Why You Should Have a Wooden Cutting Board in Your Kitchen
Why You Should Have a Wooden Cutting Board in Your Kitchen
Having the right cutting board in your kitchen is about more than just accessorizing correctly. It's important to have a piece that isn't going to ruin your best knives or become a bacterial breeding ground. When it comes to long-lasting and reliable quality, a wooden cutting board provides some of the most essential benefits to cooking. Whether you're a novice chef or a master in the kitchen, these boards should be a part of your necessary equipment to complete the everyday arsenal.
- Durability
Wood is one of the most durable materials for cutting boards you’re hoping to have for a long time. Different types of wood will give you various benefits - for example, edge-grain maple wood cutting boards don't get scratched easily and are great for your knife’s edge. Meanwhile, a walnut board is a hardwood that’s still soft enough to work with.
If the surface does happen to eventually get some grooves or cuts, many wooden cutting boards can be sanded down to smooth the area. This extends the life of your board, making it a great long-term investment. You can get this professionally treated, but it’s fairly simple to look up a few instructions for restoring an old wooden cutting board.
- Maintenance
A wooden cutting board will need slightly more maintenance than a plastic or glass cutting board. Trying to add them to your dishwasher load will quickly ruin them so you need to wash them by hand instead. When it comes to sanitizing your board after washing it with soap and water, avoid chlorine. Wood has natural antibacterial properties, especially if it’s a hardwood variety, and harsh chemicals neutralize this aspect. Instead, use quaternary ammonium which is commonly found in household disinfectants. After you’ve diluted it properly, following the product’s instructions, you can use this compound to sanitize the surface of your board.
Any cutting board will need to be well maintained to remove bacteria and germ build-up. Because plastic cutting boards are easier to sanitize, a common misconception is that they're safer to use than wooden boards. However, research has shown that because of the durability, the wooden variety is less likely to develop grooves that bacteria can hide and grow inside of. So while you'll need to put a little more effort into scrubbing the surface and use a quaternary ammonium sanitizer, these boards are the safer choice when maintained correctly.
- Knife Longevity
When choosing the right cutting board, it's important to take into account what it will do to your knife. While glass or marble boards look beautiful, their hard surfaces quickly dull the knife's blade. While plastic cutting boards won’t be as quick to damage your knife, they’re easily damaged instead, developing grooves and cuts that can worsen over time. As mentioned above, these grooves make it easier for bacteria to hide and more difficult to sanitize.
Your wooden cutting board, on the other hand, is going to be the best choice when you’re looking for a material that takes it easy on your knives. End-grain boards are especially beneficial for knife use since they’re designed to take daily force and won’t split as easily. The edge is less likely to best or roll when used on an improper surface. With wood, you’re able to use the same area without worrying about quickly making a deep rut. With a little bit of treatment, cuts and grooves can easily be sanded away for reuse.
- Aesthetically Pleasing
When trying to give your kitchen a more authentic look, wooden cutting boards are a part of a traditional chef’s signature look. They come in a variety of designs and sizes, with the ability to easily customize the surface. Instead of tucking them away in a drawer, these are made to be present on the counter for that homely, natural visual.
Many different companies have a variety of customizations, shapes, and sizes to choose from when it comes to wooden boards. In some cases, like edge-grain versus end-grain, their markings and patterns are natural. Other times, the creator will bevel the surface, cut the wood into a shape, or sometimes wood burn a design around the edges. The different types of wood give you a variety of colors to choose from as well, giving you the light tan of birchwood to the dark red of mahogany. If you have a specific theme or color design going on in your kitchen, you can easily find a wooden cutting board that fits into your aesthetic.
It’s important to invest in quality kitchen equipment. Having a wooden cutting board, especially when they’re an artisan-crafted variety, is a reliable piece that will last you for years. While it does require a bit more in-depth maintenance than just being able to throw it in the dishwasher, the natural material is more reliable in killing bacteria. Wooden cutting boards give your kitchen a traditional touch while also being essential in your food prep.
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