Guide Note

Cutting Boards are a very important items in our kitchens from chopping to serving food. Every kitchen has at least one, and some foodies have four or five of them.

Fast Facts

1. Prices range from $5 to over $300
2. Cutting boards should be washed in hot soapy water immediately after use
3. A dilute bleach solution is best for disinfecting
4. Food grade mineral oil is a good preservative for wooden cutting boards
5. Discard boards once they sustain cracks and cuts
6. Avoid slicing foods with same board and knife that was used for raw meat
7. Dry completely before storing.
8. Use of dishwasher is recommended for plastic boards only
9. Always cut raw meats, fish and poultry on a boards easy to sanitize

Cutting boards are available in many types, colors and sizes. The different types are plastic, tempered glass, wooden, steel, marble and corian. The glass, steel, marble and corian cutting boards seem to damage your knives over time. You can get a various colors of cutting boards to match any decor. Cutting boards are available in shapes of rectangular, square, round and oval as standards but can be customized to any shape you would like such as a rooster. Some of the top picks for cutting boards are wooden boards by John Boos & Co, a high-density plastic by Architec which are dishwasher safe, SiliconeZone nonskid flexible chopping mats, and Progressive multicolor flexible chopping mats. Plastic boards are the most affordable and come in thick or thin, hard or flexible and various colors. Glass boards are beautiful and made to complement any decor. They are the most sanitary and easy to clean. Glass boards are the hardest on knife edges. Wooden boards are the easiest on knife edges and preferred by many people. Bamboo cutting boards cost more, but have a longer lifespan.

Wooden boards are usually harder to clean and are not dishwasher safe. They get cuts and cracks which can harbor bacteria and must be thoroughly cleaned. After using the cutting board you should immediately wash in hot soapy water and periodcally sanitize by spraying the board with a solution of one and a half teaspoons chlorine bleach to one pint water, let sit for two minutes, rinse and dry. Make sure your cutting boards are completely dry before storing to avoid possible cross contamination.

A cool tip is to use synthetic cutting boards, with a different color for different kinds of food. Such as red cutting board for raw meat, a yellow cutting board for poultry and a green cutting board for vegetables. This will help cut down on cross contamination.