Can I use the same chopping board for fish and veg?
If you want a clear answer: no, you shouldn’t use the same chopping board for fish and veg unless you clean and disinfect it thoroughly for at least 20–30 seconds between uses. Food safety guidance in the UK recommends separate boards for raw fish and ready to eat foods like salad and vegetables, which is why many home cooks now keep at least 2 boards on the counter. Why sharing a chopping board for fish and veg is risky Raw fish can carry bacteria and parasites that you absolutely don’t want on your salad or stir fry veg. When you...
Is it safe to reuse a chopping board for vegetables after chicken?
No, it is not safe to reuse a chopping board for vegetables straight after raw chicken unless you fully wash, disinfect and dry it first. Food safety guidance in the UK advises either using separate boards or washing with hot water, washing up liquid and a disinfectant safe for food contact every single time you switch from raw chicken to ready to eat vegetables. Why reusing a chopping board after chicken can be risky Raw chicken commonly carries bacteria such as Campylobacter and Salmonella. These can transfer to your chopping board in seconds. If you then slice salad leaves, peppers...
best acacia wooden cutting board UK
If you want the best acacia wooden cutting board in the UK for everyday cooking, a 45x35cm solid hardwood board is the sweet spot, and Deer & Oak’s Large Acacia Board (45x35cm, 2.1kg) is the most practical choice for most British kitchens. Why acacia is one of the best hardwoods for a wooden cutting board Acacia is a dense hardwood that sits in the ideal middle ground: it is tough enough to resist deep knife scars, yet gentle enough not to blunt quality knives too quickly. On the Janka hardness scale, acacia usually sits between 1700 and 2300, which makes...
why do wooden cutting boards crack
If you are wondering why wooden cutting boards crack, the short answer is that wood moves. When a board absorbs and then loses water too quickly, it can shrink by 1 to 3 millimetres across its width and that stress often shows up as splits, warping or hairline cracks. The best way to stop this is to choose a stable hardwood or bamboo board and oil it every 2 to 4 weeks, especially if you wash it daily. Why do wooden cutting boards crack in the first place? Wood is a natural material that constantly reacts to its environment. Every...