If you are considering using an epoxy resin cutting board, it is important to know the ins and outs of this unusual material.
This article will cover what epoxy resin is, whether or not it’s safe for food use, how to create a safe cutting surface using epoxy, and how to keep your cutting board in good condition.
How does epoxy hold up as a cutting board?
No! Don’t do this! Epoxy resin is not food safe. Plain and simple. It is not meant for food contact, it is not food-safe, it is not food grade, it will not pass health inspections for kitchen products and if you see anyone using epoxy like that you should tell them to stop. You do not want this material in your body.
It will leech chemicals into your food or drinks that can cause nausea, headaches, and other adverse health effects in the short term and maybe cancer or other serious biological problems in the longer term.
We are talking about a potentially life-ending product here.
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Is epoxy safe for food?
Food safety is a big concern for many people, and understandably so. Luckily, epoxy resin has been deemed “food safe” by the FDA.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should consume it! Food grade means something is safe to come into contact with foodstuffs but that doesn’t mean it’s edible or nutritious.
The FDA considers epoxy safe to come in contact with food because it is a glue-like substance made from natural substances like tree sap and petroleum products.
Epoxy resin can be used to coat cutting boards and kitchen counters because it prevents the growth of bacteria when cured properly—but you wouldn’t want anything like this inside your body!
In short: while epoxy resin itself may not be harmful if ingested, we don’t recommend consuming any amount of epoxy resin or its components as they are not “food grade” ingredients either (you definitely don’t want them stored in plastic containers!).
If there was accidental ingestion then seek medical attention immediately just as one would do with any other non-edible substance (e.g., paint).
How do you make an epoxy cutting board?
- Choose a mold: The first step to making an epoxy cutting board is to choose a mold, preferably one that’s at least 1 inch in thickness and made of strong material like silicone. Silicone molds will prevent your epoxy from sticking to the sides and allow for easy removal once it has fully cured. You can also use plastic or wooden molds-but you’ll have to sand them down before each use so the epoxy doesn’t stick.
- Make sure your epoxy is food-safe: Make sure you’re using a food-safe, FDA-approved epoxy like EnviroTex Lite® when making your cutting board (most craft stores will carry this). Then follow all the instructions on how much epoxy you need for your project size and make sure everything is in proportion before mixing together with an ice cream scoop or spatula until all ingredients are combined evenly into one color (this takes about 10 minutes by hand).
- Pour the mixture into your mold: Once you’ve mixed up enough resin for what size board you want, pour it into your mold and spread it out evenly across any holes or dips in order to fill those areas first! Don’t worry too much about bubbling; the heat from curing will remove most bubbles as long as they aren’t trapped under layers or clumps which could cause uneven drying time later on when placed under pressure after curing completely overnight (if done properly). This step takes around 12 hours depending on temperature conditions so keep an eye on progress every few hours just in case something goes wrong during this part of process since putting hot liquids directly onto cool surfaces may cause cracks due to extreme temperature differences between two materials being heated/cooled rapidly without sufficient transition periods between each state change.”
What happens when you put food in epoxy?
But what happens when you accidentally get some uncured epoxy on your food? Well, because the resin cures to a solid, plastic-like material, it creates an airtight seal and traps whatever is inside. This means that your food will not spoil.
It also means that your food will be encased in hard plastic.
And it also means that you can’t eat your food anymore.
So if you don’t want to throw away perfectly good bread just because there is some uncured epoxy on it then choose another cutting board for now and wait for the epoxy to cure completely before using it as a cutting board again or before using the cured epoxy in any other way.
Can you put epoxy on butcher block?
For cutting boards made of hardwood or butcher block, we recommend using a food-safe epoxy resin. This is specifically for cutting boards that are made to be used multiple times, as the epoxy should be completely cured and food-safe before use.
The curing process depends on the type of hardwood used in your cutting board and can vary from 1 to 3 weeks.
Is epoxy toxic after curing?
The resin used in making epoxy is a natural ingredient, and the curing process often involves heating it to very high temperatures.
This means that once cured, it will not have any toxic effect on you. It is, therefore, safe to use with food. You can use cured epoxy as storage for food items like fruits or vegetables and even prepare your meals directly on top of it without worrying about toxicity.
However, it’s important to note here that we’re talking about epoxy being non-toxic after it has fully cured—not during the curing process.
For example, if you’re working with an uncured epoxy countertop and spill some of the still-liquid resin onto your skin, don’t assume that because this product is generally safe for use with a food you can just wipe off the liquid or wash out your gloves.
The uncured liquid form of epoxy may be irritating to your skin or cause chemical burns if left on for too long so make sure to take proper safety precautions when working with this kind of product!
How do you make a wooden epoxy cutting board?
Measure out your cutting board and plan for the final design. For a rectangular board, figure out if you want it to be narrow or wide, and then cut your wood to the desired size.
If you want rounded edges for your cutting board, you will need to use a router.A router is used to shape and create decorative edges in woodworking projects.
Now that your wood is ready, we can move on to preparing and applying the epoxy resin
Prepare your epoxy resin according to the instructions on its label. The container should have instructions on how much hardener must be added.
Be sure to get all of the steps right as epoxy resin will not cure properly if it’s mixed incorrectly.
Apply a generous layer of epoxy resin on top of a clean piece of wood—around a one-eighth inch thick or more—and spread it evenly with a foam brush or other tool designed for this project (wood spreader).
Allow time for the epoxy resin to cure before moving forward with sanding and polishing your cutting board
You will now need to sand down any imperfections on the surface of your wooden cutting board before using polish or sealant on it.
Use 150 grit sandpaper first, then go over it with 300 grit paper until there are no scratches visible from 150 grit sandpaper (look at an angle when doing this).
You may also wish to use 400-grit sandpaper; however, it’s optional after using 300-grit paper first.
Polish your newly made cutting board with mineral oil if desired – this step is optional but recommended because some people like giving their friends something special for their birthday or Christmas gift!
This step requires only two ingredients: 100% pure tung oil (also called Chinese walnut) which can be found at many local hardware stores; rubbing alcohol 70% isopropyl alcohol works best but 91% works too which comes in handy sizes for perfecting gifts!
How do you make epoxy food safe?
The first thing to do is make sure you use food safe epoxy. This can be a little tricky since many companies don’t list their ingredients, but making sure you purchase epoxy from a reputable company (many of the brands mentioned above are very good) should minimize the risk. If you are particularly worried about it, look for an “FDA certified” or “food grade” epoxy.
It is very important that your cutting board is thoroughly cured before using it with food. Most manufacturers recommend waiting at least one week to ensure maximum cure time, but it can take up to two weeks for some materials. Just be patient! Cutting boards used with uncured epoxy should not be used again until fully cured.
It is also recommended that you always wash and dry your cutting board completely before storing it away; this will help prevent mold and other unwanted particles from sticking to its surface in your kitchen.
Conclusion
So, can epoxy be used as a cutting board?
Not directly. Epoxy is not safe for food contact because it contains harmful chemicals and is easily scratched by knives.
This means that epoxy can harbor bacteria and toxins like lead, which you would then ingest when preparing food.
But don’t worry—there are ways to make your epoxy creation safe to use around food! If you’re a wood enthusiast who loves the look of resin-infused wood creations but also needs them to be useful in the kitchen, we have some good news: there are products available that can help make your resin masterpiece both gorgeous and functional