News — Deer & Oak

When you are cooking for your family, the last thing you want to worry about is what might be lurking in the tiny scratches of your chopping board. Acacia is fast becoming the wood of choice in British kitchens, and for good reason. It is hard wearing, naturally beautiful and, when looked after properly, can help keep bacteria levels low on the surface you use every single day. Why acacia is a smart choice for low bacteria risk Not all chopping boards are created equal. In British homes, many of us grew up with old plastic boards that stained, warped...

If you love cooking, your bamboo chopping board probably works harder than most things in your kitchen. It meets raw chicken, juicy tomatoes, garlic, onions and the odd glass of red wine. So it’s only fair to ask: how do you actually clean bamboo boards to kill bacteria effectively without ruining the wood? At Deer & Oak we specialise in bamboo and acacia boards, so this is something we think about a lot. The good news is that bamboo is naturally less porous than many soft woods and, when cared for properly, makes a very hygienic surface. You just need...

If there’s one debate that never seems to die in the kitchen, it’s this: wood vs plastic cutting boards: which is safer for bacteria[1][5][6]? You’ll hear all sorts of confident opinions from friends, TV chefs and that one uncle who thinks he’s a food scientist. So let’s sort the myths from the facts. What actually happens when you cut on a board? Every time you chop, slice or carve, your knife leaves tiny grooves in the surface of your board. Those cuts can trap food, moisture and bacteria. The key question is: how easily can that bacteria survive, spread and...

If you use your chopping board every day, you probably worry at least a little about what might be lurking in those knife marks. With bamboo and acacia boards both popular in British kitchens, a fair question pops up: is carbonised bamboo better than acacia for bacterial safety? The short answer: both materials can be very hygienic if they’re well made and properly looked after. Carbonised bamboo has a few interesting advantages, but it isn’t a magic shield against germs. Let’s unpack what actually matters. What do we mean by “bacterial safety”? When we talk about bacterial safety in chopping...