Caring For Your Wooden Cutting Board

Researchers have found that bacteria have a tougher time surviving on wood cutting boards. However, plastic cutting boards are less porous than wood, making it less likely to harbor bacteria over a long period of time, but only if it is immediately cleaned. Here are a few tips to caring for your cutting board.

1. It is best to apply the oil slightly warm and with a soft cloth in the direction on the grain. Warming the oil allows it to penetrate deeper into the wood. "Season" your board by applying mineral or butcher block oil and letting it soak into the wood for 15-30 minutes. Apply 4-6 coats before using the board.

2. Oil your cutting board when it looks dry, sometimes as frequently as once a week. If you allow your board to become dry it may begin to crack.

3. Scrub and wash your cutting board with soap and water but don't immerse it completely in water. In addition, don't put your wooden cutting board in the dishwasher because it will warp the wood.

4. Spraying vinegar on your cutting board with a spray bottle is a good way to sanitize it. Using bleach on a wood cutting board isn't a good idea because it is not as effective because the organic composition of wood neutralizes the disinfectant quality of bleach.

Daniel Urmann is a contributor and author for the website Vermont Cutting Boards.

---

Two for One Dinners: Ham

If you find leftovers boring, uninviting or downright "yuck," then... Read More

Once-A-Month-Cooking: How to Make Your Plan Work

As one of the oldest children in a family of... Read More

High Altitude Baking - A Cooks Guide

High altitude baking can be a real adventure for the... Read More

Cooking Filet Mignon

Filet mignon is French, of course, with filet meaning "thick... Read More

ServSafe Food Program in Montana a Success

Montana has a great program for restaurant employees. Each preparer... Read More

Do a Dry Rub First

The debate on ribs has ended in my home. After... Read More

Solving The 7 Most Common Whole Wheat Bread Baking Mistakes

Let's face it EVERY cook makes mistakes (yes, even us... Read More

Buying, Storing, and Preparing Apricots

When buying apricots, always look for those that are firm,... Read More

Low-Budget Meals In a Minute

Ever go home and look in the fridge only to... Read More

Vegetarian Cooking - Three Basics

For any of the many reasons people choose to eat... Read More

How to Grill Most Any Vegetable You Can Think Of!

Grilling vegetables is easy. The fact that more people don't... Read More

To Fry Or Not To Fry?

Here's a little known factoid - did you know that... Read More

Bacteria and Food-borne Diseases

Types of BacteriaBacteria are all around us, in the air,... Read More

Two for One Dinners: Beans

If you find leftovers boring, uninviting or downright "yuck," then... Read More

Family Meal Planning Made Easy

As moms, we have hectic lives. Whether we work out... Read More

Foods That Freeze Well

"Can I freeze it?" is a question often asked in... Read More

How to Cook Rice Right

The easiest way to make rice well every time is... Read More

How to Cook a Lobster

French chefs plunge them into boiling water; English ones, in... Read More

10 Smart Shopping Tips To Protect Your Family From Getting Sick

Prevention of food poisoning starts with your trip to the... Read More

Secrets of Great Breads

Often we field questions about making great bread. Great bread... Read More

Bread in the Woods

We really like fresh bread while we're camping. There is... Read More

Chinese Cooking Technique: Deep Fry

There are usually 2 ways of deep frying in Chinese... Read More

Food Poisoning--An Overview

What is Food Poisoning?Food poisoning results when you eat food... Read More

Barbecue Success With The Rule Of Thirds

Ever been to a barbecue party where the 'chef' placed... Read More

Must Haves for Any At-Home Chef

With the holidays on their way soon, many people will... Read More

Garlic: A Quick Guide

Garlic, there's nothing like the smell of garlic. It's great... Read More

Don?t Poke the Chicken at Your Backyard Barbecue

You might be planning a home remodeling project and it... Read More

Cool Summertime Cooking

Summertime--and the living is easy! But the kitchen is hot!!... Read More

Cooking -- What You Need To Know

From ancient times till the nineteenth century cooking was basically... Read More

What is Gluten and Why does it Matter?

Gluten is a substance made up of the proteins found... Read More

Perfect Picnics - Frugal Food Safety Tips

Summer is finally here and for a lot of us... Read More

The Joys of Refrigerator Cookies

Baking cookies seem to fill the house with a sense... Read More

The Almighty Beer-Can Chicken

A popular method of cooking chicken in recent years both... Read More