News — kitchen hygiene

If you want the best plastic chopping board for raw meat, food safety guidelines point to a thick, non porous board that can go through a 60–70°C hot wash and be replaced every 12–24 months. At Deer & Oak we actually recommend using a dedicated plastic board for raw meat alongside a heavier wooden board, such as our 45x35cm carbonised bamboo board, so you keep raw meat separate yet still enjoy a stable cutting surface. What makes the best plastic chopping board for raw meat? When you are dealing with raw chicken, pork or beef, the board is not just...

If you want a straight answer: most wooden chopping boards are not safe in the dishwasher, while many plastic boards are. At Deer & Oak, every single one of our bamboo and acacia cutting boards is designed for hand washing only, because a 60–75°C dishwasher cycle can warp, crack or strip the oils from natural wood in as little as 3 to 6 months of daily use. Are chopping boards safe in the dishwasher in everyday use? Whether a chopping board is safe in the dishwasher depends on the material, not just the shape or thickness. Here is the simple...

If you cook meat and vegetables at home, you should use separate boards for meat and veg to cut your risk of food poisoning by a significant margin. In a typical family kitchen, keeping one dedicated board for raw meat and another for veg and ready to eat foods is one of the simplest ways to avoid cross contamination. Why separate boards for meat and veg matter Raw meat can carry bacteria such as Campylobacter, Salmonella and E. coli. These can transfer to your knife, your hands and your chopping board. If you then chop salad, herbs or cooked food...

No, bamboo cutting boards should not go in the dishwasher if you want to avoid increasing bacteria risk and keep them usable for 5 to 10 years. The high heat, long soak and harsh detergents in a dishwasher can crack eco-friendly bamboo, including moso bamboo boards, which then creates grooves where bacteria can hide. Why bamboo cutting boards should stay out of the dishwasher It is tempting to think that a 65 to 70°C dishwasher cycle will kill every germ and leave your board safer. In reality, the opposite usually happens with bamboo and other natural materials. Heat and steam...