Old wooden cutting boards are the Rodney Dangerfields of the thrift store. They get no respect.
They’re generally sitting on the back of a bottom shelf somewhere with a pile of mismatched Corelle and frayed wicker plate holders on top of them. And if you go to the trouble of digging one out, it’s probably priced at a quarter or 50 cents.
Most shoppers don’t even bother to look at them. Because who wants a nasty old dried-out, scarred-up wooden cutting board?
Um. I do.
Personally, I think old cutting boards are beautiful, even if they are gouged up from years of use. In fact, especially if they are gouged up from years of use. Scratches and scars add character.
I never set out to collect cutting boards. But I kept seeing them on the bottom shelves, under the stacks of Corelle. And something about the simple beauty of their clean lines and rounded edges spoke to me. So I bought one, and then another, and pretty soon I decided that whenever I found a sad case for a dollar or less, I’d give it a home. So that’s what I do now.
I always wash my “new” cutting boards in hot, soapy water (with a little bit of bleach added) to clean and sanitize them. Then I rub them down with mineral oil.
Usually the mineral oil — which is non-toxic/food-safe (and dirt cheap) — soaks into the old, dried-out wood immediately.
Most of my cutting boards are a simple, no-nonsense style with a handle at the top. But a few have fancy inlaid wood designs. Probably somebody’s high school shop class project, cast off to the thrift store when Mom decided she didn’t want it any more.
And I have a couple of small pieces that are technically trivets, not cutting boards.
Just look at the intricate designs.
I think they’re absolutely gorgeous.
The bulk of my rescued cutting boards resides on top of my refrigerator …
… inside an old wire basket…
… which is another thing I didn’t set out to collect but seem to have acquired quite a few of over the years.
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This makes me want to start a cutting board collection!
I echo what Carol ^ said! I love how you have them in a wire basket. Great collection and display.
A lot of the intricately designed ones may have been projects from high school woodworking classes, my brothers made some that were very detailed and gorgeous.
Chess board one is stunning! Love your collection, it's a nice kitchen accent.
I hope you will share your collection with our new Link Up – Idea box:
http://milaslittlethings.com/2015/03/idea-box-thursday-link-party.html
xx
Mila
I think I need more cutting boards in my life 🙂
Those are so cool-especially the ones with geometric patterns! Thanks for the inspiration!
Love a good wood cutting board! I think I have an idea for a new collection I should start 😉
Thanks for sharing at Talented Tuesday! Hope to see you again this week 🙂
Love the chessboard cutting board! I have one, a simple two toned one, but after seeing all your beautiful ones in a wired basket, I need to add more to my collection!
I hope you will share your wonderful collection with our linkup-Oh Heartsie Girl Wordless Wednesday! http://cherishingasweetlife.blogspot.com/2015/03/wordless-wednesday.html