May 11, 2013 - 3:45pm
Birch Bowl Use and Care
It was my good fortune to find this glorious birch bowl from the Great American Bowl Company in Fairbanks, Alaska at a yard sale near my home for the amazing price of $2.00. GIven that it was such a bargain, I'm willing to purchase proper care products. Has anyone any suggestions as to the best seasoning product to use? It is apparently clear (no knots) birch,and clean. The prior owners may have used vegtetable or olive oil, as the bowl does not feel dry at all. This certainly looks like an excellent bowl for breadmaking. Many thanks!
Share
Wipe the bowl off with a wet rag, let it dry to the touch, then coat it liberally with mineral oil and place on paper towels for a few hours. (Don't use vegetable or olive oil. Those will go rancid over time.) After it has absorbed all the oil it needs, wipe any excess off. Repeat if necessary. Once the bowl is well seasoned with oil, you can wash it in the sink whenver it's dirty, then dry it with a towel. Almost forgot...don't ever put it in a dishwasher. The intense heat and extended time in water will eventually cause the bowl to check. BTW, nice bowl! :)
I found a set at our local Goddwill but it was about $15 for the 4 bowls. I have been treating mine with mineral oil and I find it can absorb quite a bit. The original directions say to do this daily for 7 days. They are such lovely bowls. I am going to try and make sourdough in mine enought that the culture will populate the bowl enough that I do not have to use any additional sourdough culture. That has been an urban legend I have heard of and thought I'd try.
That's very good advice! That's just what I'll do. I haven't quite figured out where in my tiny cupboards to put this bowl, but I'l think of something. It's a beautiful bowl. Very interesting comment about sourdough, so I'll have to try that too. Thanks again!
Don't put it in the cupboard. Put it out on the coffeetable or a countertop, somewhere that people can see it! It's not just a bowl, it's a work of art.
It is a beautiful thing. It's pretty big for my 10 square feet of counter space. Maybe clever hubby can make a perch for it on the wall, a shelf with a lip and brackets. That might work. The bowl would be visible and accessible. Thanks, kygin!
http://www.woodbowl.com/bowl-care.aspx
Thanks so much for the link. Block oil it shall be! Gave the bowl a regular hand wash today, and it looks good, so the prior owners took good care of it.
Best regards!