Due to the hardness of bamboo and the beauty of the structure of its wood, they began to make kitchen cutting boards from it, that is, those on which raw and cooked food is cut. They have become one of the most popular kitchen utensils. In US stores, their range is quite large.
Boards are made in various shapes and sizes. Here and large and small, rectangular, oval and round. For cutting fish they are released elongated. Sometimes they are found in the form of birds, leaves and other objects of nature. Recently, some boards have been made with a notch on one side. The protruding part of another board is inserted into it, approximately as it is done in puzzles. It turns out to be one large board, quite suitable for cutting large pieces. Its disadvantage is the gaps into which the product enters. However, this method sometimes helps out. But you can also find quite large solid products, about 50 by 50 cm. You can already roll out the dough on this one.
Available with or without grooves. Grooves prevent leakage of juices and blood from the meat onto the countertop. But, in turn, they add time to wash the board. If the grooves are at least 1 cm wide and rounded, then they are easy to wash. Anti-slip pads are attached to some boards.
If we compare bamboo cutting boards with those made from other materials, then the following difference is revealed.
Glass and ceramic boards exist, but knives quickly become dull on them. On plastic counterparts, the knives become dull a little, but the boards themselves wear out faster. They are made from high density polyethylene. Another drawback is that they slide on the table. Wooden and bamboo boards are the “golden mean” in terms of their hardness and overall ease of use.
Wash plastic, wood and bamboo in about the same way. They also absorb odors about the same. There are also notes that bamboo is less likely to breed bacteria. But this is hardly significant. A greater antibacterial effect and elimination of odors will be given by proper care of the boards, in particular, thorough washing using time-tested products.
Care
On a board made of bamboo, you can cut any food. After cutting, the remains of the products are easily washed off. It is recommended to wash bamboo cutting boards by hand and not in the dishwasher. Of all the types, only plastic ones can be washed in the dishwasher. Although of course these rules are not absolute.
The disadvantage of bamboo cutting boards is that, like wood, they easily absorb dyes. To reduce porosity, it is recommended to coat the boards with special mineral oil between use.
If a stain appears, it is removed with salt. True, everything is gradually being improved and now the surface of bamboo boards in factories has been impregnated with a special food composition.
In the kitchen, it is recommended to have several cutting boards, whether they are made of bamboo, wood or plastic. This ensures the necessary hygiene. Otherwise, bacteria after cutting raw meat or fish can enter the stomach if the same board is used to cut ready-made foods. In addition, odors from the previous product may be mixed with the next one.
To prevent the board from deforming, it is better to store it in a suspended position. Many boards now have either a hole in the corner for this or a bracket (ring, handle) is attached.
If scratches appear, this place on the surface can be leveled with fine-grained sandpaper. True, this can break the factory protective layer against moisture penetration. It all depends on how deep this layer is, and this is known only to the manufacturer.
Manufacturing technologies
Cutting boards are made from pressed bamboo slabs or boards. In turn, plates are made in two ways: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal ones are more beautiful because they show the pattern of the inter-knee nodes of the plant, and the vertical ones are stronger.
The most durable boards are obtained when they are made from 2-3 layers of boards.
High-quality products have an even harder surface. In addition, it is covered with two layers of special food impregnations, such as Deleo. They enhance the water-repellent and antibacterial properties of raw materials.
The main thing when buying a bamboo board is to find out if formaldehyde glue or other harmful chemicals were used in its manufacture. This problem is also relevant for wood, if it is glued from several parts. Most likely, the store will not be able to answer this question. Then you have to look for information on the manufacturer's website, and it is most likely Chinese.