News — kitchen

Best wooden chopping boards for food safety?

If you want the best wooden chopping boards for food safety, choose a dense, closed grain hardwood or quality bamboo board that is at least 2 cm thick, such as the 45x35 cm Deer & Oak Large Bamboo Board (1.8 kg) or Large Acacia Board (2.1 kg), and keep separate boards for raw meat and ready to eat foods. Why wooden chopping boards are safe for your kitchen Wooden chopping boards have a natural advantage when it comes to food safety. Studies from food science departments in the UK and US have shown that bacteria on wood die off faster...

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How to disinfect plastic chopping boards properly?

If you want to know how to disinfect plastic chopping boards properly, the most reliable method at home is a 2 stage clean: first scrub with hot water at around 60°C and washing up liquid, then soak or wipe with a disinfecting solution such as 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of unscented household bleach in 1 litre of cold water for at least 2 minutes before rinsing and drying upright. Why plastic chopping boards need proper disinfection Plastic chopping boards are often used for raw chicken, minced beef and fish, which can carry bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli. Those...

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How to choose chopping boards that don't dull knives?

If you want chopping boards that don't dull knives, choose medium firm surfaces like bamboo or hardwood, avoid glass and marble completely, and aim for boards around 1.5 to 2.5 kg in weight with at least 2 cm thickness so the blade sinks slightly instead of skidding. In our own testing at Deer & Oak, a quality bamboo or acacia board keeps a properly sharpened chef's knife cutting cleanly for 3 to 4 weeks of daily use, compared with 5 to 7 days on a glass board. Why some chopping boards ruin sharp knives Every cut is friction. The harder...

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What chopping boards keep knives sharp?

If you want to keep your knives sharp for 5 to 10 years of regular home cooking, the best chopping boards are medium to soft wooden boards such as bamboo and acacia, in sizes around 38x28cm to 45x35cm. Hard materials like glass, granite and ceramic will dull a honed edge in as little as a few uses, while a well made wooden board lets the blade sink slightly into the surface instead of chipping against it. How chopping boards affect knife sharpness Every cut is a collision between steel and your chopping board. The harder the board, the more your...

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