We all have kitchen boards at home, but few of us know exactly how to clean them properly. Wooden and plastic boards are mainly used in the household, but which option is more hygienic remains controversial. But one thing is certain - whether you're cutting meat, bread or vegetables, you should clean the cutting board after each use.
Cutting board looks clean - why do you need to clean it?
It often happens that you simply rinse the kitchen board with water after use and it looks clean. However, water alone is not enough. Form on the surface of the cutting boardBacteria and germs, which cannot be seen with the naked eye. However, they later get into the food and can harm our health. Thorough cleaning of the kitchen board is recommended, especially after cutting food such as meat or fish.
Just like you clean your dishes, pots, and pans after each use, you should also clean the cutting board. It depends on the material of the board and the right cleaning products.
Clean wooden cutting board properly
Wooden kitchen boards are usually not that easy to clean, especially if they already have dirt and stains on them. If it is a new wooden board, you should first oil it and only then use it. Simplythe entire surfaceThoroughly brush the board with cooking oil (e.g. rapeseed or linseed oil), leave to rest for 24 hours and wipe off with a clean cloth the next day. In this way, the wood is protected from water and can no longer absorb it. And where there is no humid microclimate, there are no germs. You should repeat oiling the wooden cutting mats every 3-4 weeks - this way they can be used for longer.
The procedure for handling raw vegetables and meat
How you properly clean your cutting board depends primarily on its intended use. If you have cut vegetables, nuts or similar foods on it, the board can be easily cleaned with hot water and a little dishwasher. Just be careful not to soak the cutting board in water for a long time. This not only protects the kitchen aid from bacteria, but also from swelling of the material.
If you have been cutting raw meat on the wooden cutting board, you can disinfect the cutting surface with a solution of white vinegar and 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Simply pour the solution over the board and spread it evenly with a sponge. Leave to act for a few minutes and then wipe off the rest of the liquid with a clean dishwashing detergent.
If you want to avoid chemicals, you can also consider some tried-and-tested home remedies. Germs can be killed efficiently with baking soda. Half a spoonful of the miracle home remedy is enough. However, you should avoid using wooden cutting boards for cutting raw meat or fish.
Wooden cutting boards cannot be put in the dishwasher. This much water can make the surface of the wood base porous and cause cracks. That's why you should only clean your wooden board by hand.
Discoloration is also a common problem with wooden boards. They are mainly caused by foods with strong colors such as beetroot or red cabbage. If you want to clean a discolored cutting board, you can try a simple trick. Mix some lemon juice with baking soda until it forms a kind of paste. Spread the paste on the discolored area and allow it to take effect. If after checking the discoloration is gone, wash the board as usual and let it dry.
Remove odors
Kitchen boards can absorb the persistent odors of aromatic foods such as onions, garlic and fish and pass them on to other food as they are cut. Luckily, there is a simple trick that not only helps you clean the cutting board, but also makes it odor-free again.
This cleaning method is simple and does not use any chemicals. For this you need coarse salt and a lemon. Simply sprinkle a tablespoon (or more if necessary) of salt on the cutting board and rub it with the lemon half. Finally, rinse thoroughly with water and you're done. The trick works with both wooden and plastic boards.
How to clean the plastic cutting board?
Plastic cutting mats are just as popular in the kitchen. Just like wooden boards, they need to be cleaned after each use. In contrast, the plastic boards are dishwasher safe. Set the dishwasher to the highest possible temperature to effectively kill all germs and bacteria from the cutting mat. Thanks to the automatic cleaning, the lingering odors from the board disappear with the first dishwashing cycle.
If you don't have a dishwasher in the kitchen, you can of course also clean the cutting board by hand. After the usual hot water and dishwasher rinse, you can spray the board with a solution of 1 1/2 teaspoons of chlorine bleach and 500 milliliters of water and let it sit for 2 minutes. Then simply rinse off the chlorine solution thoroughly and thatclean plastic cutting boardlet dry upright.
For cutting raw meat or aromatic foods, plastic cutting boards are preferable to wooden ones. They are less porous and can be cleaned more easily and effectively.
Surprisingly, discoloration on a plastic cutting board can be removed in the sun. The direct rays of sunlight brighten the surface and thus remove colored stains, for example from tomatoes or similar vegetables.
Tip: Do not use serrated knives (e.g. bread knives) on a plastic board as these can roughen the surface. You should also avoid using abrasive cleaners.
A kitchen board is not enough
Last but not least, we would like to give a few tips for the correct use of kitchen boards in the household. Please note that just one cutting board is not enough. In contrast to fresh vegetables, foods such as raw meat, fish and poultry are often contaminated with germs or bacteria. If you cut everything on the same board, the bacteria can easily be transferred to other foods. That's why it's recommended to use different cutting boards for meat and vegetables.
Even if you have a separate cutting board for different food groups, that doesn't mean it will last forever. For hygiene reasons, kitchen boards should be replaced with new ones after a certain period of time. The easiest way to determine the condition is to look at the surface - there aresevere scratchesand there is stubborn discoloration, then it's time for a new cutting board.
