In all our homes there is at least one cutting board. It is a valid tool, essential for cutting vegetables, meat, bread and fish.
Once used you won’t put it down because it makes everything much easier . Instead of dirtying a thousand dishes or surfaces, you simply use the cutting board , which also allows you to make clean and safe cuts, without fear of ruining the surface underneath.
Cutting board, how to care for it to keep it intact over time
The cutting board should be washed after each use. Over time, due to intensive use , it becomes difficult to clean it well, so it is necessary to carry out perfect routine maintenance if you do not want to find an unpleasant surprise out of the blue. Food remains remain in the cracks created by the cuts, which can also cause mold and bacteria to form.
Unfortunately, the surface is not always as clean and sanitized as we would like, despite the use of various products that promise in-depth hygiene. Furthermore, they often cost a lot and disappoint in the same way.
Try after try, what you decide to do to stay calm is buy a new cutting board. Whether it costs little or a lot, you prefer to spend a little more but cook on a surface that is certainly clean .
In reality, this is a wrong decision, because there are useful operations that allow you to prolong the health of the cutting board and therefore allow its use over time. Also because, sooner or later, the new one will also remain in the same condition, if it is not properly cared for.
Clean the cut with two simple ingredients that everyone has at home
The first thing you should do is clean it thoroughly every time you use it to prepare fish dishes and recipes. For optimal cleaning you only need two natural ingredients that work miracles and that we all have at home. Unlike chemicals, they are not harmful to health.
These are lemon and coarse salt , the use of which allows you to create a kind of exfoliant on the cutting board, eliminating any trace of dirt present on the surface. The process is very simple and only takes a few minutes.
First, remove any residue or stain that can be cleaned with a cloth or sponge soaked in water. Then cut a lemon and rub it on it, as if it were a sponge. It is then used to rub the coarse salt on top, in this case it does the same job as the abrasive sponge.
That’s why we insist on the dirtiest areas , or those that smell the most. Where you want to achieve greater cleaning, it is better to let the mixture act for a few minutes and then wash everything with warm water. Do the same on the other side and then you can air dry it , after having absorbed the excess water, with a towel or cloth. The essential thing is that it is dry before storing it.
Too dry cutting board, the ideal solution
If too much time passes between cleaning and use , the surface will probably be too dry. So before using the previously sanitized cutting board, pour a few drops of mineral or olive oil on it. Then wipe with absorbent paper and dry well to remove any traces of oil.
It is advisable to avoid using chemical detergents to clean the cutting board, because use will ruin the wood over time. Furthermore, as it is an absorbent material, you run the risk of food that comes into contact with the surface smelling like soap immediately after cleaning it . Without a doubt something unhygienic.
Daily cleaning, this is what you can use instead of coarse salt and lemon
Those who want to carry out a less aggressive daily cleaning, and therefore more delicate and faster, can only use fine salt instead of coarse salt. It is certainly more convenient and affordable. It can also be replaced with baking soda, which should always be rubbed directly with your hands.
In the case of both fine salt and bicarbonate, rinse with water, although not in large quantities, to avoid problems later in the drying phase. This is considered the most delicate cleaning remedy of all.
While the one that involves the use of salt and lemon can be applied less frequently, for example once a month, or every time you cook dishes that involve the use of fish or foods that easily leave a bad smell.