishes
1) Pure Tung Oil
Also known as China wood oil, Tung oil has been in the market for centuries and was traditionally applied primarily to wooden boats and instruments. But it is not only limited to using wood. Tung oil has also been applied on metal concrete and brick to produce best surface finish. Therefore, if you are wondering whether it is the right finish for a small do it yourself home improvement project then, it is.
Besides its versatility to be used in all situations, the Tung oil wood finish is ecofriendly and resilient. It can give a non-tacky, opaque waterproof varnish that does not get darker, become rancid or support mold formation. Moreover there is no need for extensive training and can be applied from stage one to stage four. It dries faster than any other oil finish and cures to the honey color I love so much.
Concerning the wood grain, according to the findings it was established that Tung oil help highlight furniture wood grain. In general oil finishes are moisture resistant and give the furniture surface an old look. As for getting concern with allergy, the pure Tung oil should not be deemed as hazardous for the peanut allergic individual. Also, it does not produce a glossy or shiny surface finish, is an oil-based finish as well.
2) Raw Linseed Oil
Linseed oil is made from flax seeds. Initially, linseed oil was used in consumption. After some time other uses were found. It has several uses, some of which are: protection of indoor and outdoor timber. Because it is easily accessed, linseed oil is also used as an oil-based finishing oil. It is also environmentally friendly product and it has no toxic effect on the environment.
From a beautiful bowl finish to cutting boards and kitchen countertops, linseed has a yellowish glow that slowly turns brown. That is why the stakeholders are willing to pay for it. Not only does it work for coloring wooden furniture, but it also saturates it at the deepest level. Moreover, the consumers value is in its water resistance and UV block features.
It is also food safe and will not generate allergies or poisoning if it were to come into contact with your food. That is why it is appropriate for kitchen appliances, especially butcher blocks, among other relevant uses here. Therefore, all natural linseed oils are non-drying; they will require a very long time to dry off fully. It is also satin and is safe for use on food preparation surfaces.
3) Mineral Oil Food Grade Wood Finish
Mineral oil as a wood finish is best used over a water-based stain. Of course, mineral oil is safe and has been around for quite some time though its medical use dates back only to the 20th century. Mineral oil as a wood finish should be applied leaving the wood as NPR. After that you may use sealer which will provide you with better waterproofing than paint which has been used in the process. Mineral oil is natural which means that you will need several layers applied to ensure that a satin finish is accomplished.
It is hypoallergenic, transparent, and odorless. These qualities make it perfect for coating baby toys as it will not harm your child. But, wooden utensils require some periodic re- polishing after a period of time to maintain satin surface. In the perfect world, mineral oil food safe finishes should be reapplied every three months. Food safe, mineral oil finishes do not alter the hue of wood and give those who prefer it’s more natural look a chance.
Mineral oil finish is used; in fact if you have no issue with the maintaining your furniture, then this is the safest finish you can use on food contact surfaces. It provides shield on your wooden material. This is best if you want to add another coat over your oil finish that would not require any maintenance.
4) Olive Oil Wood Finishes
Olive oil food-grade finish is not very difficult to acquire. There are no additional apparatus that are used in the application of this theory. This oil will not only lubricate your furniture but also add nutrients which will enhance the natural textures of your wood. You also do not need so much olive finish to get the job done. The one used in the laboratory should be in a small quantity, preferably in a small bottle.
You can apply olive treatment on any surface including bookcase chairs, table and cabinets, wooden spoons, cutting boards and so on. Feel free to accompany it with an essential oil of your choice to give furniture a pleasant smell of sweetness. However, we would advise that no essential oil should be put in your olive finish on the cooking surfaces.
To do this, you should take a cloth and starting rubbing it into all the crevices of the wood until there are no signs of oil left on the wood. When it comes to a cutting board or a bowl finish, they are safe as well as edible too. Rubbing it out with a clean cloth after applying the oil will provide a better and cleaner surface.
5) Walnut Oil
For many years now, walnut oil has been a favorite wood finish. Most walnut oils are infused with linolenic acid, which contributes to early drying of the wood. Besides, it will provide an abrasive that will not disappear and will remain on the surface for a very long time. This is a highly desirable, strong, good looking and food safe finish to your projects.
You can apply some more coats till you get the kind of finish you want on your salad bowl. When using raw materials the best cure of a bowl should have a nice looking finish. However, it is necessary to reapply some of it so that your wooden appliances won’t dry out. Hence, there is no extra or special maintenance that one would have to do once they would put on this perfect wood finishing layer. Walnut oil prior to its application is subjected to heat.
Heat denaturalizes the proteins of allergens thus making it harmless when it come into contact with foods. It also observed that heat leads to the polymerization of the walnut oil hence the formation of a film-like texture. However, it is noted that the oil finish does not get darker or change color even when it is applied and re-applied.
6) Carnauba Wax
Also known as Brazil wax or palm wax, Carnauba wax produces a glossy finish. It is applicable in automobiles, speed boat hulls, instruments and many others. Because of it has high ability to resist saltwater environment, it is used on speedboat hulls. They also apply it in the cosmetic production for the thickening of lipstick, foundation and the deodorant among others.
It provides dimensional stability and moisture resistance to wooden materials and is one of the few waxes giving anti-water surface film. Therefore, Black Swan flower assists in protecting the grain beneath and the shine as well. Besides, it also helps to avoid the decay of the wood underneath and to keep the wood moist and fed without the process of getting dried.
Most carnauba wax sprays are convenient in that they can be applied very quickly when compared to water-based and other natural woodworking finishes . Because of that it is clear wax and therefore does not cause any changes to the color of your furniture. As mentioned earlier it is also applied to gleam and shine automobiles in the market and other brands.
7) Beeswax
Long gone are the days where we use toxic chemicals to keep our furniture shiny. Not only is beeswax non-toxic, but also for you to be able to get that which is best and most naturally beautiful wood in the home. Therefore, you can have tomake your furniture to look better and gorgeous. But let’s not forget that beeswax is environmentally friendly and has no negative impact on skin using any chemicals.
It has a quality of correcting a surface that is ideally suited for coverage as it provides protection from water and other elements such as heat. When your chopping boards are properly done in a sealer it creates a film that prevents the wood to dry and rot or grow moulds. In addition to cleaning and rubbing your wood, beeswax is edible and complies with the highest FDA guidelines.
This wax is safe for use on your wooden cutleries, bowls, cutting boards, and any wooden accessories. While water based varnish on wood seals pores and grain and produces a protection film wax blocks the pores and grain. It penetrates wood deeply. For instance, if you leave a piece of furniture with beeswax during the night, the beeswax soaks only up to the ¼ depth of the wood.
8) Vegetable Oil
Some vegetable oils have been often used to treat and varnish pine wood. However, there are some drawbacks involved in case you plan to use vegetable oils for a food-safe wooden finish. Such oils when applied are assimilated very fast and this is a permanent feel. At some point the greasy feeling subsides then you are left with a wonderful satin kind of feel.
When used as years progress, vegetable oil wood finishes give wood an appearance of a well seasoned timber. It becomes darker with time and develops a different shade of color. This means that depending on the layers that you succeed in putting on your wood, they will shield it from the UV damage. Out door furniture will require between two and eight layers while indoor furniture will require between three layers.
While a topcoat have never protected furniture, a vegetable oil coat will serve the purpose of giving it that desired look. Subsequently, to avoid wood stickiness after application it has to be wiped off from the excess oils.
9) Shellac
Shellac is quick-drying and easy to use. In addition to being similar to the majority of oils, it enhances the natural grain. It has been in use for years and comes in many colours and stains. Besides, it is non-toxic and not pure making it also to be used as a sealer. Organic compound from which lac bug tree releases shellac.
Shellac is food safe and thus safe for the environment. It doesn’t create a tough or plastic layer but a true polished coat or curves that will not dry, gray or yellow with time. As a general rule, shellac can be applied for most topcoats including varnish or polyurethane most of the time. Upon completion of the initial varnish layering, the wood can be varnished over and over until the final coat is put through.
On the negative side they are not heat resistant and they are also not water resistant hence not water proof. It will only whiten if brought into contact with water which is very destructive to the wooden surface. Consequently, shellac is perfect for use in areas which do not provide water or heat. More to it, it is non toxic and does not emit a very bad smell when applied.
How To Apply A Food Safe Finish
There are a few tips when you are using a food-safe finish on your furniture. We have outlined them below:
- Work on a well buffed and sanded surface.
- Always wear hand protection like gloves.
- Know how much product to use.
- When apply, use a brush or a rag in the recommended quantity.
- Allow the finish to dry before it is absorbed this into the wood.
- Remove the extra thickness of the oil finish
- You can add excess layers.
- Sand until you are satisfied with the hue
What We Think
Any wood finish requires at least thirty days to have a proper cure. So before you buy a food finish, check for the curing duration also after confirming that it is food safe. As often as possible to keep the woodworking safe, as often as possible to keep you and your dear ones safe.
We hope that your questions about what wood finish to use on a small DIY project with the family have been answered. If the product you buy has the food safe label, please make sure that you follow it to confirm.
