How to Clean a Chopping Board

Chopping boards help protect your counters from damage and your knives from dulling. The most common materials used to make a chopping board are wood and plastic. Both types need to be sanitized after every use to keep bacteria from growing on their surface. Small abrasions on the surface can trap the bacteria, making it a fertile breeding ground. You can clean a chopping board easily and prolong its usefulness.

Things You'll Need

• Dish soap Sponge Towel Vinegar Paper towels

Instructions

1. Fill a sink with the hottest water you can stand to put your hands in. Add dish soap to the water.

2. Dip the chopping board into the water and scrub clean with a sponge or other nonabrasive tool. Scrub both sides of the board thoroughly.

3. Dampen a clean towel with full-strength white vinegar. Wipe down the chopping board thoroughly with the vinegar. This will disinfect the board and kill bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli.

4. Dry the board thoroughly with paper towels. Bacteria can only grow on a damp surface.

Tips & Warnings

• Rub your cutting board with salt to get rid of bad smells. Keep vinegar in a spray bottle for easy cleanup and sanitizing.

• Never use steel wool on a wooden cutting board as it will ruin the finish. Do not soak wooden cutting boards for more than a few minutes or they will absorb the water and crack.

References

• What's Cooking America