What can I use to seal wood to make a cutting board?

There are special finishes for butcher blocks. Google to see which would work best for you.

They are usually oiled with food grade mineral oil.

After you seal It and wash it- occasionally cover it with salt (while damp) and let sit overnight. This will inhibit bacterial growth. Something I learned from my father who once was a butcher.

Olive OIl.............

food grade mineral oil. It's clear and will not darken the wood.

Hi, yes you can. Handwash the cutting board in hot water and mild dish soap to get rid of any grime or dirt. Allow it to air dry completely before rubbing in mineral oil or a beeswax compound. I wouldn't use cooking or olive oil, it may go rancid. If the board is a little warped you can hand plain it or take it to a woodworking shop for them to do.

Walnut oil. It is non-toxic and can be obtained from most grocery stores in the baking section. You can even make salad dressing from it. It will dry reasonably quickly and can de buffed to a nice finish.

Take any piece of kitchen wood utensil and wash it with a kosher salt scrubbed in with 1/2 of a lemon. This will clean out all of the old stains and left behind pieces of food and grease. I never use soap or hot water on my wooden pierces.

Let it rest on a rack overnight so it is dry. Put about a tablespoon of walnut oil on a clean paper towel and cover the entire board, top and bottom. Put it on a rack and let the oil soak in.

After about an hour take a clean paper towel and wipe down the excess..

Now cover it with another tablespoon of oil and notice that this coat will not sink in as fast. After another hour repeat the application, let it dry, and buff it with a clean cloth.

The board is ready to use. Just rinse it off after use and rub it with a sponge.

if after a week the board seems to look dry just wipe it down with oil at night then buff it in the morning

i use this technique on all of my wooden utensils, bowls, and glasses. Some of them are at least 30 years old.

I used a food grade mineral oil.