The right way to clean a wooden cutting board – follow these

How to clean a wooden cutting board? Salty Fox has the answer! There are two main types of cutting boards: plastic cutting boards and wooden cutting boards. Each material has its own advantages, but wood is always a popular choice for aesthetic reasons and for being gentle on knives. Unlike plastic cutting boards, wooden cutting boards are generally larger and sturdier and should not be washed in the dishwasher.

While there are many ways to clean a wooden cutting board, the best method also happens to be the easiest: Just use soap and water. But there’s more to keeping your cutting board looking like new than just cleaning it.

Why cleaning circuit boards is important

When you use a cutting board to cut, chop, or slice food, you are leaving behind small particles of the food as well as the juice or liquid from the chopping. Cleaning the plate helps ensure that juices or particles from one food don’t end up in another.

Additionally, meat and poultry can deposit bacteria on cutting boards that can then be transferred to other foods, such as lettuce or fruit that are typically eaten raw. this is what is called cross contamination, One of the main causes of food poisoning.

Finally, keeping your cutting board clean will help extend its life and prevent unwanted stains and odors.

How often should cutting boards be cleaned, sanitized and oiled?

Wooden cutting boards should be washed with soap and water after each use. Oiling or waxing helps protect the board and prevents it from absorbing liquids and should be done monthly. For wooden cutting boards, there’s really no need to sanitize as a separate step, as washing with soap and water is enough to kill or wash away any germs.

Washing with dish soap and hot water is the best everyday way to clean a wooden cutting board. Wash both sides, using a soft brush or brush to remove dry food particles, then rinse, wipe off excess water with a clean rag, and allow to air dry.

Don’t let the board soak in the sink for any length of time, or put it in the dishwasher, as both can cause the board to warp.

Clean with bleach

You shouldn’t use bleach on wooden cutting boards because it can discolor and dry out the wood, which can lead to cracking. It’s not entirely clear where the idea came from, since bleach isn’t typically used to clean anything else. kitchen utensils. After all, a cutting board cleaned with bleach will smell like bleach, and that smell will transfer to any food that comes in contact with the cutting board. If you want to sanitize your cutting board, soap and water are your best bet.

Clean with vinegar

If you wash your cutting board properly and let it air dry, you don’t need to use vinegar to clean it. But sometimes, despite your best efforts, a wooden cutting board can still emit a bad smell, especially if you’ve been using it to cut strong-smelling foods like onions or garlic. If so, a light spray of diluted white vinegar (use equal parts vinegar and water) can help deodorize. Spray it and let it dry without wiping.

Cleanse with lemon and salt

Another way to remove odors is to sprinkle with kosher salt, squeeze lemon juice over the salt, and then rub the salt and juice together with a cut lemon to form a paste. Let the mixture dry overnight, then scrape away with a spatula or bench scraper. Using a paste of baking soda and water in the same way can also remove odors and stains.

Caring for Wooden Cutting Boards

If you want to go beyond basic cleaning and try to tackle some simple maintenance issues, you can oil or wax your cutting board. Be sure to use food-grade mineral oil or beeswax and follow the instructions for any oil or wax you use.

The benefit of waxing or oiling is that it prevents odors and moisture from penetrating the wood, which helps keep the wood clean and helps extend its life. It also makes your cutting boards look nice, as cutting boards that are washed and dried repeatedly tend to become dehydrated.

Some hobbyists even sand their cutting boards, which can help remove nicks and gouges that develop over time. The smooth surface also helps keep your cutting board clean.