BOARD CHOPPING PRODUCTS - WOOD OR PLASTIC

When people think of chopping boards and board chopping products they usually think of wood as being the best and most traditional form of board used for chopping. They look quite stylish in a nice kitchen and can make a kitchen look lovely. Some people however prefer not to use wooden blocks for their board chopping products as they can be sometimes known as unhygienic. Then there was an influx of plastic board chopping products as they came highly recommended. Now we have almost done a full circle and what is known as a wood cube has become the most hygienic board chopping product available.

One of the main reasons wood is a more popular choice for board chopping products is that wood is kinder to the sharp edge of the knife that you are cutting with. As wood is a natural product it does not therefore blunt the edge of the knife as quick as say, plastic would. To clean the wood board chopping products, the best way is to immerse it totallt in hot soapy water and also to use a disinfectant spray after washing. If the wooden board chopping products have many deep cut marks in the wood, it is then best to find and buy a replacement as these nicks and cuts can contain bacteria that cannot be reached by washing. You cannot use the wood board chopping products in any dishwasher because wood is too porous to be washed in this way. The wood will eventually begin to warp and then will split as constant contact with water in the dishwasher would do this.

To make sure you keep your wooden board chopping products in their best possible condition, they will need to be cleaned regularly and make sure you use a steel scraper to scrape the wooden board chopping product and keep it oiled if possible. There are specially formulated oils that are used in conjunction with wooden board chopping products, but to be honest using any kitchen oil will allow the wood to become waterproof and will not therefore contaminate any food used on the block.

As for the plastic board chopping products, these can be popular as they can be dishwasher safe and are usually a lot cheaper than the wood varieties of board chopping products. However, these plastic chopping boards are not good for the knifes as they blunt the edges of the knifes, meaning you will have to regularly sharpen them. The plastic board chopping products may be dishwasher safe but you have to bear in mind that eventually the pure heat of the water and the steam in the dishwasher may cause the plastic board chopping products to warp through continious use in the dishwasher.

So all in all, which board chopping product you choose for your kitchen is totally up to you. There are advantages and disadvantages to both of them. My personal choice would be a wooden board chopping product, these look beautiful in any kitchen and work brilliantly.

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