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Tips For Picking The Best Kitchen Work Surface

October 16th, 2009 Shelby Goodwin No comments

It’s traditional to use a wooden chopping board. Some people prefer plastic because they think that it’s a lot more hygienic. This is not totally true. You can keep a wooden board clean too. Another advantage of using a wooden block is that they are a lot more resistant. You will not have to change your chopping board so often! No matter what chopping block you will choose make sure it will be in tone with the rest of your kitchen. This is your private space where you should be able to relax and cook delicious meals for you and your family. Therefore you should have the best tools!

[I:http://homeremovalservices.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/ShelbyGoodwin4.jpg]One of the main reasons for choosing a wooden chopping board is that wood is better for your knife. With the plastic blocks you will ruin a lot of knives quickly. Therefore it’s a lot more expensive to use a plastic block. If your knife keeps on losing it’s edge you will need to sharpen it causing you to lose time.

The best way to keep your chopping board clean is to use a lot of hot soapy water. After you wash the block try to disinfect it with a special spray. This way all the microbes will disappear and the board will remain hygienic.

Keep in mind to always check your wood chopping board. IF you see that it has deep cut mark than it’s time to buy a new one or plane it down. Those marks can hide a lot of bacteria that can’t be reached when you wash the block.

If you are still worried about hygiene when using a wood chopping board you can also use special oils to clean it. Those oils are made especially for objects made of wood. This way you can be sure that your health is safe! You never should do anything to risk your health.

The main advantage of using a plastic chopping board is that you can clean them in a dishwasher. Therefore it’s a lot easier to clean than a wooden one. Even if it’s not so nice looking as a wooden one, they are also a lot cheaper. This way you will be able to afford to buy more chopping boards. Wood usually is more expensive.

Chopping boards can be bought online or from a shop. If you buy it online you have the advantage to look at more models than visiting a bricks and mortar shop, which may well save time in the long run.

You should have at least two chopping boards in your home for more safety – one for meat and one for everything else. When you are using a wooden chopping block make sure you are careful to look out for deep score marks in the surface. Never take any risk with your health!

Choosing any kitchen product is always fun, especially when buying Christmas presents for others. Buying the best chopping board for a particular use or person is easy online. The vast range of butchers block chopping boards available can be over whelming at times. On the whole it is best to buy the best butcher block you can afford.

What To Look For When Purchasing Butcher Block

September 29th, 2009 Arthur Butler No comments

If you are a serious chef, or you want to become one you should consider using butchers block as a cutting surface. This material is tough, long lasting and beautiful and works amazingly as a way to save your counter tops and other kitchen surfaces. There are some specific advantages to using butcher block that you need to know about, as well as how to take care of one properly.

Butcher block is a very heavy, very durable cutting surface that is made from pieces of wood that have been stuck together. It got its name because it was originally used in butcher shops and meat processing facilities because it can withstand repeated blows from very heavy knives without being damaged. If the butcher block did become damaged, it was simple to resurface it and the block was so sturdy that you could resurface it many times without weakening it overall.

If you are trying to decide how you want to incorporate butchers block into your home, you have several different options and it is up to you which you select. You should think about how much cutting space you want to have and this can be a guide to your plans. There are a number of different options, including entire counter tops, kitchen islands with a butcher block top, or a piece that is used as a stand-alone board.

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How is the block formed? This can be an influence on how you will use the board in your home. If you will be doing a lot of prep work, consider an end grain board. Because the wood fibers in these blocks are perpendicular to the surface of the block, they absorb the force of knife blows and will not dull the edge of the knife. They are also harder to mark on the surface. This can be great if you are someone who does not want to have to worry about resurfacing and conditioning your block any more than is necessary.

If you want to incorporate butcher’s block on a budget, consider edge grain boards. These are less expensive than end grain but they are not as durable and may not be desirable to serious cooks. Consider trying a separate board first to see if you like how you care for your board.

When shopping there are more things to look at than just end grain or edge grain. You need to make sure that the pieces of wood making up the block have been securely fastened together and that the wood is in good shape. The last thing that you want is for the adhesive keeping the pieces of wood together to let go so that all you have is a bundle of wooden sticks. You also need to speak with an expert who can give you good information on how to treat and condition the wood and keep it looking beautiful.

You need to know what kind of oil the wood has been treated with. Butcher block needs to be treated with oil to keep the wood pliable and conditioned so that it does not break or splinter. There are a number of different oils that wood can be treated with and some can be toxic if they are ingested. That is the last thing you want if you are using it to prepare food on.

If you are looking at getting butcher block counters, you need to get them from a reputable dealer. Although they can be shaped with regular woodworking tools, you need to make sure that they have been assembled using glue that is food safe and treated with food safe oil as well. Learning as much as you can about butcher’s block can help you avoid costly mistakes and get you the product you have been looking for.

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