Food-Grade Mineral Oil

Protects the surface and maintains the integrity of slate or wooden boards and utensils and gives them polish and luster. Prevents absorption of odors and flavors as well as drying and cracking in wood. Use also on carbon steel. Made in the USA. (more info)

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Prolong the life of slate and wood and revitalize their appearance. Regular treatment with mineral oil prevents the absorption of food odors and liquids, a particular issue with wood, and makes cleaning easier. It keeps wood from drying out and cracking. It also brings out the unique formation and color variation of slate boards and highlights the grain and softens the surface of wood ones. Mineral oil can be used also to ward off corrosion in carbon steel knives and tools.

A liquid by-product of petroleum, food-grade mineral oil is flavorless and odorless. It does not create sticky build-up, go rancid, or stain wood.

Use & Care

For slate, wipe down a clean board with a drop or two of oil and a clean, dry cloth about twice a year. Wood requires more frequent application, depending on frequency of use, but it’s easy to tell if your wooden cutting boards or utensils need more: after washing and allowing to dry thoroughly, rub generous amounts of mineral oil in the direction of the grain, and if the wood absorbs the oil immediately, add another coat. Repeat if necessary. Allow to penetrate the wood for at least five minutes, or better still, overnight. Wipe off excess.

Production & Design

Kristy Hadeka is the fourth generation of a slate mining concern; her great-grandfather bought the family’s first slate quarry and they have since expanded to several more dotted across the Vermont and New York Slate Valley, a unique geological region spanning the two states that has a long history in slate production. Her father, uncles, and older brother all work in slate production, primarily in the manufacture of roofing tiles. And as a child, she longed to work in the quarries too.

In 2009, Hadeka, a Parsons graduate student, and her partner, web developer and graphic designer Sean Tice, hit upon an idea while visiting her family’s slate quarry in upstate New York. Inspired by the handcrafted DIY movement that was picking up momentum in Brooklyn, where they live, they brought back some pieces of slate to use at home and to give to friends. The response was so overwhelmingly positive that the couple decided to produce a line of slate products. And Hadeka loves being able to work with her father every day.

Hadeka and Tice regularly travel to the quarry to personally select their favorite pieces of slate. Some of the slate is new, while other pieces are repurposed. They cut and clean the stones at their studio in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Any Questions?

Please email support@kaufmann-mercantile.com. We reply to every email promptly. Or call us at 347 529 5122.

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