Food Steps Journal: March 2015

27 THINGS YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE YOU SETTLE DOWN!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

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3 WAYS TO MAINTAIN AN Eco-Friendly Cutting Boards!

Saturday, March 14, 2015

There is one thing that can not be separated from food blogger or foodies instead of hipster camera for taking a great pictures, having a great food, cooking and finally posting into social media as we all known. Do you know that great food comes from a good material, instead of skill and talent to cook, I believe that Cutting Boards also make a big impact for all of us (a.k.a foodies). On this article, I wouldn't talking about recipes, restaurant reviews or foods, but kitchen and the details. If you like cooking you might be concerned about the details like cutting boards, isn't it? So, I would love to share about creating an eco-friendly kitchen with best material of cutting boards, which is important as the main tools.

Instead of purchase a new cutting boards, let's get to know which best material is suit for you, and how can you ensure the durability of your eco-friendly boards for years to come? Here's the tips:

The Most Eco-Friendly Cutting Board Materials

Sustainably harvested wood

Wooden cutting boards are currently undergoing a resurgence in popularity, and for many good reasons. Wooden boards are often referred to as self-healing because shallow cuts close up, helping to prevent the spread of bacteria. They’ve also been shown to have anti-bacterial properties. They’re knife-friendly and, when properly cared for, can last for years and years. Hard woods such as acacia, teak, and maple make for some of the highest-quality cutting boards because they absorb less water and bacteria than other more porous woods. If purchasing new wood products, look for Forestry Stewardship Certification. (Though it’s not the topmost barometer of eco-friendliness, the certification denotes the wood was sustainably harvested.) And opt for versions made without fillers or stains, as these may contain potentially toxic chemicals.

Reclaimed or salvaged wood

Take your eco-friendliness up a notch by repurposing materials that may otherwise go to waste. Wood scraps that could have been tossed in the trash can be used to create durable, long-lasting, attractive cutting boards. Plus, all of the general benefits of wood—knife-friendly, anti-bacterial, durable—also apply to reclaimed wood.

Bamboo

Actually a hard grass, bamboo is a sustainable and rapidly renewable resource: It takes only three to five years to harvest bamboo, while wood can require 15 to 20 times as long to regrow. It also makes for a durable, long-lasting, anti-bacterial cutting board. Because bamboo is harder than some woods (such as maple), it may be not be as knife-friendly as wooden boards. If choosing a bamboo board, look for those that use formaldehyde-free glues.

Cork

Cork is biodegradable, recyclable, and anti-fungal—all great qualities in a cutting board. It’s also touted as lightweight, knife-friendly, slip-resistant, and durable. Cork hasn’t yet claimed the cutting board limelight, but it is a potential up-and-comer in the eco-friendly board market.

Recycled paper (well, maybe)

Yep, you read that right. Paper boards are made up of layers of paper that are cured and soaked in a resin in order to create a solid sheet. If the paper is sustainably harvested, these may seem like a reasonably eco-friendly choice. However, beware of the resins; in many cases, they’re made from plastics and potentially toxic materials. So, let's get closer and fcocus on care techniques for these materials.

You might already decide which one the best for you. well, the most popular eco-friendly choices currently on the market are wooden and bamboo.

Eco-friendly care techniques

First, a few general pointers for the care and keeping of boards:

As with any cooking tool, always follow general food safety guidelines.
Assign separate cutting boards to different food types. It’s most sanitary to use separate boardsfor meat, dairy, and fruits and vegetables.
Keep knives sharp. Sharp knives mean you won’t need to press down as hard while you’re cutting, sparing your cutting board from extraneous knife cuts. Also be sure to vary where you cut on the board so that you don’t reinforce any grooves.
Keep the board dry. It’s okay to cut wet food on a wooden or bamboo board, but be sure toremove the food as soon as you’re done cutting it and dry the board so the moisture doesn’t have much time to soak in. This will help prevent damage to the board.
Store boards properly. They should be completely dry and stored upright in a rack in order to allow air to flow.
Clean boards as soon as you’re done using them.

3 Ways to Clean and oil a wooden cutting board

I was found out that this way is more better than you soak in the sink and I was suprise that nowadays cutting boards come with varies type of pretty good looking that you wont miss for your kitchen or you can custom-made your own eco-friendly cutting boards like this. http://www.custommade.com/gallery/custom-cutting-boards/

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