The Ultimate Guide to Food Safe Wood Stain


Do you want food-safe wood on your deck or patio? If so, then a food-safe wood stain is the product for you. Food safe wood stain is a new type of wood treatment that provides food-safe protection to the surface of any type of outdoor furniture. This article will explore what food-safe wood stains are and how they work, as well as offer tips for shopping for this type of product.

What is Food Safe Wood Stain?

Food safe wood stain is any type of animal-safe water-based coloring that is used to stain woods, such as furniture, cabinets, and floors. It’s often used in kitchens and dining areas because it’s not toxic to consume. The typical colors for food-safe wood stains are black, brown, light brown, yellow, or green.

Popular ArticlesFun Woodworking Trivia Quiz
3 Ways To Build Floating Shelves9 Scrap Wood Projects That Sell
21 Pallet Wood Projects5 Small Woodworking Tools Every Woodworker Can Use
174 Woodworking Tips And Tricks12 Tools Under $20 Every Woodworker Needs
Glue Squeeze Out Clean Up Trick Everyone Should Know20 Scrap Wood Project Ideas
25 Table Saw Jigs6 DIY Charcuterie Board Build Projects
8 Uses For Thin Strips Of Scrap WoodTable Saw Accessories
99% Of Woodworkers Don’t Know These 5 Tips and TricksSmall Projects That Sell

Food-Safe Finishes

Subscribe to The Home Depot on Youtube

Food Safe Wood Stain Colors

Food safe wood stain colors look like this:

White-The white color expression of food-safe wood stains is chalky and can be a little uneven. The color will show up more intense if the surface is scratched or scuffed.

Red- The red expression of food-safe wood stains is rich, glossy, and tends to dry to a nice, smooth finish.

Black- The black expression of food-safe wood stains is dark and even without variations in shade.

Green- The green expression of food-safe wood stains dries into a matte finish that can look almost grey in some lights. It has an even tone throughout the board with no variations or speckling.

Blue- The blue expression of food-safe wood stains is more transparent than the other color expressions and has a matte finish. This is one of the few food-safe wood stains that looks different on various types of wood.

Orange- The orange expression of food-safe wood stain colors offers an even tone throughout, which can vary depending upon whether you use sapwood or heartwood as your surface ingredient. It dries into a matte finish that can look like a slightly lighter or darker shade of brown.

Pink- The pink expression color of food-safe wood stains is very similar to the orange in its variability and opacity, but it does tend to be a bit brighter than the former. It dries into a satin sheen with an even tone throughout your surface.

Discover 1,000 Hours Of Step-By-Step Woodworking Videos

Click Here To View

It’s called Woodwork101. A database of detailed videos and blueprints in crystal clear, mouth-watering HD that will take you by the hand and show you that DIY home projects done the right way are easy, fun, and always of top quality… turning a dream into reality in a heartbeat. Getting you that perfect build each and every time.

Food Safe Wood Stain and Sealer

Food safe wood sealer is a product that is designed to protect the wood from any kind of food or beverage stains. The sealer does not provide an aesthetic quality to the wood, but it does provide protection for the life of the stain. Food-safe wood stain provides protection for the life of the stain and also adds an aesthetic quality to the wood.

Food Safe Wood Stain for Cutting Board

There are many different types of wood stains on the market today. Some of them are safe to use on cutting boards, while others are not. Some people might be tempted to use one type of stain on a cutting board if they find it more affordable than another type.

But this is unwise because some stains will not break down, which means that it can cause problems for your cutting board later on. Check the product’s label before you buy it to make sure that you are getting a food-safe stain for your cutting board.

Food Safe Wood Stain for Butcher Block

Aside from the many health benefits that wood offers, butcher block’s most noteworthy characteristic is its ability to be cut into a variety of designs and shapes. Butcher blocks are also typically sealed with a food-safe finish such as mineral oil, vegetable oil, or wax. Provided these finishes can withstand typical use and care for your kitchen surfaces, they will keep the beauty of the wood while maintaining hygiene.

Food Safe Wood Stain can be applied to butcher blocks in order to protect them from stains and spills. The stain protects the wood of butcher blocks, but it can also get on your knives.

1 pt Rust-Oleum 66051H Watco Butcher Block Oil & Finish

Homemade Food Safe Wood Stain

Homemade Wood Stains are usually made of items found around the house, like vinegar and lemon juice. One popular method is to mix water with vinegar or lemon juice and then apply it to the wood.

Some people even make their own wood stain by adding some food coloring to the mixture. As with store-bought options, it’s important to make sure that anything you use on your wood isn’t toxic before you use it on your furniture.

[Video] 3 Most Common Mistakes
When Setting Up Shop

Click Here To View

A woodworking friend of mine shared this video by Ralph Chapman with me that helped him set up his workshop. 

The video explains the benefits of Ralph Chapman’s guide about setting up an affordable workshop and avoiding the most common mistakes offers to anyone interested in woodworking.

Is There a Food Safe Wood Stain?

The key to finding a food-safe wood stain is to identify which type of natural oil you plan on using. Lighter oils such as linseed oil and tung oil can be used on raw wood and will not discolor the surface when they dry.

Once the natural oils have dried, you can simply wipe off the excess and apply a finishing coat like wax or varnish if you want. Some people may prefer to sand and seal their finished product prior to staining with your paste.

If this sounds like something you would like to try, we recommend sanding for between 30 minutes and an hour using progressively finer sandpaper grits (120-150) before staining with any type of wood stain.

Watco 359024 Butcher Block Oil Plus Stain is the best option you have if you want to stain and protect your wood butcher block. It also comes in a ton of different colors, so it can be used on other surfaces as well, such as cabinets or even furniture!

What Stain Is Safe for Food?

Stain is a liquid that gives your wood a darker color. There are many types of stains available on the market, but it’s important to know which ones can be used around food and which ones cannot. Some people choose not to use any type of stain because they do not want their countertops or tables stained with chemicals from the stain.

A few examples of food-safe wood stains include aromatic cedar, Indian walnut, and wine vinegar. All these items can be found in the home or garden center at your local hardware store, and they all give a different look to our furniture piece. Most people choose natural products because they do not want their food exposed to harmful chemicals.

Food Safe Wood Finish for Tried and True Original Finish non-toxic wood bowls

Subscribe to Turn A Wood Bowl on Youtube

Tried & True Original Wood Finish – Pint

Is Minwax Food Safe?

Minwax is a brand that specializes in stains and finishes. They make both exterior and interior products for furniture, decks, doors, and walls. There are many different types of Minwax available on the market today, but it’s important to know which ones you can use around food and which ones cannot be used near food surfaces.

There are many types of Minwax stains that can be used for any type of wood furniture piece. These products contain no harmful chemicals and do not emit fumes into the air. This is important to know because you don’t want your food exposed to toxic chemicals when you eat on wooden surfaces stained with this product.

However, Minwax 233334444 Polycrylic Protective Wood Stain is safe to use on surfaces that are used to prepare food. This product can be applied to any type of furniture piece, and it gives the wood a nice shine without emitting dangerous fumes into the air.

Can Wood Stain Make You Sick?

Food safe wood stain is the safest type of all stains. Food-safe stains are made with ingredients that can be ingested or eaten without any ill effects on your health. Wood finishing forums will tell you they have used a particular finish for years with no problems, but today’s world has changed, and many finishes may not meet food safety requirements.

Is Polyurethane Finish Food Safe?

Polyurethane is a type of finish that has been used on wood for ages, but it may not be safe enough to use in your home anymore unless you apply the new water-based finishes. The older oil-based polyurethanes are no longer considered food safe due to the toxicity and health hazards they present.

What Type of Wood Finish Is Food Safe?

The finishes that are considered food safe have been tested and approved by the FDA. These include oil-based varnishes, water-based urethanes, or polyurethanes which go on clear without a yellowish tint. Alcohol-based stains do not work because they allow bacteria to grow in them over time.

What Does a Food Safe Wood Finish Look Like?

Food safe wood finishes are usually clear or very pale in color. They may have a slight yellow tint, but this is not harmful to your health as long as the finish has been tested by the FDA. If you are unsure of any kind of stain on your kitchen table, water-based finishes are a great choice because they contain fewer toxins and poisons.

Staining a Cutting Board?

Subscribe to An American Artisan on Youtube

Is Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish Food Safe?

Yes, Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish is food-safe. If you are applying it to a cutting board, butcher block table, or any kitchen surface that touches foods and beverages directly, then Minwax polycrylic protective finish will be fine for this purpose. Just make sure the piece is clean and dry before the application of sealant.

Is Water-Based Urethane Food Safe?

Yes, water-based urethane is food-safe. This type of sealant will be fine to use on butcher blocks and other kitchen surfaces that touch foods directly.

Also, make sure the surface dries completely before it touches any kind of food or beverage, as this can create a slippery area even though the finish has dried clear. If you’re using a butcher block table, you may want to wait at least 24 hours for this area before placing any beverages or food on it.

Is Oil-Based Urethane Food Safe?

No, oil-based urethanes such as an epoxy finish are not considered food safe and should never be used in the kitchen unless the surface is completely sealed over with a food-grade sealant.

Is Tung Oil A Food Safe Finish?

No, tung oil is not a food-safe wood finish and should never be used on any surface that directly touches food or beverages. Also, tung oil finishes are not durable and will need to be reapplied after use.

Is Varathane Staining Food Safe?

Once dry, film finishes are food safe. Not all stains are food-safe. There is no regulation over what makes a wood stain or paint “food safe” since it does not directly affect human health in most cases. As such, you can’t trust product labels alone to guarantee that a certain type of stain is acceptable for use on the surfaces inside your home where foods will come into contact with it.

Be sure to ask the manufacturer whether a particular product is food safe and, if not, how you can render it so that it is. If they don’t know or tell you there isn’t an easy way – then apply their stain on something that won’t be eaten, such as your garden fence!

Using a non-food safe wood stain around the house is generally not harmful, but it can be if you don’t take precautions and avoid the following: wearing gloves while applying the paint or varnish to all areas that will come into contact with food; eating anything that has been exposed to non-food safe stains, such as ice cream or cake; using non-food safe utensils to serve food at your dinner table.


[Guide] How To Launch Your Woodworking Business For Under $1000

Click Here To View

If you’re considering turning your woodworking hobby into a part-time business check out this helpful guide on how to get started.


Is Rubio Monocoat Food Safe?

Yes, Rubio Monocoat is food-safe. So, it is safe if you want to use it on surfaces that will come into contact with food. It has passed extensive testing and fulfills the requirements for a high-quality oil finishing product as set out by the EC Flavouring Regulation No. 1334/2008, which means there are no solvents or harmful substances in our products – only natural ingredients.

Their products are also safe to use in areas where people, including children and pregnant women, will spend time every day. The chemicals that cause the most harm during normal exposure are not present in their oil finishes. They don’t release harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into your home’s air but instead give off pure wood aromas.

Hand Carved Utensils | Build It | Ask This Old House

Subscribe to This Old House on Youtube

Is Watco Lacquer Food-Safe?

Watco Lacquer can be used on surfaces that will come into contact with food. Because the lacquer is free of dangerous chemicals and compounds, it can be utilized in locations where people eat and drink. It is safe to use in an area where pregnant women spend a lot of time due to the low VOCs (volatile organic compounds) emitted during evaporation from both solvent-borne and water-borne lacquers.

Furthermore, Watco Lacquer is safe to use in homes where children play and on surfaces that come into contact with food. You can feel confident using this lacquer for your cabinets, floors, woodwork, or other items made of any kind of wood since it does not release harmful chemicals when drying.

Is Bulls Eye Shellac Food Safe?

Shellac is a natural resin secreted by the insect Laccifer lacca. It has been used as a wood finish since time immemorial and was originally derived from tree sap, but now it’s more likely to be made synthetically or come from recycled flakes. The food-safe version of shellac comes in the form of liquid and in flakes.

When it is dry, shellac forms a tough and durable finish that resists water damage and household chemicals like alcohol or acetone (nail polish remover). It can be mixed with other colors to create any shade of amber. But despite its durability, the Food & Drug Administration does not recognize shellac as an approved food-safe sealer.

Which Epoxy Resins Are Food Safe?

Epoxy resin is a substance made up of long chains of molecules that are mixed with particular catalysts or hardeners to make strong, clear coatings. The FDA defines epoxies as food safe if the finished coating contains no more than 250 parts per million (ppm) of extractable organic compounds.

Epoxy resin has been used for decades to coat kitchen countertops. Epoxy is a tough, food-safe coating that is resistant to damage from water and household chemicals like alcohol or acetone (nail polish remover). It’s usually available in two parts: an “epoxy resin” hardener and a catalyst. The catalyst may contain amine compounds which are classified as food safe.

In the United States, epoxy resin is only considered food safe in its cured form because it may contain a small amount of extractable organic compounds from chemical reactions that occur during manufacture and during storage.

Is Johnson’s Paste Wax Food Safe?

Johnson’s paste wax is a mixture of carnauba and beeswax. The FDA does not consider it to be food-safe because the label warns users against using it near an open flame or on hot surfaces, both of which can cause the wax to become flammable.

Dying wood with food coloring.

Subscribe to karlpopewoodcraft on Youtube

Is Bamboo Food Safe?

Bamboo has been used to make utensils, bowls, and chopsticks for more than two thousand years. However, bamboo is not considered to be food-safe unless it has been treated with an approved finish like mineral oil or boiled linseed oil (BLO).

Is Butcher Block Food Safe?

Butcher block countertops are made of wood that’s glued together in layers. Some manufacturers finish the wood with two or more coats of an oil-based food-safe sealer before cutting it to size and making it smooth.

A butcher block is a durable, solid surface made from strips of hardwood glued together in layers then finished with a penetrating oil that’s boiled with some type of wax to make it water-resistant. The FDA recognizes this type of finish as food safe because the oil and wax do not contaminate or absorb any preservatives, flavors, or nutrients from foods that are prepared on them.

Is Cedar Wood Food Safe?

Cedar is softwood with historically widespread use in construction (especially roofing) and by sailors for shipbuilding. Cedar is not considered to be food-safe unless it has been treated with an approved finish like mineral oil or boiled linseed oil (BLO).

Is Douglas Fir Food Safe?

Douglas fir plywood is made of layers of wood that are cross-stacked then glued together. The FDA recognizes this type of finish as food safe because the oil and wax do not contaminate or absorb any preservatives, flavors, or nutrients from foods that are prepared on them.

Is Waterlox Food Safe?

Not all wood stains are food-safe. Waterlox is food-safe as long as it is fully cured prior to use for any type of high heat application, such as on a cutting board or stovetop. For specific information about the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s regulation of substances that contact food, visit their website.

Waterlox Original Tung oil finishes are also safe for cutting boards and countertops when the finish has cured (minimum 30 days, 72 hours dry time). Waterlox can be used on butcher block tops that will not come in contact with food directly by applying a minimum of three coats to seal the wood; then follow the normal re-application schedule for cutting board oil.

Waterlox Marine Sealer is not recommended for use on any food contact surface due to its film-forming properties, which are designed for exterior surfaces where it can be wiped clean without impact to the wood’s protective coating of finishes underneath. While Waterlox Original Tung oil finishes are food safe when cured, they have not been tested by the FDA for use on cutting boards or countertops.

Finishing a cutting board with coffee and coconut oil

Subscribe to Mountain Fire Woodworks on Youtube

Is Rustoleum Enamel Food Safe?

When used as directed and cured (dried), Rust-Oleum Restore is safe for food preparation surfaces.

Is There a Paint That Is Food Safe?

Yes, there are paint products that can be used on food surfaces. Unfortunately, since the regulations around what is considered “food safe” have not been clearly established by various government agencies or private organizations, it is difficult to know which paints will meet specific guidelines for being labeled as such.

The best advice when selecting a paint product for a food surface is to read the product label and look for terms such as “food safe,” “safe on a food-contact surface,” or “suitable for use in federally inspected meat and poultry plants.

In addition, if there are multiple coats of paint used on a specific surface, it may be difficult to determine if all paints used are food safe.

Recommended Posts:

woodworking resources

Kevin Nelson

I will always have a special place in my heart for woodworking. I have such fond memories working on projects with my parents on the weekends in the garage growing up. We built tables, shelves, a backyard shed, 10' base for a water slide into the pool, 2 story fort playhouse with a fire pole, and so much more. This woodworking blog allows me to write helpful articles so others can enjoy woodworking as much as we have.

Recent Posts

STOP Making Out-Dated Table Saw Sleds, Do This Instead