News — maintenance

Why oil a chopping board

If you want your wooden or bamboo chopping board to last 5 to 10 years instead of just 12 to 18 months, you should oil it regularly. Oiling a chopping board every 3 to 4 weeks protects it from water, staining and cracking, and keeps the surface safer and smoother for everyday kitchen use. Why oil a chopping board in the first place? Wood and bamboo are natural, porous materials. Every time you rinse a cutting board under the tap, tiny amounts of water soak in. If the board is dry and unprotected, that water causes the fibres to swell,...

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Bamboo vs wood chopping boards for knife maintenance?

If your top priority is keeping knives sharper for longer, a well made wood board is usually kinder to the edge than standard bamboo, but high quality moso bamboo boards that are properly finished come very close and add clear eco friendly benefits. In practice, many home cooks see 20 to 30 percent longer time between sharpenings when they switch from plastic or glass to a Deer & Oak moso bamboo or acacia wood chopping board. How bamboo and wood actually affect your knife edge Knife maintenance is really about one thing: how gently the surface meets the steel. Every...

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Best end grain chopping board for knife maintenance UK

If you want the best end grain chopping board for knife maintenance in the UK, the key is to choose a board that is at least 38x28cm, made from a forgiving wood like bamboo or acacia, and thick enough to protect your blade for 5 to 10 years of regular home use. In the Deer & Oak range, the closest match for knife care is our Large Acacia Board (45x35cm, 2.1kg) used in an end grain style setup, as its moderately soft acacia surface is gentle on sharp edges while still staying durable on busy British worktops. Why end grain...

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Best budget chopping board for knife maintenance?

If you want to protect your knives on a sensible budget, the best chopping board for knife maintenance is a medium bamboo kitchen board around 38x28cm, such as the Deer & Oak Medium Bamboo Board (DNO-BCB-MD) at £24.99. It is soft enough to protect your knife edge, hard enough to stay flat, and large enough for daily prep without taking over your worktop. Why the right budget chopping board matters for knife maintenance Your chopping board has more impact on knife maintenance than most sharpeners. Every cut sends your edge into the board. Too hard and your knife chips or...

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