Dangerous Cutting Board Mistakes
By Sara Butler
Cutting boards are a kitchen staple and something you probably use on a nearly daily basis. They also tend to get neglected, which can be dangerous to your health. Yes – neglecting your cutting boards can lead to injury or illness, so if you want to stay healthy, then you need to make sure you aren’t making these cutting board mistakes!
You Use a Glass Cutting Board
While glass may be appealing because it’s not a porous surface like wood or plastic, it definitely adds more danger to the situation. Glass is a slick surface, which increases the risk that your knife will slip and cut something that it shouldn’t – like one of your fingers. When you combine that with foods that are often wet, then you're asking for trouble of the deep cut kind!
The Board is Too Small
Those tiny cutting boards may be adorable and take up less space, but they may defeat the whole purpose of the cutting board – to keep food off your kitchen counter. Plus, if you don’t have enough room for movement, then you risk hurting yourself with your knife. Save yourself the trouble and always reach for the bigger board.
You Don’t Have Separate Boards for Meat and Other Foods
Raw meat, fish, and poultry can harbor bacteria that can make you really sick, which is why it’s important to have dedicated cutting boards for meat and everything else. When you’re done with your dedicated meat board, use hot, soapy water to clean it and keep the bacteria at bay.
It’s also worth noting that if you have someone in your household with food allergies, you will need separate cutting boards for their food as well. Even washing boards between uses will not eliminate the danger for someone with a serious food allergy that can be potentially fatal.
You Wash Your Wooden Board in the Dishwasher
Plastic cutting boards are perfectly fine in the dishwasher, but not good for your wooden boards. That’s because the high heat can cause the cutting board to crack or warp, creating nooks and crannies for bacteria to hide in and contaminate your food. It’s best to wash wooden boards by hand. If you’re struggling with an odor or stain, then sprinkle some baking soda on the board and scrub it down with half a lemon – that should do the trick!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.