News — kitchen hygiene

If you buy a modern, good quality plastic chopping board that is clearly marked as dishwasher safe, then yes, plastic cutting boards can usually go in a dishwasher at 60–70°C. If there’s no symbol or wording that confirms this, treat it as hand wash only and avoid the top rack of a very hot cycle. Can plastic cutting boards be dishwasher safe in everyday use? Most new plastic boards made from high density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene are designed to cope with regular dishwasher cycles. The heat, water pressure and detergent help remove fat and food residue more effectively than...

If you want the most hygienic everyday chopping surface for home cooking, a high quality wooden board is usually safer than plastic over its 5 to 10 year life, because plastic boards can hold up to 3 to 4 times more bacteria in deep knife grooves once they’re worn. The key is simple: choose the right wood, keep one side for raw meat, clean it properly and let it dry fully between uses. Are wooden cutting boards more hygienic than plastic in real kitchens? In laboratory tests and real kitchens, well maintained wooden boards often end up cleaner than plastic...

If your wooden cutting board smells, it is almost always because food juices and bacteria have soaked 1 to 2 millimetres into the grain and been left for more than 24 hours. The quickest way to fix it is a 3 step routine: scrub with coarse salt and lemon, wipe with a 1:1 white vinegar and water mix, then dry upright for at least 12 hours. Why does my wooden cutting board smell in the first place? Wood is naturally porous. When you cut raw onion, garlic, meat or fish, tiny amounts of liquid are pushed into the surface. If...

If you want to know how to deep clean a wooden cutting board, the most effective method is a 3 step routine done every 2 to 4 weeks: scrub with hot soapy water for 2 minutes, disinfect with either white vinegar or 3% hydrogen peroxide for 5 minutes, then deodorise and lift stains with coarse salt and lemon for 3 to 5 minutes before drying upright for at least 12 hours. Why deep cleaning your wooden board actually matters A quality wooden or bamboo board can last 5 to 10 years if you clean it properly. Deep cleaning does three...