The Useful Benefits of Plastic Cutting Boards
A cutting board is one of the most important items in any kitchen because it is used to prepare food. Plastic cutting boards are a popular choice for both amateur cooks and professional chefs since they are easy to clean and last a long time. They are a good choice for all kinds of food prep duties because they are useful, cheap, and good for your health.
Plastic cutting boards are light, easy to use, and quick to clean. Wooden boards need oiling and particular care, but plastic boards can be washed in the dishwasher. This makes them a great choice for families that are often on the go. Their non-porous surface doesn’t hold bacteria as well as porous materials do, especially when they are cleaned regularly. Another good thing about them is that they may be used in many different ways. You may get plastic boards in many sizes, colours, and thicknesses. Colour coding is very common in industrial kitchens, where different boards are used for meat, vegetables, fish, and bread to keep them from becoming mixed up. You may use this same approach at home to handle food more safely.
How to Pick the Best Plastic Cutting Boards for Your Kitchen?
There are a few important things to look for when buying plastic cutting boards. First, think about how big it is. A bigger board provides you more room to work with, which is especially helpful when you’re slicing up a lot of different things. But smaller boards are better for short jobs or kitchens with little counter space. It’s also crucial that it be thick and strong. Thicker boards are usually more stable and don’t warp as much, even after being used and washed several times. To keep your countertop from moving, look for boards with rubber feet or edges that don’t skid. Some models also have juice grooves to capture liquids, which is useful for chopping up fruits or meats. Food-grade plastic is important since it makes sure that the material is safe to touch with any kind of food. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a popular choice because it is durable and doesn’t get cut easily. A board with a smooth surface keeps knife grooves from becoming a place where bacteria can grow, especially if you use it often.
Best Practices for Hygiene and Maintenance
Plastic cutting boards are known for being good for your health, but you still need to clean and care for them properly. After each use, wash the board well with hot, soapy water, or put it in the dishwasher if it can go in there. This gets rid of food particles and lowers the chance of bacteria growing. It could be time to get a new board if it starts to get deep grooves or knife marks over time. These cuts can hold onto bacteria even after they’ve been cleaned. You can use a scraping tool to resurface some plastic boards, but for most home kitchens, it’s easier and cheaper to just buy new ones. Use various boards for different types of food to cut down on cross-contamination even further. For instance, you could have one board for raw meats, one for veggies, and one for bread or prepared dishes. Sets that are colour-coded make this straightforward and also help younger or less experienced cooks learn how to be safe in the kitchen.
Comparing plastic cutting boards to other types of boards
People often compare plastic cutting boards to other common materials, such as wood, bamboo, and glass. Wood boards appear nice and are easy on blades, but they need more care and can hold bacteria if they aren’t kept clean. Bamboo is better for the environment, but it is usually tougher and can dull knives faster. Cutting boards made of glass are highly clean and easy to clean, but they can be rough on knife blades and make noise or be slippery when you use them. Plastic boards, on the other hand, are a nice mix of usefulness and performance. They are safe for knives, can go in the dishwasher, and come in a range of prices to fit any budget. Plastic cutting boards are still one of the most useful equipment in the kitchen for regular cooking, especially when speed and cleanliness are important. Having a set of good plastic boards on hand helps preparing a simple salad or a large supper safer, cleaner, and faster.
