wood or plastic?

[bonacera]

All the chefs on TV uses a nice thick wooden chopping board while some people say plastic is better because wooden ones held bacteria inside that you couldn't clean out.

However, there are studies the wood is best-that they now have "anti-bacterial kind" that kills bacteria in a matter of minutes while bacteria sits on a plastic board and multiplies overnight.

I know there are studies that plastic is the best. The bacteria may sit on it, but it can be washed off while wood cutting boards just hold dormat bacteria that can be re-activated.

So wood or plastic? :confused:

[Juli B.]

Why not write to your favorite chef on the Food Network to get his/her opinion and method for sterilizing their boards? Maybe the extreme heat of the dishwashers kills all the bacteria?

I do miss my wooden boards, but I'd have to know how/with what the new wooden ones are treated before I'd buy one. So, for now, I'm sticking with plastic.

[bonacera]

Actually, chefs in the Foodtv recommend not to put a wooden board in the dishwasher because the wood will dry out and be tilted. I put a wooden chopping board in a dishwasher and mine changed its shape as well.

The chefs in the Foodtv said we should use salt and slice of lemon to clean the wooden board.

One of them also said the wood will deter the bacteria.. Molton Brown and Rachael Ray recommends using a separate boards for Poultry and vegetables. They usually use a plastic board for Poultry and a wooden board for vegetables.

I do have a plastic board and wooden boards. Eveybody says different things and I'm really confused. :confused:

[ercarta]

So I have a cutting board made of plastic and super thin... I use it to cut up lettuce, tomatos, cucumbers, & whatever else then fold the cutting board to dumb the veggies into a salad bowl. It works great and I wash it with Palmolive dish detergent then use it again and again. If it's collecting bacteria or not I couldn't say but it's a great tool to have in the kitchen. I love my cutting board, so I say flexi-plastic. :D

[wishiwas]

If you are cutting raw meats, then be concerned.

For chopping fresh veggies, plastic is just fine.

[Nic]

I don't know about bacteria, but I use a dishwasher-friendly glass board to prepare meat and a wooden board for vegetables and fruit.

[Juli B.]

What's all this, then? Still no decision regarding wood vs. plastic? I think someone on this board might be exhibiting classic Libran traits.

[bonacera]

I don't know about bacteria, but I use a dishwasher-friendly glass board to prepare meat and a wooden board for vegetables and fruit.
My sister also has a glass board. She complains that her knives become dull really fast and it is kind of noisy to use. However, she still uses hers because it is easy to clean....

I used her board once when I visited her. I did not like the noises it makes.. ;)

[Nic]

I use a wooden board for most things. For meat glass seems such an ideal surface to keep really clean, but it is true it is a little noisier and I probably use my knife sharpener more than I would otherwise do.

So, the decision tree has another branch. Wood, plastic.... or glass?

[bonacera]

So, the decision tree has another branch. Wood, plastic.... or glass?

Hahaha... I'll see if I can change the title.. :)

[superboy422]

I agree that this is very important. I always choose my cutting boards based on the noises that they make.

[Juli B.]

Wood for cheeses (what the heck, they're kinda moldy to begin with)

Plastic for veggies and breads

Glass for meat

Smoked glass for fish

Then again, I like my titanium "singing-bowl-technology" cutting board...except when it hits a wrong note

[PHXguy]

Since my kitchen has a granite countertop, I just use it as a huge cutting board. Easy to clean, just use Clorox Wipes :p

[Juli B.]

You have a granite countertop??? I'm jealous :o (yet happy for you at the same time, if you know what I mean).

(BTW, previous post of mine was not meant to be serious. Plastic.)

[zipbow]

Since my kitchen has a granite countertop, I just use it as a huge cutting board. Easy to clean, just use Clorox Wipes :p
What about meat? Do you also chop them on the countertop? :eek:
And I'm guessing you live in Marbella? I recall they have granite countertop installed in the kitchen (one reason i was very tempted to move there).

I use plastic for meat, wood for fruit and vege. Don't feel comfortable mixing meat and vege. But that's just me.

[PHXguy]

Just kidding. :p I use plastic. I don't cook meat/chicken at home. But really when I am too lazy to take out the board, I just use the granite but very carefully as I don't want to leave any scratch.

[PHXguy]

South Hampton and one other building in Newport, maybe Pacific, have granite countertop. I lived in South Hampton for 2 years but recently moved to Liberty Towers.

[Juli B.]

I don't even eat red meat or chicken, so I don't have to worry.

So you live in Liberty Towers--how do you like it? My favorite ex-boyfriend was the foreman for the masonry work, and he and the company he's been working for for 25 years do quality work. No shoddy craftsmanship there!They always win trade awards.

Wish I could live in Paulus Hook, though preferably in one of the brownstones.

Hmm...I'd better stay on topic: Plastic all the way. :D

[PHXguy]

I like it here at Liberty Towers, I think the neighborhood is very nice, not sterile like Newport. Thanks to your ex BF, the building is beautiful, a real work of architect Gruzen Samton although needs some improvements on the finishing touch (Excuse my fussiness .. I'm an architect so tend to be very detailed-oriented when it comes to buildings).
But, each apartment has its minuses and pluses. It happens to be I like it better here now as the unit offers more amenities than in Newport. Washer/dryer in unit, balcony, granite, pool, gym, storage, play room, business center.
BTW, I need some feedback from you regarding living in TX. Did you like it? Plus and minus? I am just so tempted with how much property you can buy for very little money. Need I remind you ... its granite countertop!!! No more cutting boards :p I'll fly to Houston next weekend just to check.

[Pacific Blues]

However, there are studies the wood is best-that they now have "anti-bacterial kind" that kills bacteria in a matter of minutes while bacteria sits on a plastic board and multiplies overnight.

Wood used for cutting boards, or any wood for that matter has anti bacterial/fugal properties even when it's technically dead, as in removed from the rest of the tree. It's a natural defense mechanism. That's why most chefs use wood.

Also, to kill bacteria it's important to wash the board using very hot water. Hot water will kill more bacteria than using anti-bacterial detergent with cold water.

[Juli B.]

East Texas...YUK! Not for me at all, but you might like it. From the very, very little I know about Houston, it's kind of a toned-down NYC (above 14th St.). Very humid, too.

I lived in the desert, and I owned 80 acres, which I bought for $10,000. I can tell you all about the Big Bend region and a little bit about Austin, but, and please forgive me, I think east Texas has no soul. (That doesn't mean it doesn't, it just means that I don't think it does.)

Glad you like Liberty. And I'll have to pass the word to Speranza masons that you basically approve of their work. They were not the architects, of course, just the folks who did the hard labor based on the plans. Sure, my ex can read blueprints, but the man has calloused hands. Whole different world. When I next speak to him, I'll tell him what you said about the needed improvements re finishing touches and see what the deal is. I can tell you that he is very careful and precise, so I have a feeling there's a good reason for the omission.

I'm so glad you're happy there. Jimmy said it was a good building, and he lamented that I wasn't able to afford it. He hated Newport. Used to look around and shake his head in utter disapproval. Oh, well...

Sorry I can't tell you much about Houston. If you do get genuinely serious about moving there, I'll write to friends in TX who hail from Houston and see what they might have to say.