Wooden chopping boards are used everyday all round the world for their durability and quality, as many people consider them better than plastic or other materials. But how will a wooden chopping board withstand the oven?
Here Is Why A Wooden Board Is Not Ovenproof:
It is best not to use a wooden chopping board in the oven, depending on the thickness of the board and the type of wood.
It is said that a American white oak can withstand 350 celsius in the oven, but this is not the case with other types of woods, so it is best not to risk it for the below reasons:
Wooden Chopping Boards Can Burn In the oven
Wooden boards are not completely heat resistant
The heat of the oven dries out the wood and can melt any glue
Causes cracking on the wood and can leave black marks
Dries up any oils left on the board
Below we have listed the above reasons why a chopping boards should never be used in the oven, giving you a detailed report on why you should never risk it. Thanks for reading.
What Temperature In The Oven Can A Wooden Chopping Board Hold In The Oven?
For the best results and long lifespan of your wooden chopping board, it is crucial to have a basic grasp of the temperature it can withstand in an oven. However, many vital factors dictate just what that temperature is.
First, different wood types make a difference in this heat resistance. For example, oak boards require a higher oven temperature than maple boards. In addition, if you regularly apply mineral oil to your chopping board, the resultant glossy finish offers additional protection from high temperatures, which may allow for lower temperatures without compromising longevity or quality.
Second, the thickness of a chopping board is essential. As a general rule, it can be said that the thinner the board, the higher temperature it will be able to withstand for more extended periods.
Third, if you are looking for the highest quality results from your wooden chopping board, it is worth considering getting a thicker one. That will not just make your chopping experience better, but it should pay off in terms of the extended lifespan of your board. Popular thicknesses are 6-8mm and 12mm or greater.
Finally, any additional coatings will affect just how high you can take your board’s temperature. In some cases, a light coating of beeswax or similar might be considered a good idea – this will add to the board’s longevity.
However, when you take a board and coat it with varnish or similar, it will significantly reduce its heat resistance properties. To make matters worse, if you are using any oil, then this will not just degrade your board, but before long, it is likely to ignite and start on fire; that is why it is recommended to use mineral oil.
The chopping boards that most people use are made from American White Oak (Quercus alba), a solid hardwood that can easily withstand temperatures up to 350 degrees Celsius.
That can help you push the oven temperatures to a maximum of 400 degrees Celsius, which is more than sufficient for your average daily chopping needs.
Reasons Why A Wooden Board Is Not Ovenproof
Wooden Chopping Boards Can Burn
There is a false understanding that because a wooden chopping board is made of wood, it isn’t possible to burn it. That is incorrect. There are many ways to get fire and smoke on their wooden cutting board – using too high of heat in the oven, setting the board close to an open flame on the stovetop, or leaving them under a broiler for too long.
If you manage to burn through your chopping board (which will eventually happen depending on how often you use it), sanding off that outer layer will reveal another layer waiting to be burned eventually. The boards are so prone to burning that they were initially designed to catch fire and spread quickly.
Unfortunately, this has caused the boards to be banned from certain countries and placed in a category of dangerous items.
The main difference between a wooden board and a non-wooden board is how long you can use it before replacing it. Wood wears down over time due to the natural drying of the wood, and this process is sped up when used daily with direct heat (i.e., stovetop or oven).
When the board becomes too thin and prone to “burning” or warping, it is recommended to replace it. However, if you do not use your board daily, you may get away with using the same board for years.
Not Completely Heat Resistant
Although wood is surrounded by thousands of tiny pores, which allows it to absorb heat and release it slowly, it doesn’t have the true “ovenproof” properties of a silicone mat or material such as aluminum foil because they are completely heat resistant.
For instance, if someone were to pour boiling water on the wood and leave it there for 10 minutes before removing it, cracks could form in the board and make it unsafe to cook any food.
People think a wooden board is ovenproof because wood does not catch fire or burn like metals or plastics. However, when it comes to cooking, the board can heat up to high enough temperatures to be considered dangerous.
The heat can cause the pores in the wood to expand and could lead to cracking. After it cools down, if you continue using the board, it could also lead to bacteria growth on the now rough surface of the board, which is similar in texture to a cheese grater.
This bacteria could make you sick if you decide to eat off of it again. Fortunately, the board can be cleaned with mineral oil to remove bacteria. Otherwise, you might have to throw the board out and buy a new one.
Dries The Wooden Board Out
Most people are guilty of underestimating the damage done to wood when it is placed on an oven rack. We often think that since wood is a natural material and has been around for a very long time, it should be safe from the hot temperatures that can potentially ruin our wooden boards.
That is not always true, however. The heat can wreak havoc with softer woods such as pine or spruce, but hardwoods like oak or mahogany can still dry out when heated up to certain temperatures.
If you want to cook on a wooden board, you need to put it under something that can protect it from the direct heat of an open flame. You can use another pan or pot with handles or a heavy lid; this will allow you to cook food without damaging your board at all.
Causes Cracking
Have you ever tried to put a wooden board in the oven? Regardless of how well seasoned your wood is, if you place it in a hot oven for more than 10 minutes, it will crack.
You may not notice this at first because the cracks will not be visible until the wood cools down, but then any liquids or food on top of it can seep into the cracks and create an unpleasant mess. That is because heat expands the fibers in wood while pressure compresses them.
Wood has “fiber reinforcement” in its cells, so the expansion and compression naturally occur when you put the wood through an oven cycle. The cracks form because the fibers do not have time to relax between contraction and relaxation. They are worried they will never be able to contract again, so they stay that way – forever.
Can Cause Black Over The Surface
A wooden board can cause black over the surface, which may be an unpleasant surprise to some. The reason for this is that boards are not oven-safe and will eventually get hot enough to leave marks of their own in the form of scorching.
The boards do not make an excellent substitute for frying pans or other cooking utensils when you want to prepare food thoroughly because of the potential to either include too much or not enough oil or grease during cooking.
You should never leave your board on high heat unattended; even if you do, you may incur damage. Lastly, if you want to store your board after using it and do not want to risk ruining it by either incinerating or burning it with heat, covering it with a piece of wax paper will prevent any damage.
Hot Temperatures Cause Glues On Board To Come Undone
When a wooden board is heated, the adhesives that hold the wood together can lose cohesion. That happens slowly at first, but once a certain temperature is reached (around 140 degrees Fahrenheit), it increases exponentially.
While some adhesive-backed boards are made with polyvinyl acetate (PVA), which does not come undone even when heated, others have glue that only works in cooler temperatures. If you leave an adhesive-backed board on an open flame like your oven or grill, you will see pieces fall off the side of the board as it heats up.
In addition to the loss of adhesion in your wood, you will also be at risk of inhaling dangerous fumes. Most glues and adhesives contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde, which is known to cause cancer when inhaled. If you heat a board in an oven, this formaldehyde can be released into the air.
Dries Up Any Oils Left On The Board
Wooden boards are made of natural materials that dry out over time. This drying process also removes any oils left on the board. When an oil-powered oven reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 degrees Celsius), the wood will catch fire and burn up in just minutes, so you need to use some other kind of surface if you want to place it in your oven.
The board will also be destroyed in the process. And while you can use a wooden board in an oven that gets to 300 F (149 C), you should avoid using it above 350 degrees. You will also run the risk of burning it up, and your dish or food will stick to it rather than heating up evenly. That is because wood does not reach the same kind of rapid temperature increase that ceramic or metal pans, so your dish or food will appear cool instead of heated up enough to sear properly.