Is Your Cutting Board Making You Sick? Find Out How to Clean it Properly!
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If you're like us, you probably don't think about cleaning your cutting board until it's too late - when it's already stained and smelling bad. As it turns out, though, it’s incredibly important to clean your cutting board regularly (even if it looks perfectly fine to the naked eye) to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Aside from the hygiene, chopping boards can also experience a lot of friction that may chip the surface, causing the tiny bits of wood or plastic to mix into your ingredients, and generally reducing the lifespan of your board.
So, if you're looking for ways to efficiently maintain your chopping board, here are some tips from food hacks expert @kalejunkie on how to clean and deodorise both wooden and plastic varieties, so they'll always be ready for your next meal.
Credit: TikTok/@kalejunkie
1. Wooden chopping boards
Wooden cutting boards should never be put in the dishwasher, as this can dry them out and cause them to crack. Instead, wash them by hand with soap and warm water after each use, and dry them immediately. Then rub salt and lemon on the wood for a few minutes to get rid of stains. Finally, rinse and dry. This approach is really effective and leaves them smelling clean.
Additionally, applying food-grade mineral oil to your wooden cutting board will help restore moisture to the wood and provide further maintenance. Do this step every few weeks to see optimal results.
2. Plastic chopping boards
Plastic cutting boards, on the other hand, are dishwasher safe. But if you prefer to wash them by hand, you can do so with soap and warm water. If they get stained, the best technique is to rub them for a few minutes with a mixture of salt, baking soda, and 1/2 lemon juice. Cleanse, dry, and store. Your board will smell fresh once more and the stains will be gone!
Chopping boards should be cleaned thoroughly as bacteria can grow from them and mix in with your food. Credit: Unpeeled Journal.
The tips have captured the attention of thousands of people, with many taking to the comments section to express their gratitude for them.
One user wrote: 'Love this tip!'
'I’m going to try this ASAP on my wooden island stand!! I love lemon for cleaning!' another exclaimed.
Others took the opportunity to share their tips for getting rid of the stains from cutting boards.
One person suggested: 'Hydrogen peroxide also cleans cutting boards.'
'For plastic you can use some Bleach wait for it to come off and wash it,' another recommended.
Some said that they were not able to get rid of the stains from their boards, prompting @kalejunkie to reply and ask if they had followed the instructions she suggested as she had been using them for years.
Regardless of the comments, we are looking forward to trying these tips and seeing if they are effective. After all, the ingredients she suggested are all easily-accessible, so there's no harm in trying them (and we must admit that our chopping boards could use a little sprucing up).
So, there you have it, folks! Will you be giving these tips a try?
Aside from the hygiene, chopping boards can also experience a lot of friction that may chip the surface, causing the tiny bits of wood or plastic to mix into your ingredients, and generally reducing the lifespan of your board.
So, if you're looking for ways to efficiently maintain your chopping board, here are some tips from food hacks expert @kalejunkie on how to clean and deodorise both wooden and plastic varieties, so they'll always be ready for your next meal.
Credit: TikTok/@kalejunkie
1. Wooden chopping boards
Wooden cutting boards should never be put in the dishwasher, as this can dry them out and cause them to crack. Instead, wash them by hand with soap and warm water after each use, and dry them immediately. Then rub salt and lemon on the wood for a few minutes to get rid of stains. Finally, rinse and dry. This approach is really effective and leaves them smelling clean.
Additionally, applying food-grade mineral oil to your wooden cutting board will help restore moisture to the wood and provide further maintenance. Do this step every few weeks to see optimal results.
2. Plastic chopping boards
Plastic cutting boards, on the other hand, are dishwasher safe. But if you prefer to wash them by hand, you can do so with soap and warm water. If they get stained, the best technique is to rub them for a few minutes with a mixture of salt, baking soda, and 1/2 lemon juice. Cleanse, dry, and store. Your board will smell fresh once more and the stains will be gone!
Chopping boards should be cleaned thoroughly as bacteria can grow from them and mix in with your food. Credit: Unpeeled Journal.
The tips have captured the attention of thousands of people, with many taking to the comments section to express their gratitude for them.
One user wrote: 'Love this tip!'
'I’m going to try this ASAP on my wooden island stand!! I love lemon for cleaning!' another exclaimed.
Others took the opportunity to share their tips for getting rid of the stains from cutting boards.
One person suggested: 'Hydrogen peroxide also cleans cutting boards.'
'For plastic you can use some Bleach wait for it to come off and wash it,' another recommended.
Some said that they were not able to get rid of the stains from their boards, prompting @kalejunkie to reply and ask if they had followed the instructions she suggested as she had been using them for years.
Regardless of the comments, we are looking forward to trying these tips and seeing if they are effective. After all, the ingredients she suggested are all easily-accessible, so there's no harm in trying them (and we must admit that our chopping boards could use a little sprucing up).
So, there you have it, folks! Will you be giving these tips a try?