Beautiful, robust, sustainable: wooden cutting boards
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Traditional wooden cutting boards are popular with grill professionals and hobby grillers alike. No wonder, because wooden cutting boards not only look beautiful, they can also take a lot. Of course, not all wood is the same. Each type of wood has different properties and advantages. The design of the cutting boards also varies depending on the brand. In addition to classic models, there are also modern versions that impress with their multi-purpose sophistication. Small manufacturers offer high quality and a variety of types of wood and designs. We take a closer look at the topic of "wooden cutting boards".
Wooden cutting boards are primarily used as a base for safely cutting food. Who wants cuts and scratches on their tabletop? The boards are available in different sizes and shapes depending on their purpose - from small breakfast boards to large chopping blocks for cutting meat. Many boards for preparation are equipped with a so-called "juice groove" that catches liquids when cutting. When buying, you should also consider the type of wood, as cutting boards are exposed to a wide variety of stresses. You should pay attention to the dimensional stability and long durability of the wood. Fine-pored woods such as maple, cherry and walnut are particularly popular. Oak and ash are at the forefront of coarse-pored woods. These types of wood are not only decorative, but also particularly robust. All of these types of wood also come from local forests and are therefore sustainable.
Compared to boards made of plastic or other materials, wooden cutting boards have the advantage that kitchen knives last significantly longer and rarely need to be sharpened. Although wood, unlike plastic, absorbs liquids, this does not mean that it is less hygienic. Wooden cutting boards are actually much more hygienic! Wood has antimicrobial properties, which means that bacteria and germs are killed. The so-called hygroscopic effect is responsible for this: wood can absorb water and moisture, but also release it back into the air. Due to the removal of water, the living conditions of germs and bacteria deteriorate and they die. In addition, wooden cutting boards contribute to sustainability and set an example by avoiding plastic. Microplastics, which get into food with every cut on a plastic board, are also not an issue with wooden boards. As already mentioned, most wooden boards are made from local wood in Germany and do not have long transport routes, nor does deforestation endanger the environment. Wood is a renewable and therefore extremely sustainable raw material. And the aesthetics of wooden cutting boards are not neglected either. Whether modern, rustic or elegant kitchen – there is something for every taste! This makes the kitchen utensil a real eye-catcher.
Thomas Pfeil is a trained joiner and carpenter and produces high-quality cutting boards in his Kantenbruch factory. Read all about it in the FIRE&FOOD issue 03/2021! www.kantenbruch.de
Cleaning and caring for a wooden cutting board is relatively easy. Immediately after use, the board should be rinsed on both sides and cleaned with a dishwashing brush. Dishwashing liquid can also be used to clean the wooden cutting board. Rinsing on both sides prevents tension from developing due to one-sided moisture. After cleaning, always dry the board thoroughly and allow the remaining moisture to drip off. The cutting board should dry as evenly as possible on both sides. Wooden cutting boards should never be soaked in water or left to dry near the oven, as this can seriously damage the board. The dishwasher is also an absolute no-go! The cutting board can crack due to soaking and heating in the machine. Regular oiling is also essential to ensure that the cutting board stays beautiful for a long time. Wooden boards can be easily cared for with a highly refined, tasteless or odorless oil, e.g. grapeseed oil or almond oil. Olive oil should be avoided, as this can cause the board to smell rancid and stick. Drip a small amount of cooking oil onto the wooden surface and rub it evenly on all sides. This is enough to close the pores of the wood and provide ideal care for the cutting board.
Many boards are equipped with a practical “juice groove” that catches liquids while cutting.
Cutting boards from Continenta offer practical multi-functions, e.g. through built-in stainless steel drawers.
Overview of wood types:
Oak wood – the rustic classic
Oak wood is particularly strong. Oak cutting boards are therefore particularly robust and have a particularly long lifespan. The structure is also very decorative due to the clearly visible annual rings in the wood. Oak is therefore also popular for making furniture. If you have a lot of cutting to do, an oak cutting board is ideal. Oak wood also has a positive environmental impact.
Walnut wood – decorative beauty
Walnut wood, such as walnut, looks very classy with its dark brown, lively wood grain, but it also has good cutting properties. Nevertheless, the beautiful appearance and pleasant feel of this type of wood are the deciding factors for many people when making a purchase. The dark color makes walnut wood durable and insensitive to color. Cutting boards made of walnut also have antibacterial properties. These are due to the high proportion of tannic acid in the wood. The fine pores of the wood also contribute to the fact that walnut boards are very smooth and therefore hygienic. If you have expensive knives and want to protect them as much as possible, walnut wood is also a good choice.
Cherry wood – wood with style
Cherry wood is very impressive and popular due to its color and grain. It is often used for serving food. Cherry wood boards are extremely durable and therefore meet the highest cutting requirements. Cherry wood is also very fine-pored. The cutting boards do not become rough, but remain beautifully smooth. This positive property is particularly noteworthy in terms of hygiene.
Maple wood – the shining favorite
Cutting boards made of maple wood are true kitchen classics. In the past, the fine-pored, smooth wood was used exclusively for kitchen utensils and cutting boards. The particularly light color with a fine, even texture is extremely beautiful and popular. Maple is a medium-weight wood; cutting boards made of maple are hard and dimensionally stable. Maple boards are also very resistant to cutting marks and are gentle on blades. The fine-pored wood also has very good antibacterial properties.
Ash wood – tough and resilient
Ash, which is a noble hardwood, has very good properties for processing the wood as a cutting board. The tough wood is very resistant and is characterized by a lively grain.
In addition to these most commonly used woods, there are of course many other types of wood, such as acacia or bamboo, that can be found in cutting boards. It is best to ask the manufacturer about the advantages of the respective wood beforehand.
