Can I Use Any Wood For A Cutting Board?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Dense hardwood lumber with a closed grain like maple, walnut and cherry are among the best cutting board materials. The choice of wood should be free of warps, have a flat surface and doesn’t have any blemishes or excessive knots on the surface.

What is an unacceptable material for a cutting board?

Glass and marble , in case you don’t know, are unacceptable cutting board materials. They ruin knives practically on contact, and have a deeply unpleasant feel; a knife on glass is the kitchen equivalent of fingernails on a blackboard.

What Woods are bad for cutting boards?

I would avoid open-pored woods like ash and red oak , which will be harder to keep clean from food stains. Pine might impart a resinous taste, and it’s soft so will show cutting scars from knives more easily than a harder wood like maple.

Why is oak not a good choice for a cutting board?

For you tree enthusiasts, you may recognize that oak is a hardwood, but is not often used in cutting boards. The reason is that oak, while hard, has very large pores . When these pores are cut through they are visible to the naked eye.

What things should you never do to a wood cutting board?

  • Don’t leave your wood cutting board in the sink. ...
  • Don’t put your wood cutting board in the dishwasher. ...
  • Don’t use fatty oils on your cutting board. ...
  • Don’t use oils that aren’t food-safe, either. ...
  • Don’t cross-contaminate after you prep food.

What kind of cutting board do chefs use?

Gordon uses a John Boos block cutting board. In his MasterClass cooking series, Gordon recommends using any large wood cutting board with a minimum of 24” x 18” in size and won’t slip when using. Most chefs keep separate cutting boards dedicated to beef, chicken, seafood, chopping onions, and garlic.

How often should you sanitize cutting boards?

Cutting boards that are clean-in-place, should be cleaned and then sanitized after every use , with a solution of one to two teaspoons chlorine bleach per quart of water or a commercial approved sanitizer.

Can you put raw chicken on a wooden cutting board?

It’s true that wood cutting boards look good, but using them for meat or poultry is a big no-no according to the USDA . Bacteria can thrive inside the wood’s pores which may lead to food poisoning. ... If you can’t bear to part with your wood cutting board, save it for fruits, vegetables, cheese and bread.

What kind of wood is best for cutting boards?

Maple — specifically, sugar maple or hard maple — is the most popular choice for cutting boards. Maple is a hard, closed-grain wood. This means that it’s durable, able to resist bacteria, and features just the right amount of hardness.

Is White Oak OK for a cutting board?

White oak is great for end grain cutting boards provided you try to avoid the sap wood.

What types of wood are food safe?

  • Maple. Both soft and hard maple make for excellent cutting surfaces. ...
  • Beech. Measuring 1,300 lbf on the hardness scale, this food-safe, closed-grained hardwood is non-damaging to knives and offers stellar scratch and impact resistance outdone only by hard maple. ...
  • Teak. ...
  • Walnut.

Is Purple Heart wood toxic?

Is the Purple Heart Poisonous? The plant is not known to be any kind of dangerous , and although it might cause some reactions in specific people and animals, it isn’t poisonous.

Should you put raw meat on a wooden cutting board?

In Summary. Wooden cutting boards are safe for cutting raw and cooked meat . They are durable, eco-friendly, and provide a soft cutting surface to extend the life of your knives.

What is the best cutting board to cut raw meat?

Plastic is generally considered the best option for raw meat, because it’s dishwasher safe and has a nonporous surface. Wood cutting boards (including bamboo) can be more difficult to sanitize, because they can’t go in the dishwasher.

How do you clean wooden cutting boards?

Gently scrub your board with a sponge and hot, soapy water (we recommend using a mild unscented dish soap, such as Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dish Liquid) . It’s important to wash both sides of the board (even if you chopped on only one side) to prevent it from drying unevenly, which could cause the board to warp.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.