Wood species: the good, the bad, & the ugly
It probably seems like a no brainer to most people that wood treated with chemicals would not be a good idea, but sometimes we may not necessarily know if it has been treated with chemicals. For example reclaimed lumber doesn’t usually come with a life history or even a confirmed species.Â
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, CLEAN YOUR CUTTING BOARD.
Rinse thoroughly & dry completely making certain it has proper air flow on all sides. If your cutting board or block does not have feet you should prop it against a wall and let it dry. Dry time is key to insuring any lingering bacteria caused by raw food sources such as meat, poultry, or fish will no longer be present or at risk.Â
EAT, SLEEP, BUILD, AND REPEAT (WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A CUTTING BOARD)
Wood species matters. Some woods are actually toxic and should never be used to cut meat or veggies.Â
Wood Choice Matters (and other important decisions we make)
When it comes to cutting boards and charcuterie boards, you get what you pay for.
THE REASONS WE USE WALNUT, CHERRY, AND MAPLE HARDWOODS
- All three have natural antibacterial properties.
END GRAIN, EDGE GRAIN, FACE GRAIN, & NERDS
While I can’t blame anyone else for not pursuing this subject matter with the same excitement and intensity, it would be quite beneficial to understand the differences for both financial and practical reasons.
Steps for Cutting Board Care and Maintenance
The Bottom Line
Your board is not a delicate flower. It is meant to be used! It's a work surface to use with sharp objects after all.  So use it as the workhorse it is meant to be. Just remember like any good tool, it needs occasional maintenance to keep it working perfectly. Happy Chopping!
Cutting Board Safety
5 The type of wood used for construction of a cutting board matters and closed grain wood  like maple, cherry and/or walnut are much safer. Soft woods like cypress pose a greater risk for bacterial contamination. It is also a good practice to use fruit or nut bearing trees for wood because they pose no risk of toxicity.
IT'S A CHARCUTERIE WORLD AFTER ALL
Incidentally, the term Smörgåsbord has a very similar meaning. Contrary to the United States "Old Buffet" style adaptation, the roots are found in the upper class of 14th century Sweden where a small spread of bread, butter and cheese was offered before mealtime.
CUTTING BOARDS: THE SCIENCE AND HISTORY
Not all woods are created equal and the type you use matters. Hardwoods like maple and walnut are better at resisting bacteria because they are very dense, fine grained and will draw in bacteria which then die as the board dries (Ben Chapman, food safety researcher NC State).Â