Wooden Chopping Boards
When you think of a chopping board the first thing that comes to mind is the traditional wooden type. With time and the invention of technologies all around us it makes sense that technologies for the kitchen change and improve as well. Today there are three main materials used to make chopping boards in the kitchen. They are wood, plastic, and glass. There are two types of wood used - end grain wooden and flat grain.
Knife Block
Types of Wooden Boards
End grain wooden butcher block are the Cadillac of cutting boards. Individual boards of wood are arranged so the grain of the wood runs up and down in end grain boards. With this type of board the grain of the wood separates as the knife meets the surface of the board during the cutting process. You aren't cutting the actual wood of the board but actually between the fibers which will save the surface of the board and keep the sharpness of the knife. The flat grain cutting board is made with wood boards that are arranged horizontally so the edges of the board actually form the surface used for cutting. This cutting board is usually reversible to help extend the life of the board.
Disadvantages to use of Wood Cutting Surface
There are disadvantages to wooden cutting surfaces. One of the main downfalls of using wood for this type kitchen tool was that some woods can and will actually hold in dangerous toxins such as salmonella, bacteria and all kinds of other germs in its cracks and crevices. Wood boards can not be sanitized in the dishwasher because high temperatures can and often will render the board useless causing the wood to split and become warped and it will no longer lie flat on the counter top. You want the board to lay flat and steady when in use. Another disadvantage to using wooden chopping boards is they need to be treated regularly with some type of mineral oil in order to be able to extend the life of the board and protect it from the collection of mold. Pure mineral oil is the most popular form of oil used on wooden surfaces every week because is it cheaper. There are others who use the edible oils such as sunflower or olive oils but these oils must remain on the board for at least an hour before being thoroughly washed off.
