Bamboo Chopping Board Advice, Facts and Reviews

Make sure you buy the best Bamboo chopping boards

Bamboo is an extremely versatile material used in 100's of different objects from paper to scaffolding and even houses are made completely from bamboo! It's tougher than maple or oak wood and can bend with a lot of force before ever shattering.

Bamboo is a unique type of grass (not a tree like you'd imagine) and amazingly it can grow up to 6 feet per day making it a very useful naturally replenishing resource.

In the last 10 years bamboo cutting boards have become fashionable in the western world due to their unique style, eco-friendliness and durability.

So what makes bamboo chopping boards a good choice?

Bamboo cutting boards are now fortunately affordable to buy for the average kitchen and are easy to store due to their lightness.

Their main selling point is the fact that it's very eco-friendly to make them. Bamboo is a very quick growing grass and can easily be harvested again and again in the same spot without destroying the entire plant. No pesticides are used in bamboo plantations and farmers are under strict instructions not to touch areas of panda inhabitance. Another feature is that bamboo bio-degrades like any other type of wood will when left out in the elements so they can be deposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

Bamboo boards are lightweight, strong and durable. Knifes won't suffer from friction blunting (like they do on wooden or plastic cutting boards) on the compact structure of bamboo keeping them as sharp as possible. The strength of bamboo means that heavy duty cutting can be performed without concerns of shattering or splintering the surface. The surface is also very safe when it comes to harmful bacteria; there is no grooves or gashes where bugs can hide whilst cleaning the surface. All foods can be cut on bamboo surfaces and with it's flat surface they can be lightly hand-washed and dried in little time. As little moisture is absorbed it's a lot less prone to warping and splinting like a traditional wooden chopping board. Being lightweight you can easily transfer food around the kitchen on the board plus it's not much effort to put away like a glass or oak cutting board would be.

Bamboo chopping boards can also be used as space savers, surface protectors for hot pots and even a stylish serving tray for appetizers or bread. Their natural color will never fade as no dyes or staining agents are used; you can find some visually stunning designs combining two different shades of bamboo together on the one surface. Some kitchen design enthusiasts hang their most elaborate chopping utensils on the walls to show off their designs!

What you should look out for with a bamboo chopping board

Bamboo chopping boards are NOT dishwasher safe! They cannot even be immersed in water, doing so will have the board warp and crack like any wooden chopping would. They wear and tear would be reprehensible if you treat the board in this way.

If you use a knife incorrectly the hardness of the bamboo will blunt it quickly over time; use rolling motions of the knife and only cut as hard as you need to.

Make sure they use human friendly glue in the chopping board; any reputable dealer in kitchen goods will make sure of this in their health and safety checks of the product. Your best bet is to never buy a bamboo cooking product from a cheap, un-trustworthy website.

These boards can also absorb stains; try not to drop any oily substance such as chili or tomato sauce on them... this can be fixed fortunately.

Extra features to look out for

Some bamboo chopping board makers have some extra features you may want:

·       Dishwasher proofing – an adhesive that can withstand high temperatures allowing for the board to be placed in a dishwasher (for 2 – 3 years on average)

·       Double sided chopping surfaces

·       Premium bamboo that has been hand selected

·       All sorts of patterns created with differently shaded bamboo wood

·       All sorts of shapes – the most popular ones being small ones for cutting lemons for drinks

Extra Tips for using a bamboo cutting board

With the right care and attention you can preserve a bamboo chopping board for many years.

Keeps the board non-porous by oiling it with mineral oil; this not only stops it absorbing liquids and stains it also highlights the beautiful patterns in the grain.

Again oil the board with mineral oil before actually using it; mineral oil is best as it doesn't go rancid over time. Heating the oil in the microwave until it's bearably warm before applying it makes it work even better but it depends on how much you really want to look after you board. General maintenance of the board with this oil should be done every 2 -3 weeks.

If you stain the board be careful you could scrub away and damage the board. Instead add salt to a smooth wet sponge and let that salt rub out the stain, it works wonders and can also be used to wash the board after general use.

Remember to always wash by hand (again DON'T place your board in the dishwasher!); place the board under warm water and use a normal kitchen soap. After washing the board gently dry it immediately with a cloth before the water damages it; luckily it's very easy to dry.

Used the cutting board for meat products? Then you should make further steps to prevent harm from bacteria; use water with a few drops of vinegar in to give the board one last wipe after cleaning normally; this will make sure it's safe for the whole family to use in the future.