We are pleased to announce that we are now carrying cutting boards from Black Rooster Farm in Frelinghuysen, NJ. These rustic cutting boards were harvested and milled in Frelinghuysen, from a 200-year-old red oak downed by Hurricane Sandy. They are gorgeous and measure about 12″ x 18″ x 2″. White ash available as well. If you are an avid cook, I don’t need to tell you about the benefits of a wooden cutting board. These pieces will definitely become heirlooms to pass on to your children if taken care of properly. $65 each,worth every penny, a great gift for that love in your life who enjoys cooking.
WOOD CUTTING BOARD TIPS
from
Black Rooster Farm
Why Wood Over Plastic?
Avoid plastics in the kitchen. Plastics can leach into the foods you are preparing. Look at any used plastic cutting board and notice all the nicks and scratches in it. Small shards of plastic are finding their way into the foods being prepared on them. The chemicals in the plastic can leach into foods sitting on the cutting board waiting to be cooked. Many plastic cutting boards are made out of BPA or phthalalates, which are hormone disruptors. Plastic cutting boards are also undesirable because they are not a “green” choice — they take forever to biodegrade in the landfill after they are discarded.
How to Care for Your Wood Cutting Boards
Hand wash your wood cutting boards. Since wood is a porous surface that absorbs water, do not submerge a dirtied board in water and do not put it in the dishwasher or you risk cracking and splitting. Gentle surface cleaning with hot water and a bit of soap is best for lightly soiled boards.
Occasionally rubbing a touch of oil over dry cutting boards will extend the life span. Unrefined coconut oil, walnut oil and canola oil are good treatments.
Lemon is a natural deodorizer. To naturally deodorize a clean but smelly or stained cutting board, simply cut a lemon in half, sprinkle some sea salt on it, and gently rub the lemon half over the cutting board. If the smell persists, add a little baking soda and scrub lightly again. Rinse and let dry. It is good to reapply oil after this process.
White vinegar is also a natural deodorizer. Consider keeping a spray bottle filled with white vinegar on hand and use it to spray down a cutting board as needed. The vinegar will neutralize odors while working as an all-natural disinfectant.
There are several approaches to disinfecting and sanitizing particularly after working with raw meat, fish or poultry. Make a three percent hydrogen peroxide solution and pour it over the board, spreading it around with a clean sponge. Let it stand for a few minutes as it fizzes and kills germs, then wipe off with the clean sponge and repeat as needed.
Sanitizing with diluted bleach is also effective. An occasional extra-deep cleaning is a good idea –add one teaspoon bleach to one quart water and flood the board with this solution. Let stand for a few minutes before rinsing with hot water.
This rustic cutting board was harvested and milled in Frelinghuysen, NJ, from a 200-year-old red oak downed by Hurricane Sandy. It was hand rubbed with canola oil.
Voodoo Farm 