Bamboo vs. Wooden Cutting Board
Choosing a cutting board is sometimes a tricky decision. Most people wonder what size to get. Then there are the endless options of what composition of cutting boards to purchase. Avid home chefs would recommend a cutting board that isn't plastic. Plastic can dull your knives faster and will stain in the grooves left by the knife. This leaves a choice between wooden or bamboo cutting boards. Does this Spark an idea?
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Function
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Cutting boards are very practical and can really spruce up a kitchen. The variety of sizes and shapes available is staggering. Some chefs choose to serve food right off the cutting board, so it is necessary to have a nice-looking one. Large, long-lasting cutting boards made of wood or bamboo could cost up to $100, but you are also buying a beautiful accent for your kitchen.
Bamboo Cutting Boards
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Bamboo seems to be a hot decorating topic as of 2010. Bamboo is a readily available renewable resource and has become a mainstream item in a variety of markets. This is appealing to the chef who wants to be eco-friendly in food preparation. Many bamboo cutting board manufacturers claim that bamboo is naturally microbial because it absorbs less liquid than wooden cutting boards. Bamboo is also harder than most maple cutting boards, so it takes on less damage by the knives and resists mold and bacteria better.
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Choosing Bamboo
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Bamboo cutting boards are made of small pieces of bamboo glued together. Some bamboo cutting board manufactures use non-safe glues. Make sure the glue used to put the board together is formaldehyde free. Many people choose bamboo because of the fact that it is a very renewable resource. If it needs to be replaced more frequently, the impact on the environment is less than with plastic or wood. Bamboo cutting boards need to be oiled regularly with mineral oil or beeswax to prevent drying and cracking over time.
Wooden Cutting Boards
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Wooden cutting boards are a nice addition to your kitchen. They not only look appealing, but are also very sanitary. Wood has been known to be especially hygienic because of the capillary action. It sucks up bacteria very quickly and causes the bacteria to die. Wooden cutting boards also are somewhat self-healing, so the grooves caused by your knife will close up a bit and less food can get stuck in there.
Choosing Wood
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If you choose to use a wooden cutting board and are concerned about the impact on the environment, you can call the manufacturer and find out where the origin of the wood. Many companies make their cutting boards from milling factory waste, so it isn't wasteful to buy these. Wooden cutting boards also need to be oiled regularly with mineral oil or beeswax to prevent drying and cracking over time.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Peppers on the Cutting Board image by Gerald Bernard from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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I recently bought my first bamboo cutting board. I just finished canning beets and I am very impressed that even with leaving the beet juices sitting on the board for an hour or so, I washed it off with soapy water and NO STAINS! I've never gotten that with wood!
