Dennis, I’m sorry it took so long for a reply. I was hoping someone else would chime in and then I forgot about replying.
As you may know just about any finish is food safe once it has cured. With that being said, varnishes, lacquers, shellacs are all film forming finishes which penetrate a little but mainly lay on the surface. For cutting boards , salad bowls, wooden utensils, I would not use them on because with use they will flake off and be troublesome to repair. I would use a drying oil finish such as Mahoney walnut oil, Odies oil, T.Y. Fine finish oil which is pure flax seed oil based, or pure Tung oil . The Real milk paint company sells some beeswax based finishes which are excellent.
You can also make your own if you are so inclined. I have used the following recipe with good results:
In a double boiler or a used crock pot ( strongly recommend not using your wife’s) combine the following:
1/4 lb. or 4.2oz. of pure beeswax
12 oz. by volume of T.Y. Oil or pure flax seed oil
1oz. or 4TBS. of carnuba wax flakes ( The Real Milk Paint Co.)
heat slowly until everything melts stir it gently and pour into a suitable container. Once it has hardened if you want it creamier remelt it and add more flax seed oil. Do not leave a cooking pot unattended for obvious reasons.
hope this helps.
Mike
