I have a wooden cutting board that has been marred beyond recognition. Given the number of years I have used and subjected it to torture, I am surprised that it is still in one piece. Keeping in mind my existing cutting board care practices I figured that it is time not only to buy a new cutting board but also to adhere to a new set of practices related to the use and cleaning of my cutting board. Here is what you and I need to know about how to buy, use and clean cutting board.

Plastic Vs Wooden Cutting Board

The obvious choice would be a wooden cutting board. Here is why

1. The first reason is simple and green! Plastic is not renewable! The obvious and responsible choice would be Wood.

2. It has been found in a study that people who use plastic cutting boards were more likely to contract salmonella poisoning as against those who used wood cutting boards. So for your health a wooden cutting board is a better choice. Check this site.

Cutting Board Care Practices

Though it is true that a wooden cutting board can keep the hated salmonella away, if you don’t incorporate some good cutting board care practices even a wooden cutting board can jeopardize your health! Some cutting board practices to keep in mind are:

• Keep your cutting board clean by always washing them after use.

• Replace cutting boards with cracks and deep cuts as these cuts can become home to a number of dangerous bacteria.It is extremely difficult to clean them out.

• Keep two cutting boards. Keep one for vegetables, Bread and cooked meat and another one for Meat, Poultry and Fish.

• You have to make sure you wash your cutting board well after and before cutting meat, fish or poultry. This will avoid cross contamination.

• After washing your cutting board, dry it and then stand it on its edges against a wall. This way the board won’t remain wet on its lower side and there will be no moist environment that encourages bacterial growth.

Cleaning your Cutting Board

If you heed my advice and purchase a wooden cutting board, then you have to make sure that it remains clean and sanitized. Also you should take care not to use inorganic or chemical cleaning agents. I would advise you to clean your cutting board organically! This is how you can do that.

1. Gently scrape of remnants of food stuck on the cutting board.

2. Wash in hot water

3. Sprinkle some salt on the wooden board and rub it in using a sponge.

4. After properly scrubbing with the sponge wash the cutting board under hot running water. Don’t immerse your cutting board in water and leave it there. The wood might absorb the water and this might later lead to damage.

5. Dry your cutting board and as explained earlier stand it on its edge and against a wall.

6. Oil your wooden boards at regular intervals to prevent it from drying. Wash and dry.

7. Donot use bleach on them!

Hope that you and I can now work on getting our new wooden cutting boards and keeping them clean!

Image Credit

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