Cutting Board Choices
Use And Tips For The Kitchen
Your Cutting Board Can Either Protect Or Damage The Edge Of Your Custom Knife
Choosing The Right Board Material Is The Key!
Taking appropriate measures to maintain your customized knife is critically important to ensure its longevity. Practicing proper habits when it comes to washing, rinsing, drying, and storing the knife will go a long way in maintaining your knives well. Opting for cutting boards made of softer materials like wood or bamboo can help prevent any unwanted wear and tear. Following these guidelines can help ensure that your knife stays in top condition for a long time to come. These simple adjustments can help your custom knife maintain its sharpness and durability for years to come. Read on for some solid tips regarding cutting surfaces.
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Cutting Boards and Knives--
When considering the selection of a cutting board, there are a ton of options available in the market. Each material, including wood, bamboo, plastic, silicone, and rubber, is characterized by its unique set of features and advantages that address distinct needs.
Maple wood is a highly recommended choice for everyday use due to its durability and resilience to constant use. It offers a smooth surface for your knife and is less prone to developing knife marks. Alternatively, bamboo is an eco-friendly option that grows quickly and is renowned for its strength and durability. Moreover, it is gentle on your knife blade and naturally resistant to bacterial growth.
Plastic cutting boards offer a suitable solution for heavier tasks, such as cutting meat, poultry, and fish. Their ease of cleaning and sanitization, as well as a range of colors that can help avoid cross-contamination by designating specific colors for specific food types, make them highly practical.
Silicone cutting boards are flexible and lightweight, making them easy to store and transport. They are also heat-resistant, making them ideal for use as trivets or pot holders.
Rubber cutting boards are distinguished for their non-slip properties, making them perfect for use on wet surfaces. They are also gentle on knife blades and do not develop deep grooves or scratches.
When selecting a cutting board, it is important to consider safety features. Non-slip rubber feet or a mat under your board are crucial to ensuring that it remains securely in place during use, preventing accidents, and keeping the board stable.
A high-quality cutting board is indispensable for both professional chefs and home cooks. It should provide a stable and safe platform for your prep work. A good board should be easy to clean and sanitize, and it should not dull your knife blade. By choosing the appropriate cutting board that meets your needs, you can guarantee that your prep work is safe, efficient, and enjoyable.
TIP- Place a damp towel or nonslip mat under your board if it tends to slip around. Please don't try to dice or chop a moving target!
TIP- Avoid cross-contamination when using your boards. Use separate boards for meats and veggies, or wash in between. Don't risk illness!
Cutting Board Materials--
Boards can be made from almost anything, from lumber to bamboo, plastics, stone, rubber, or glass. Each material has its own properties, look, feel, ability to be sanitized and cleaned, and specific interaction with your custom knife.
Please Say NO! to Glass, Stone, Steel, Ceramic Tile--
Whether you are an amateur chef or an experienced professional, selecting the appropriate cutting board material is a critical consideration that can significantly affect the longevity and sharpness of knives. While materials such as glass, steel, stone, and ceramic may appear sturdy and durable, they can, in fact, cause great harm to the sharpness and overall life of knives. To retain the optimal condition of one's knives, it is recommended to opt for cutting boards made of softer materials such as wood, rubber, or plastic, which are less likely to cause damage to the blades, resulting in less frequent sharpening. By choosing the appropriate cutting board material, one can ensure the longevity of their knives, as well as a more efficient and enjoyable food preparation experience.
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Say YES! to Wood--
If you are in search of a cutting board option that is both eco-friendly and protects your knife edges, investing in a high-quality wooden board crafted from sustainable hardwoods is an ideal choice. This type of board is an excellent option for everyday use and promotes an environmentally responsible approach to meal preparation, ultimately minimizing carbon footprint. Additionally, wooden boards offer natural antimicrobial properties that help to keep food safe and hygienic, making them a practical choice for any kitchen.
Hardwoods such as maple, cherry, or walnut are great choices when selecting the right type of wood for your cutting board. Softwoods such as pine or spruce require extra maintenance and should be avoided. Although end grain type butcher block boards may be slightly more expensive, their beauty and durability make them a wise investment.
Maintaining the hygiene of your board is essential, and sanitizing it with a combination of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water is an excellent option. If you notice any stains on your board, a mixture of kosher salt and half a lemon can be used to remove them effectively. Coating your board with mineral oil, walnut oil, coconut oil, or other food-safe oils is vital to ensure its long-lasting performance, allowing the oil to soak into the wood. You can also use a commercially prepared board or butcher's block conditioners for this purpose.
Never soak, and always avoid putting your wooden boards in the dishwasher. Instead, wash them by hand with a soft cloth or sponge and use regular dish soap. Rinse well and dry promptly to maintain their pristine condition. These simple tips will help you keep your wooden cutting board in excellent condition, ensuring it remains a valuable asset in your kitchen while promoting an eco-friendly approach to meal preparation.
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Important Tip: We highly recommend that you avoid using mineral oil or any other cutting board/butcher block conditioner on the handle of your personalized knife. While regular oiling is a great way to preserve the quality of wood or bamboo boards, it's important to remember that both butcher blocks and cutting boards lack a protective finish. Unfortunately, these oils, in particular, have the potential to liquefy and ultimately harm the protective finish on your handle. We recently had a patron who learned this lesson the hard way, and we want to ensure that you don't have to go through the same experience. So please, take extra care when it comes to maintaining your personalized knife, and always err on the side of caution.
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Say YES! to Bamboo Boards--
Whether you are an amateur or a professional chef in search of a cutting board that is both eco-friendly and sustainable, bamboo boards may be a prime option to consider. With advantages similar to wooden boards, bamboo cutting boards are not only easy to use and maintain, but bamboo is a rapidly growing and renewable resource that is as strong as its wooden counterpart. Furthermore, owing to their natural resistance to bacteria, bamboo cutting boards are a hygienic alternative for food preparation. Maintaining a bamboo cutting board is a nearly effortless task, as it can be cleaned with hot, soapy water, similar to wooden cutting boards. If you desire a cutting board that is both durable and environmentally friendly, bamboo cutting boards are a fine choice.
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Maybe? Plastics--
Plastic cutting boards have emerged as a popular and pragmatic option for food preparation. These boards offer a cost-effective solution that provides a durable and hygienic surface for food preparation. They are very easy to clean and sanitize, making plastics a good choice for raw meat. They are available in various sizes and colors, making them lightweight and easy to handle. Unlike wooden boards, plastic cutting boards are non-porous, which renders them impervious to food odors or bacteria. Moreover, they dishwasher safe, which can't be said about wooden or bamboo boards. In addition, they are resistant to warping and splintering, making them a safe option for wet operations. Furthermore, plastic cutting boards come in varying thicknesses, with thicker high-density polyethylene (HDPE) boards providing a sturdy work surface, while thinner ones can be conveniently folded to create a funnel for loading vegetables into a pot or blender. Thus, with all these benefits, plastic cutting boards are a viable choice for both home cooks and professional chefs alike.
YES, TO RUBBER? For a Cutting Board?--
Rubber cutting boards have gained immense popularity within professional culinary settings due to their superior features. In comparison to traditional wooden or plastic boards, rubber cutting boards are considerably softer, which allows them to be gentle on knife edges and significantly reduces the likelihood of dulling. Additionally, rubber cutting boards are non-porous and non-absorbent, making them extremely easy to sanitize and an ideal choice for prep work. The non-absorbent nature of the rubber material also prevents the accumulation of harmful microorganisms and bacteria, ensuring a safe and hygienic food preparation environment. As a result, it is not surprising that rubber cutting boards have become the go-to choice for many professional chefs and cooks.
TIP--
To save undue stress on the fine edge of your custom knife, scrape meats and veggies from the cutting board with the SPINE of your blade rather than the edge.
In summary, use wood, bamboo, rubber, or plastic cutting boards. Maintain and sanitize them correctly according to their material. Avoid cross-contamination! Never use a board made of stone, glass, steel, or ceramic, as they are highly abrasive and harder than your knife.
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Thanks for reading,
Keith