News — plastic

If you want your cutting boards to last 5 to 10 years, the simplest rule is this: wash plastic within 5 minutes of use and oil wooden boards every 4 to 6 weeks. That single habit for each material will prevent deep staining, warping and most hygiene problems. Wooden vs plastic cutting boards: what actually works best? For everyday home cooking, a mix of one wooden board and one plastic board usually works best. Use a wooden board for bread, fruit, vegetables and cooked foods, and a plastic board for raw meat and fish. Wooden boards such as the Deer...

If you are wondering what the best chopping board is for keeping your knives sharp for longer, the answer is simple: a well made wooden board typically keeps an edge 20 to 30 percent longer than a plastic board used in the same way. That difference comes down to how the board material interacts with the very thin cutting edge of your knife. Why do plastic boards dull knives faster? It feels counterintuitive, because plastic seems softer than wood. Yet many home cooks notice their favourite chef's knife losing its bite after just a few weeks on a plastic board....

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...

If you cook raw meat at home and want fewer knife marks, lower odour retention and a more eco-friendly choice, a sealed moso bamboo cutting board is usually safer long term than a thin plastic board, provided you clean it in hot soapy water within 5 minutes and let it dry upright after every use. Bamboo vs plastic cutting board for raw meat: what actually matters When you are choosing between bamboo and plastic for raw meat, three things matter more than anything else: knife marks, moisture and cleaning habits. Knife marks: Deep grooves hold raw chicken juice and mince...