Onion Smell

[Goonermatt]

Anyone know how to get onion smell out of wooden chopping boards?

I can't butter my toast while it's hot on my chopping board as it ends up smelling and tasting of onion and is frankly not nice with marmalade.

Is it that the smell is there for good now?

[factor-fiction]

The answer to these things is usually something like clean it with a lemon or vinegar. Whether the resultant smell will be better or worse I don't know. Or maybe stand it in a bowl of boiling water with some bread- the bread may soak up the onion smell

[Tilly2]

Well you could try soaking it in bleach water, even tough it's a wooden board. Alternatively you could buy another chopping board for buttering your toast on. I have four. Different colours for different things.

[factor-fiction]

Sorry- I was thinking of a plastic board and have just realised yours is wooden so soaking it in boiling water isn't a good idea

[rockyracoon]

There's a few ideas on here

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/354573

[Tilly2]

^ even though! Not tough.

[pastafreak]

I'd opt for lemon juice also...which *might* work. Otherwise-get a plastic chopping board.
Come to think of it-baking powder may work-it's good at drawing/absorbing bad smells out of things.

[Goonermatt]

Brilliant, i'll give all those things a go and see how I get on. Don't want to get a new board if i don't have to as a decent one isn't cheap. In the mean time I'll do the toast on a plate!

[Psybbo]

Rub it with a slice of lemon

[montyblanc]

i agree with pastafreak, on the cleaning issue and also think you should use a plastic or glass chopping 'board', or maybe get a wee board just for the onions.

[Iluvspikey]

make a paste with white vinegar, salt and bicabonate of soda (It'll fizz like mad at first) spread over your board and leave overnight, wash off in the morning in hot soapy water and you should find the smell gone.

[humbersloop]

Leave it outside in direct sunlight for a couple of hours, the uv acts as a bleach

...although it may be a while till you can do that...

[magsmay]

cover the board with bicarbonate of soda and leave it overnight - next day remove soda with boiling water from a kettle and leave to dry normally

[pusskin]

i have three chopping boards.
Good quality one for sandwiches, bread etc..
I have 2 for chopping food, onions carrots and all sorts.
if they gets a bit pongy, i soak in diluted bleach and its fine --no smells.

[boxtops]

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090223055948AAKFiA4

[Goonermatt]

thanks box, I like where the chef calls it a "T. towel"

[pusskin]

Apology! Forgot your boards are wooden!
i wouldnt have a wooden board for that same reason yrs ago.
I find plastic so much better and easier to clean with diluted bleach x

[cecil39]

just turn the board over and use the other side?