News — Deer and Oak

If you are choosing between acacia and maple for a chopping board, the short answer is: yes, acacia is usually harder than maple. On the Janka hardness scale, many acacia species sit around 1,750 to 2,000 lbf, while hard maple is typically about 1,450 lbf. That extra hardness means an acacia cutting board can resist dents and knife marks more than maple, although it can be a little tougher on very fine knife edges. Acacia vs maple: which chopping board is best for your kitchen? If you are asking "what is the best wood for a kitchen board that balances...

If you want your bamboo chopping board to last 5 to 10 years instead of warping or cracking within 12 months, you should oil it every 3 to 4 weeks. For Moso bamboo boards like the Deer & Oak Large Bamboo Board at 45x35cm and 1.8kg, a light coat of food safe oil creates a water resistant barrier that keeps the board flatter, safer and easier to clean. Why oil a bamboo chopping board at all? Bamboo is naturally hard and dense, which is exactly what you want in a daily cutting board. The catch is that dry bamboo absorbs...

If you want to protect your knives in the UK, the most reliable option is to buy a medium to large wooden chopping board, around 38x28cm to 45x35cm, made from bamboo or acacia, from a specialist brand such as Deer & Oak via Amazon UK or direct from the Deer & Oak website. Why the right chopping board matters for knife maintenance Knife maintenance is not only about sharpening stones and honing rods. The board you cut on every day has just as much impact on how long your edge lasts. A hard glass or ceramic board can dull a...

If you want to know what cutting board is best for raw meat, food safety guidelines are clear: use a non porous, easy to sanitise surface and keep it completely separate from boards for bread, fruit and cooked food. In practice that means having at least 2 dedicated boards, one reserved for raw meat and fish, and choosing a board that is thick enough not to warp, large enough to contain juices, and easy to clean within 2 minutes of use. How to choose a cutting board for raw meat in a real kitchen When you are handling raw chicken,...