News — food safety

How to clean bamboo cutting board to prevent bacteria?

If you want to know how to clean bamboo cutting board to prevent bacteria, the most effective routine is to wash it within 5 minutes of use with hot soapy water, disinfect it for 1 minute with white vinegar or 3% hydrogen peroxide, then dry it upright for at least 30 minutes. Done consistently, this simple routine helps keep bacterial growth on moso bamboo boards very low while protecting the board for 5 to 10 years of use. Why bamboo cutting boards need specific cleaning Bamboo is naturally harder and less porous than many soft woods, which already helps reduce...

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What chopping board colour for vegetables?

If you follow UK food hygiene guidance, the chopping board colour for vegetables should be green and kept separate from raw meat, fish and poultry boards. In many home kitchens that prefer natural wood, this is achieved with a dedicated board used only for vegetables and clearly identified as your “green code” board. Why green is the standard chopping board colour for vegetables Professional kitchens in the UK use a simple colour code to cut the risk of food poisoning: Red board for raw meat Blue board for raw fish Yellow board for cooked meats Brown board for root vegetables...

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Are wooden chopping boards hygienic for knife use?

If you clean them properly, good quality wooden chopping boards are hygienic for daily knife use and can safely last 5 to 10 years or more. In many kitchen tests, bacteria on well maintained wooden boards drop to safe levels within a few hours, provided the board is washed, dried upright and oiled regularly. Are wooden chopping boards hygienic for knife use in real kitchens? The short answer is yes, as long as you choose the right wood and follow a simple care routine. Hard woods such as bamboo and acacia are naturally less porous than soft woods, which means...

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What is the best way to sanitize a wooden cutting board?

The best way to sanitize a wooden cutting board is to wash it within 5 minutes of use with hot water at about 60°C and washing up liquid, then disinfect with either white vinegar or a 1:10 bleach solution, and let it air dry upright for at least 8 hours. Done properly, this routine helps a quality board like the Deer & Oak Large Bamboo Board (45x35cm, 1.8kg) stay hygienic for 5 to 10 years of daily cooking. Why wooden boards need a specific sanitising routine Wood behaves very differently to plastic. It is naturally porous and can absorb small...

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