HOW TO USE WOODEN COOKING UTENSILS TO PROTECT YOU AND THEM

Chopping boards especially must be cleaned properly to prevent health hazards, while all wooden utensils can be oiled to prevent cracks

Wooden kitchen utensils are robust, visually appealing, durable and practical, but need to be cleaned properly to prevent potential health hazards.

Although wooden boards are gentler on kitchen knives than plastic, every cut nicks the surface, meaning germs can multiply, so pay attention to hygiene when using them, says Germany's Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE).

Do not cut raw meat, such as poultry, on the same board as salad as bacteria can be transferred from the meat to the salad - meaning you risk ingesting the germs through your salad.

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It matters less what kind of wood a spoon or spatula is made of, but it does matter when it comes to chopping boards, says nutrition expert Judith Schryro from the Berlin Consumer Advice Centre.

Hardwoods such as oak, beech or walnut release antimicrobial tannic acid with every cut, making it harder for germs to multiply.

Ultimately though, you need to clean your chopping boards properly. If they become too scratched, then replace them or sand down the board.

Here are three tips to help you take better care of your wooden utensils.

1. Use different boards for different purposes

It is best to slice food with strong colours or odours on a plastic or glass board. If you do use a wooden board, thoroughly scrub and rinse it, then let it dry out just as thoroughly.

2. Avoid the dishwasher

Do not put wooden kitchen utensils in the dishwasher as the high temperatures, especially during rinsing and drying, can cause the wood to warp and discolour.

If you want to preserve your wooden kitchen utensils for as long as possible, it is best to wash them by hand, says Bernd Glassl from the German Association for Personal Care and Detergents (IKW).

3. Give utensils some TLC

Take extra care of wooden kitchen utensils as they are also meant to look decorative. You can prevent cracks by oiling them regularly, Schryro says.

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

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2025-02-12T08:24:49Z