You should know how to clean bamboo cutting board because bamboo chopping boards are real natural products and therefore relatively undemanding, but require regular care compared to plastic or stone materials.
How to use a bamboo cutting board?
Cutting boards made of bamboo are ideal for all chopping and cutting work and are a real asset to any kitchen.
The versatile kitchen helpers are used when preparing, carving, and serving ingredients and dishes of all kinds, such as meat, fish, bread, fruit, and vegetables. Bamboo cutting boards are also used when serving food. As a decorative tray, for arranging dishes such as sushi, or antipasti, or as a sausage and cheese platter.
The use of different cutting boards is recommended for different purposes in order to rule out possible germ transmission from the outset. A separate chopping board should always be used to process sensitive foods such as raw poultry, eggs, and fish. A separate chopping board is also recommended for food with a strong smell or color such as onions, garlic, and beetroot.
occupational safety professional cutting boards are usually equipped with non-slip feet, which prevent slipping when cutting on the work surface. Large and heavy kitchen blocks prevent slipping due to their high weight. In the case of cutting blocks that can be used on both sides and do not have feet or anti-slip devices, placing a damp Zewa or tea towel under them can prevent them from slipping.
How to clean bamboo cutting board?
Ideally, the cutting mat should be cleaned after each use or daily to prevent food residue and germs from settling.
A simple hand wash with a damp cloth or sponge, warm water, and mild detergent is sufficient for cleaning. In contrast to plastic cutting boards, boards made of bamboo or wood should not be permanently cleaned in the dishwasher.
After handling sensitive foods such as raw poultry, eggs, and fish, the work surface should be cleaned thoroughly with hot water and washing-up liquid immediately. Hands should also be washed carefully.
Various home remedies can also be used for intensive, disinfecting cleaning to kill germs and eliminate odors. For example, the surface can be treated with lemon juice or vinegar, salt, or baking soda (can also be combined).
After a short exposure time of 10 to 20 minutes, the board should then be rinsed off thoroughly. So that no germs develop on the damp board and the material does not warp or swell, the cutting board should be dried completely after each wash. You can rub the board with paper or a cloth and place it upright to air dry. A chopping board stand that allows air to circulate around the board is ideal.
How to re-oil bamboo cutting board?
Re-oiling is only possible for untreated surfaces. This means that only natural surfaces that are not painted or pre-treated with wax can be re-oiled.
Re-oiling or impregnating can significantly extend the life of a cutting board. Cleaning a bamboo cutting board with water largely destroys the original protective layer. The surface protection must be restored so that bacteria and germs can no longer penetrate so deeply into the wood. The oil treatment also counteracts material tension and the associated cracking.
The material can become brittle, especially at high temperatures and in dry air. But the absorption of too much moisture can also lead to material distortions due to swelling. The open-pore bamboo material must be able to breathe in order to regulate ambient humidity and temperature differences. The introduced oil activates the bamboo’s own color pigments, emphasizing the natural grain and giving the board a new shine.
First, the board should be washed very hot so that the pores open. After that, the board should dry completely. Now the oil is applied sparingly and in the direction of the grain. After a short exposure time, excess oil residues can be removed if necessary.
Care oil: Conventional, but high-quality cooking oil, especially cold-pressed (native) oil, is recommended as oil, as this does not clog the fine pores and can penetrate the capillaries better. The capillaries are the fibrous structures of the plant that are used to transport liquids.
Regrinding
If through daily use, deeper cut marks and indentations have formed on the surface of the board over the years, leftover food can settle in these places and germs can develop. Then the board should be exchanged or replaced with a new board. In suitable cases, you can try to prepare the cutting board and smooth the surface again.
To do this, the cut marks, scratches, grooves, or other bumps are treated with fine sandpaper and sanded out several times. With a little skill and patience, you can achieve good results here. Once the grinding process is complete, the kitchen cutting board should be cleaned and refreshed with an oil treatment.
Bamboo cutting boards are not permanently dishwasher safe and are not suitable for use in microwaves. Avoid extreme temperatures, high humidity, and aggressive cleaning agents and you will enjoy your cutting board for a long time.
Bamboo culms
Bamboo grows extremely fast and some species sometimes reach maturity after 5 years.
The stalks have then reached their final growth height and are so lignified and hardened that they can be felled.
After harvesting, the stalks are cleaned, sorted, and dried. In traditional processing, the culms are cut to length and split with a splitting knife.