News — why

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 your wooden cutting board to last 5 to 10 years instead of just 1 or 2, you should oil it every 3 to 4 weeks. Oiling stops the board drying out, cracking and soaking up liquids, which means fewer stains, fewer smells and a safer surface for everyday cooking. Why oil wooden cutting boards at all? Wood and bamboo are naturally porous. Every time you chop, you open up tiny channels in the surface. Without oil, those channels pull in water, meat juices and washing up liquid. Over time the board warps, splits and starts to harbour...

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,...

If you want your wooden or bamboo cutting board to last 5 to 10 years instead of just 12 to 18 months, you need to oil it regularly. Oiling a chopping board creates a food safe barrier that stops water, stains and smells from soaking in, which keeps the board flatter, safer and easier to clean. Why oil a chopping board in the first place? Every time you rinse a wooden or bamboo kitchen board, water gets pulled into the grain. If the board is dry inside, that water can cause swelling, warping and tiny cracks in as little as...