But which type of cutting board is best ? The safety of wood abridge boards versus credit card dilute boards has been debated for years, but contrary to popular belief, a study showed that wood ignore boards are actually safer than credit card. This does n’t mean you should throw away all of your formative cut boards, though—and if you do n’t know how to properly clean your cutting board, it does n’t matter which kind you use.
Wood Cutting Boards vs. Plastic Cutting Boards
There are some advantages to plastic cut boards, the main one being price. Plastic cutting boards can be purchased for equitable a few dollars, like this three-pack of consort sizes from Farberware ( $ 10 ; amazon.com ). quality wood cut boards, like this Natural Acacia Wood Cutting Board ( $ 70 ; amazon.com ), can cost arsenic much as $ 70 or more. Plastic cut boards are besides non-porous, so bacteria will sit on peak of the board as opposed to being absorbed into the surface. however, bacteria frequently find a home to breed in the fiddling grooves and scars caused by knives. fortunately, plastic cut boards are easy enough to clean. Just put them in the dishwasher or clean by handwriting with hot water system. It ‘s besides a beneficial theme to scrub them down with a dish brush ( $ 8 ; amazon.com ). If you are truly concerned about bacteria but do n’t want to get rid of your plastic cut boards, use them to cut vegetables only and use wood cut boards for raw foods. Keep in take care that if your formative cut boards start to look wear out, you credibly need newly ones. Wood cut boards are safer to use than plastic despite the fact that wood is holey. The surface of the wood absorb bacteria, but it will sink down to the bottom layers of the wood and die, rather of staying at the surface and multiply. But by rights uphold and clean wood cut boards requires some cognition and work.
How to Clean a Wood Cutting Board
While the dishwasher is ideal for clean and sanitizing most things in your kitchen, you should never put a wood cutting board in the dishwasher. This is because water can cause the board to crack and warp. Those little cracks end up becoming breeding grounds for bacteria and potentially causing foodborne illness.
Cleaning Wood Cutting Boards With Dish Soap
fortunately, cleaning a wood cutting board by hired hand is comfortable enough. All you need is hot water ( turn the faucet up all the way ! ), serve soap, and a brush or sponge. Rinse the dining table off with hot body of water and apply soap. You can use even dish soap or antibacterial dish soap, if you want. then scrub away ! If you notice any knife marks, scratches or inconsistencies in the wood, make sure to give those areas an extra hard scrub. Make sure to properly clean and scrub both sides of the board. even if you only used one slope to cut on—do n’t forget that kernel juices can drip and contaminate the other side. finally, be certain to thoroughly rinse off each slope with hot water. then dry off the board with a fabric or newspaper towel. You can besides drip dry in an upright put.
Cleaning Wood Cutting Boards With Bleach
If you used your cutting board to cut raw kernel or domestic fowl and you want to be absolutely sure that all bacteria is removed, add one tablespoon of bleaching agent to a gallon of water and let your board pawn in a solution for a few minutes. then gargle and dry it off.
Cleaning Wood Cutting Boards With Vinegar
If you prefer to use a chemical-free merchandise, mix one part white vinegar to four parts water ( hydrogen peroxide can besides work if you do n’t have vinegar on hand ) and soak your cutting circuit board in the solution for a few minutes. then rinse off and dry. No matter what you soak your cutting board in, it ‘s important not to soak it for more than a few minutes to avoid falsify or cracking the wood .
Cleaning a Wood Cutting Board With Lemon and Salt
Giving your cut boards a well clean every month with lemon and salt is a bang-up direction to help maintain them. First, sprinkle the board with coarse salt, such as sea salt or even kosher salt. Take a gamboge and cut it in half. Scrub the salt down each side of the cutting board using the lemon with the fleshy side down. Let the salt and lemon solution sit for approximately five minutes. last, clean off the board with a sponge, rinse, and dry.
How to Maintain Your Wood Cutting Board
To avoid crack, dispassion, and warp of the wood cutting board, it ‘s best to oil the board once a calendar month. fortunately, this job entirely takes a few minutes. First, meticulously clean your cutting board, preferably using the lemon and salt method described above ( but any houseclean method acting will do ). then dry the control panel thoroughly.
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To anoint the display panel, you need to use a product specifically formulated for woodwind cut boards, such as Howard Products Cutting Board Oil ( $ 9 ; amazon.com ) or evening food grade mineral anoint ( $ 7 ; amazon.com ). Be certain not to use olive or avocado vegetable oil. Use a cushy fabric or paper towel in round motions to buff the vegetable oil into the wood cutting board. Apply a flimsy coat to the entire surface, front and binding, equally well as the sides. Let the anoint soak for a few hours or even nightlong .
