Like most professions a chef has certain “tools” that he uses on a regular basis, but how do you extend the life and know when to replace some of these tools. Well this blog is going to give you a couple tips and tricks to help extend the life of your cutting boards and to know when enough is enough and replace it.
When to replace:
- If at any point your cutting board begins to warp and not lay flat, it is time to replace that cutting board no matter how special. If you continue to reuse a warped cutting board you do run the risk of getting injured while cutting.
- If your cutting board begins to get cuts, groves, or chips missing from the board it is time to replace. While the board may function just fine, the board is now a breading ground for different germs and contaminants. Also, depending on the condition of the board it can also gain the attention of the health inspector.
How to extend the life of your cutting board:
Depending on the material of your cutting board will change the way that you extend the life of it.
For our cutting boards that are made out of polyethylene we recommend the following:
- Do not use serrated edges as it will damage the surface and greatly decrease the life of the board.
- Do not use meat cleavers because the boards are not meant to withstand the force.
- Do not forget that if one side becomes unusable you can still flip the board over.
Unfortunately there is not a lot of information in regards to how to help make that poly-cutting board last forever.
For our more durable cutting boards that are made of the Richlite we recommend the following options:
- A quick wipe up with a damp sponge on a regular basis will maintain the beauty of the surface
- Murphy's Oil Soap can also be applied undiluted for regular maintenance
- Howard's Naturals Wood Cleaner and Polish will slightly renew the luster when used regularly
- Alkaline soaps such as regular dish soap will gradually dull the surface
- To remove stubborn stains, use a nonabrasive household cleaner
- Plain yogurt can be used to pull stains from light colored Richlite
- DO NOT use bleach products or abrasive cleaners
I have gathered this information directly from cuttingboardcompany.com but found that several other sites agree with this including cuttingboard.net.
There are several reasons as to why we suggest the Richlite material over the poly or other cutting boards:
- Made of wood composite so it is not porous like the wood cutting boards so it is more resistant to bacteria.
- Because of the material used it is stain, scratch, and heat resistant. The Richlite material will withstand up to 350 Fahrenheit.
- Due to Richlite’s extreme durability you will not have to worry about scratches turning into gouges or cracks, as those are uncommon.
- Also, Richlite is a product that has been around for over 50 years in commercial kitchens and over 12 years as skate ramp surface.
- The only issue that I have learned in the writing of this blog is that because of the way Richlite is made, the manufacturer has to be careful in making sure the board is properly eased or “radiused” according to Richlite.com.
- Resources:
- http://www.Cuttingboardcompany.com
- http://www.Cuttingboards.net
www.richlite.com/northwest/features-and-benefits.html