Cutting Boards

Jared · Sep 9, 2007

Originally Posted by Ludeykrus

I can understand the wood healing itself, but how does it disinfect itself?
Last I heard no one knew how it worked, just that bacteria left on wood died very quickly. It's some part of the tree's immune system that continues to work after it's dead (remember: most of a tree is "dead" when it's still standing). The theory is that it's some chemical, possibly tannin or oil. Personally I think it might have something to do with moisture transfer: the wood compartmentalizes liquid while it dries so there's nothing for the bacteria to sit in.

earthdragon · Sep 9, 2007

Never place a wooden board in the dishwasher - you will shorten the lifecycle and if it is not a solid (one) piece, it will be prone to swelling and cracking.

Mapel Boards are great. Suggest that you utilise one of those very thin plastic boards (placed on top) when you are preparing protein, such as fish.

To clean, utilise a soft sponge and anti-bacterial soap. Towel dry and lightly apply some cooking oil (rubbed in as you would condition shoes).

Manton · Sep 10, 2007

Originally Posted by earthdragon

Never place a wooden board in the dishwasher - you will shorten the lifecycle and if it is not a solid (one) piece, it will be prone to swelling and cracking.
There are wooden boards that are meant to be dishwasher safe. I have two. They are not as nice to cut on as maple, but it's nice to know that blasting heat has killed any residual bacteria.

caelte · Sep 11, 2007

Originally Posted by Manton

There are wooden boards that are meant to be dishwasher safe. I have two. They are not as nice to cut on as maple, but it's nice to know that blasting heat has killed any residual bacteria.
What do they do to the wood to make it dishwasher safe?

Manton · Sep 11, 2007

Originally Posted by caelte

What do they do to the wood to make it dishwasher safe?

Good question; I don't know. It must be treated with something, but I don't know what.

Opcn · Sep 11, 2007

Originally Posted by Jared

Last I heard no one knew how it worked, just that bacteria left on wood died very quickly. It's some part of the tree's immune system that continues to work after it's dead (remember: most of a tree is "dead" when it's still standing). The theory is that it's some chemical, possibly tannin or oil. Personally I think it might have something to do with moisture transfer: the wood compartmentalizes liquid while it dries so there's nothing for the bacteria to sit in.

Most of the bacteria left on any surface die very quickly, you can safely eat off most clean looking public toilet seats. The cells in the heart wood of a tree may mostly be dead, but the living parts of the tree are washing it with fluids of various sorts, your cutting board does not have an immune system I assure you, it may have somem antibacterial properties but not enough to make cutting raw meat on wood anywhere near safe.

romafan · Sep 11, 2007

Originally Posted by Opcn

Most of the bacteria left on any surface die very quickly, you can safely eat off most clean looking public toilet seats. The cells in the heart wood of a tree may mostly be dead, but the living parts of the tree are washing it with fluids of various sorts, your cutting board does not have an immune system I assure you, it may have somem antibacterial properties but not enough to make cutting raw meat on wood anywhere near safe.

Wha? Why the toilet and not the cutting board?

Manton · Sep 11, 2007

Originally Posted by romafan

Wha? Why the toilet and not the cutting board?

I also thought that this:

Originally Posted by Opcn

Most of the bacteria left on any surface die very quickly

and this:

your cutting board does not have an immune system I assure you, it may have somem antibacterial properties but not enough to make cutting raw meat on wood anywhere near safe

did not add up.

dokelroth · Sep 11, 2007

I am on the side of not worrying about bacteria.

iamaloser · Sep 12, 2007

I think what he's trying to say is that people usually don't cut up raw meat on public toilet seats. I would like to think this too.

romafan · Sep 13, 2007

Originally Posted by iamaloser

I think what he's trying to say is that people usually don't cut up raw meat on public toilet seats. I would like to think this too.

Still makes no sense to me. Piss, ****, god knows what else, raw meat - bacteria is bacteria, no?

Renault78law · Sep 13, 2007

Piss generally doesn't have any bacteria in it. It is the "cleanest" thing that leaves your body. Where is our favorite Aussie when you need him?

romafan · Sep 13, 2007

Originally Posted by Renault78law

Piss generally doesn't have any bacteria in it. It is the "cleanest" thing that leaves your body. Where is our favorite Aussie when you need him?

OK, in deference to the shooman I'll give you piss. What about **** and 'god knows what else'?

cookieoflife · Sep 15, 2007

I believe that the argument is that both the absolute numbers and the specific types of bacteria are lower on most public toilet seats than on a piece of wood you regularly expose to raw meats. If you think about it, it's not surprising. For a mens restroom I expect a certain amount of (sterile) urine on the toilet seat, but the amount of feces that will contact the toilet seat will be significantly lower.

Buy a bamboo block for your veggies: Bamboo is environmentally friendly and produces beautiful pieces to boot. Use a plastic board for meat, but wash it well and throw it out on a regular basis, costs allowing.

N. McKay · Sep 15, 2007

Quite amazing the human race was somehow able to survive so many tousands of years with only wood as a cutting board material, really.

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