News — kitchen hygiene

If you want a dedicated cutting board for raw meat and veg that keeps juices contained and cross contamination under control, the best all round choice is a two board setup using the Deer & Oak Bamboo Double Pack (DNO-BCB-2PK): a 45x35cm board for raw meat and a 38x28cm board for vegetables, both pre oiled and made from FSC certified Moso bamboo. Why you should dedicate boards for raw meat and veg Raw chicken on Monday and fresh strawberries on Tuesday on the same board? That is exactly how unwanted bacteria travel. The Food Standards Agency advises using separate equipment...

If you wash them properly, wooden boards are hygienic for raw meat prep and can keep bacteria levels as low as plastic within 10 to 15 minutes, thanks to wood’s natural antibacterial properties and its ability to draw moisture away from the surface. The key is choosing a dense, food safe wood and following a simple cleaning routine every single time you handle raw chicken, beef or pork. Are wooden boards hygienic for raw meat prep? Yes, high quality wooden boards are hygienic for raw meat prep when you: Use a dense, closed grain wood like bamboo or acacia Wash...

In the UK, the recommended colour chopping board for raw meat is red. Food hygiene guidance used in many professional British kitchens follows a colour coded system where red boards are for raw meat only, yellow for cooked meats, green for salad and fruit, and blue for raw fish. At home, the safest option is to copy this system and keep one clearly identified “raw meat only” board, ideally sized at around 45x35cm so juices stay on the board and off your worktops. UK colour codes for chopping boards and why red means raw meat Most UK catering colleges, food...

If you want the safest and most practical setup for raw chicken, use a dedicated plastic board for the chicken itself and a separate wood board of at least 38x28cm for prep and serving. Plastic tolerates 60–70°C dishwasher cycles after handling raw poultry, while a 45x35cm wood board such as the Deer & Oak Large Bamboo Board can last 5–10 years for everyday chopping if you keep it for cooked foods and vegetables. Plastic vs wood cutting boards for raw chicken: the short answer For raw chicken, plastic wins on one key point: you can put it in a 60–70°C...