Chopping Board
Chopping Boards
Wood is the traditional material for chopping boards, but lost favour in the 1990s when it was thought to be unhygienic. Plastic chopping boards became he recommended cutting surface. Current thinking has changed to believe that properly washed and sanitised, wood cube is a hygienic cutting surface.
Wood is the kindest material to the cutting edge of a knife, being a natural product that does not blunt the edge as quickly. Cleaning is washing in hot soapy water and using a sanitising spray. Heavy soil and scuff marks can be removed with a steel scraper.
Wood cannot be put in a dishwasher because of the porous nature of wood. Prolonged exposure to water will cause the wood to expand, then when it dries it will contract. Continual submersion in water and drying will cause the wood to warp and split. It is water that is the enemy of wooden cutting boards, not the detergents used in the dishwasher.
To keep wooden chopping boards in good condition they need to be regularly scraped with a steel scraper and oiled. While there are special wood oils available, any kitchen cooking oil will waterproof the wood without the risk of contaminating food with the smell of pine or linseed.
Plastic is the most popular material for chopping boards. It is harsher on the edge of a kitchen knife than wood, but has the advantage of being able to be put through a dishwasher and is usually cheaper than wood.
Thin plastic chopping boards may be cheaper than thicker ones, but there is a strong likelihood that the heat of a dishwasher will cause a thin board to warp over time. This makes the board unstable to work on and a personal safety hazard.
Racks are available in which to store cutting boards in an upright position. This allows air to circulate around the board and aid drying.
Colour coding in chopping boards is a way of reducing the risk of cross contamination and is widely practised. There are no legal guidelines on which foods should be cut on which colour boards, but the accepted coding system in the UK is this:
- Yellow – Cooked meats
- Red – Uncooked meats
- White – Bread and dairy products such as cheese
- Blue – Raw fish
- Green – Salad and fruit
- Brown – Raw vegetables, definitely those grown within the soil.
This six colour system can be helped with laminated instruction sheets which show kitchen employees both in words and with pictures what food products should be cut on which coloured board. Suppliers of colour-coded cutting boards may offer these information sheets free.
While colour coding is a first defence line for good food hygiene, it is still good practice for a board to be washed in hot water and sanitised when a different food product of a similar type is being cut up on it. This is very important with raw meat products, since chicken needs thorough cooking, but beef steaks cut on the same chopping board might be cooked rare.
While colour-coded boards are a help in food safety, white is the best colour for visually spotting food debris. It is possible to get white plastic chopping boards which have the colour coding on the edge of the board. For very food safety sensitive kitchens, knives are available with the same plastic colour coding in the handle.
About the Author
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Woodworking # 7- Make an End Grain Cutting Board Pt. 2
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THE CHOPPING BLOCK, Hunting, Fishing, Kitchen, Cutting Board-Small size $19.95 |
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THE CHOPPING BLOCK, Hunting, Fishing, Kitchen, Cutting Board-Meduim size $29.95 |
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THE CHOPPING BLOCK, Hunting, Fishing, Kitchen, Cutting Board-Large size $39.95 |
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2 – Alaska Mini Wood Etched Ulu Knife & Chopping Board $21.88 |
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Amazing unique hand made decupage wooden chopping boards to hang on wall $18.96 |
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Lucious Red Apple kitchen chopping Cutting Board mat 15″ Tempered Glass new $11.99 |
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Lot 2 Flexible Clear Chopping Cutting Mats Board 15″ $4.99 |
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Amazing unique hand made decupage wooden chopping boards to hang on wall $18.96 |
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Amazing unique hand made decupage wooden chopping boards to hang on wall $18.96 |
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Amazing unique hand made decupage wooden chopping boards to hang on wall $18.96 |
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Made in Alaska Ulu Birch Chopping Bowl Board W/ Slot $19.99 |
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Chefmate White Poly Dicing Chopping Cutting Board 8.5 x 11 Dishwasher Safe NEW $9.99 |
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Joseph Joseph Cut and Carve Chopping Board – Black NEW $34.99 |
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Quiksilver boys red elasticated board shorts chop seuy Ja 19 sz Large waist 31″ $7.89 |
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Joseph Joseph Cut and Carve Chopping Board – White NEW $34.99 |
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Joseph Joseph Cut and Carve Chopping Board – Green NEW $34.99 |
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Joseph Joseph Cut and Carve Chopping Board – RED – NEW $34.99 |
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Henckels Miyabi Chopping Board – 13.75″ x 8″ x .25″ $79.95 |
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Henckels Miyabi Chopping Board – 15.75″ x 9.75″ x .25″ $119.95 |
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Henckels Miyabi Chopping Board – 9.5″ x 9″ x .25″ $59.95 |
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Primitive Olde PIG Wooden Breadboard~*~Chop/Cut Board~Farmhouse~PATINA~Vintage $11.99 |
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Poly Assorted Color Cutting Board Chopping Food 14″ x 10″ x 0.6″ K0301 $34.99 |
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Poly Assorted Color Cutting Board Chopping Food 14″ x 10″ x 0.6″ K0301 $34.99 |
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Poly Assorted Color Cutting Board Chopping Food 14″ x 10″ x 0.6″ K0301 $34.99 |
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Poly Assorted Color Cutting Board Chopping Food 14″ x 10″ x 0.6″ K0301 $34.99 |
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Alaska ULU Knife With Eagle Blade Chopping Bowl Board Set NEW $8.99 |
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VINTAGE LOT! GREEN HANDLED BROMWELLS SIFTER+ ACME CABBAGE CUTTER+ PIG CHOP BOARD $39.50 |
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John Boos cutting board block chopping BROOKLYN NY PICK-UP ONLY $19.99 |
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2 Folding Cutting Boards Chopping Foldable Large Small Plastic Flexible Pourable $5.69 |
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Mezzaluna Knife & Board Alaska Cutlery Dicing Chopping Quality Half Moon $15.00 |
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Pig Piggy Hog Country Kitchen Cutting Chopping Board $10.99 |
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Pig Shaped Country Kitchen Cutting Bread Chopping Board 12.5×7.5″ $17.29 |
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405L – New, 12″ x 18″ Chop Chop Flexible Cutting board $5.50 |
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Set of 4 Thin Plastic Cutting Board Super Flexible Chopping Mats -US Seller $4.99 |
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Vintage Prim Old Oak Pig Hog Cutting Chopping Board Folk Art Country 17×11 $21.99 |
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Totally Bamboo 20-7930 3-Piece Cutting Board Set $11.95 This 3-piece bamboo cutting board set includes three cutting boards. Boards measure 6 by 8 by 3/8-inch, 8-1/2 by 11 by 3/8-inch and 9-1/2 by 13 by 3/8-inch. Don’t be caught again without an extra cutting board. 3/8 of an inch thick means that these boards are maneuverable and easy to store. Made up of strong, bamboo. They’re also durable; they have a tri-ply, cross laminate construction with a sp… |
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Ginsu 04817 International Traditions 14-Piece Knife Set with Block, Natural $28.39 Many associate Ginsu knives with the product’s kitschy infomercial from the â70s that begins with a karate kick to a watermelon and proceeds with a demo of these knives cutting through just about anything in the house. Like the original product, Ginsu’s International Traditions is designed for the home cook who is not attuned to the maintenance required of a more high-end knife. H… |
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OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Pastry Scraper/Chopper $8.15 Multi-purpose scraper/chopper. Use to section dough for pie crusts, evenly portion dough for pastries, and scrape dough from your floured board. Stainless steel blade features 1″ markings for precise measuring. Try it for lifting cookies from a cookie sheet, or for chopping firm vegetables like celery. A broad, soft handle cushions your hand. Dishwasher safe…. |
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Clapham’s Beeswax 870-3008 Salad Bowl Finish, 8-Ounces $18.74 … |
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Grizzly G9912 Solid Maple Workbench Top 36 Wide x 24 Deep x 1-3/4 Thick $84.95 Since the first day Grizzly® started, we have been using these Maple Workbench Tops in our shipping and service departments. We estimated that we have over 200 tops in use and expected them to be in service probably for the next 50 years! Our workbench tops are made of solid 1 3/4″ USA grown hard rock (sugar) maple strips that are laminated to each other and then coated with food-safe Durakryl … |
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KOHLER K-5917-NA Countertop Hardwood Cutting Board $35.95 Kohler K-5917-NA Countertop Cutting Board… |
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Howard BBC012 Butcher Block Conditioner Food Grade Mineral Oil and Natural Waxes, 12-Ounces $5.33 Specialized wood care for butcher blocks, cutting boards, wooden bowls, and utensils. The penetrating quality of food grade mineral oil along with the water resistant traits of beeswax and carnauba wax rejuvenates the wood and prevents drying and cracking. The naturall antibacterial waxes help repair knife marks and protect the wood by keeping the mineral oil in and the moisture out. Exceeds U.S. … |
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John Boos 5 Ounce Block Board Cream with Beeswax $7.95 John Boos Wood Cream for cutting boards and chopping blocks features a natural formula of unbleached beeswax combined with food grade mineral oil to penetrate deeply into the grains of the wood, leaves a silky wax barrier and locks moisture in. Used regularly, Boos Block Board Cream will replenish the moisture lost from repeated washings, keeping your butcher block, cutting boards, and utensils fr… |
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Snow River 32-Ounce Wood Oil $14.99 Treat new cutting boards and wood utensils and keep them in top condition with Snowriver Wood Conditioner Oil. Helps to prevent cracking and splitting while keeping wood fibers supple and better for your fine knives. Cutting Boards should be re-oiled periodically depending on use. Snowriver mineral oil formula so it won’t turn rancid. 32-ounce size…. |
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Out of the Woods of Oregon 11-Inch Round Cutting Board $14.50 Oregon Red Alder is considered a “Green” wood and is excellent for cutting boards. It is characterized by a rich, reddish brown color and tight grain. Red Alder has naturally occurring tannic acid in higher levels than other hardwoods, which helps prohibit growth of bacteria in the wood.Out of the Woods of Oregon uses sound forestry practices and environmental stewardship so the Oregon Red Alder r… |