Chopping boards are a great utensil to use for preparing food, as well as being an aesthetic choice to decorate kitchens. A cleaning fan, who goes by HomeCleaning on TikTok, recently shared a natural remedy for ensuring they are properly disinfected.
Chopping boards can also help prevent cross contamination between foods, with professional kitchens using different colour boards to prepare different food products on. They need to be disinfected properly to avoid harm. However, you won’t always need to rely on chemical and commercial cleaning products to do the job.
One potential issue with using wooden chopping boards is that it offers microscopic germs a place to hide, in turn, posing a risk to your health. It’s so important to remember that chopping boards are made from different materials, so they’ll need to be cleaned with appropriate ingredients depending on the material they’re made from.
If they’re not cleaned properly, wooden boards have the potential to store harmful bacteria.
In a recent video, HomeCleaning’s suggestion for disinfecting wooden chopping boards included lemons and salt. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze lemon juice onto the board, followed by layering on some salt.
Then take the lemon half and work in the salt, before rinsing the board under the tap. The salt will dissolve into an abrasive paste, making sure that any bacteria found in scratches are killed.
The lemon can also help to deodorise the chopping board, leaving it with a fresh scent. Salt can help clean wooden surfaces due to its abrasive properties, helping to lift dirt and food particles from the board.
While the salt helps to scrub, the lemon contains citric acid and has cleaning properties that help to soften and remove stains, as well as kill hidden bacteria.
This occurs due to the porous nature of the wood, which can get trapped in the fibres and grooves of the board.
Wood also absorbs moisture, which helps any bacteria in the board to thrive. To prevent the development of any hidden germs, you should wash and dry your chopping board regularly.
By storing the board in a cool, dry place will also limit the growth of bacteria.
Shiza Shahid, founder of cookware brand Our Place, told Ideal Home about the benefits of using wooden chopping boards, saying: There’s a reason chefs and home cooks alike love a good wood board. Naturally antimicrobial, gentle on knives, and built to last, wooden boards age beautifully with use.”
Not only are wooden chopping boards durable, but they can also be a great choice for the overall appearance of a kitchen. In comparison, plastic chopping boards can be good if you’re after something lightweight, dishwasher safe, and more in your budget.
When it comes to cleaning, Richard Joseph, CEO of Joseph Joseph, told Ideal Home: “They also require less maintenance than wooden boards, making them a more convenient option for everyday use.
“Plastic chopping boards are easier to sanitise, as they can be safely cleaned in a dishwasher, allowing for thorough disinfection.”
