Types
of Cutting Boards
Wood Vs. Plastic
Researchers have found that bacteria have a tougher time surviving
on wood cutting boards. However, plastic cutting boards are less
porous than wood, making it less likely to harbor bacteria over
a long period of time, but only if it is immediately cleaned.
Wood Cutting Boards
According
to Linda Stradley, author of What's Cooking America: "Research
has shown that bacteria, such as the salmonella often found on raw
chicken, will thrive and multiply if not removed from plastic boards
(because germs that cause food poisoning can hide out in the knife-scarred
nooks and crannies that develop on the surface of a plastic cutting
board).
"Hand scrubbing with hot water and soap can clear microbes
from the surface of new or used wooden cutting boards and new plastic
ones, but knife-scarred plastic boards are resistant to decontamination
by hand washing.
"On wood boards, whether they are new or have been used for
years, the bacteria dies off within three minutes. Researchers theorize
that the porous surface of the wood surface of the wooden boards
deprives the bacteria of water, causing them to die."
See the different types of wood
used in cutting boards
Caring For Your Wooden Cutting Board
1. It is best to apply the oil slightly warm and with a soft cloth
in the direction on the grain. Warming the oil allows it to penetrate
deeper into the wood. “Season” your board by applying
mineral or butcher block oil and letting it soak into the wood for
15-30 minutes. Apply 4-6 coats before using the board.
2. Oil your cutting board when it looks dry, sometimes as frequently
as once a week. If you allow your board to become dry it may begin
to crack.
3. You can scrub and wash your cutting board with soap and water
but don’t immerse it completely in water and don’t put
it in the dishwasher.
4. Spraying vinegar on your cutting board with a spray bottle is
a good way to sanitize it. (The Heinz company claims that spraying
a straight five percent solution of vinegar -- the strength you
buy in the supermarket -- eliminates 99% of bacteria.) Using bleach
on a wood cutting board isn’t a good idea because it is not
as effective because the organic composition of wood neutralizes
the disinfectant quality of bleach.
Caring for Plastic Cutting Boards
A thermoplastic cutting board, made of virgin high density polyethylene
resin, is virtually indestructible in terms of cracking, warping,
chipping, peeling and acid corrosion. Plastic cutting boards will
not absorb odors or moisture due to it’s molecular makeup,
therefore cleaning agents and surface residue simply rinses away.
The vast majority, if not all, independent/government institutions
agree on washing the high density polyethylene cutting board using
a hot soapy water solution and scrubbing with a brush. If your cutting
board fits in the dishwasher, this is an even a more effective/efficient
method for cleaning especially if you have a sanitizer feature equipped
on the dishwasher.
How should I clean my plastic cutting board?
