Closing Updated on September 12, 2024
I spend plenty of time throughout the kitchen experimenting with scraptastic recipes and filming these I actually like. In reality, my new cookbook 101 Concepts For a Zero Waste Kitchen is obtainable for purchase now!
I can’t inform you the time frame I spent chopping meals up on slicing boards. The everyday American spends roughly 400 hours a yr throughout the kitchen, and I am going to have beat that stat.
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Nonetheless I converse from experience as soon as I say not every slicing board is created equal. As any person who transformed 90 scrappy recipes for a cookbook, I wished one factor that won’t solely keep up, however as well as not launch microplastics every time I chopped into it.
In case you occur to private a chopping board fabricated from plastic, or a wooden one with a plastic coating, it is attainable you may be ingesting a notable amount of microplastics out of your chopping board alone (further on that later).
That’s why I prefer to suggest switching to a wooden slicing board that’s made with out plastic coatings or glues.
Getting a sturdy steady slab of picket is an funding that pays off to your nicely being, and the planet. You merely need to make sure the mannequin is sourcing the picket sustainably and that there aren’t any doubtlessly questionable coatings, glues or finishings used.
Listed beneath are among the many biggest wooden slicing board producers accessible in the marketplace.
should you stop using plastic slicing boards?
You in all probability have a plastic slicing board, it is attainable you may want to ponder switching to a wooden slicing board. Plastic chopping boards shed microplastics launched all through chopping on them.
In step with a newest analysistwo kinds of plastic chopping boards (polyethylene and polypropylene) had been studied for releasing microplastics into human meals.
The analysis found a per-person annual publicity of seven.4–50.7 g of microplastics from a polyethylene chopping board and 49.5 g of microplastics from a polypropylene chopping board. In several phrases, every had been releasing microplastics – though polypropylene was confirmed to launch further.
These microplastics end up in our meals, and eventually us. Microplastics have recently been current in human blood, feces, placentas, and even brains. Whereas the nicely being outcomes of microplastic consumption are nonetheless being researched, it might’t be good.
Whereas it is going to be inconceivable to avoid microplastics fully, reducing the amount we’re uncovered to daily is an efficient place to start.
You’ll be able to do that by switching to a wooden slicing board that doesn’t have any plastic resin or coating.
Listed beneath are one other strategies to avoid microplastics:
- Choose pure supplies each time potential (akin to cotton, hemp and linen) for garments and bedsheets.
- Mud and vacuum incessantly (microplastics can linger in mud, inflicting us to inadvertently breathe them in).
- Swap to plastic-free tea baggage which could be labeled compostable on the packaging (Yogi and Pukka are good examples). It is also attainable to assist Arbor Teaswhich has an assortment of loose-leaf tea in compostable packaging. Or get unfastened leaf tea package-free at your native bulk meals retailer.
what to utilize instead of plastic slicing boards?
As a substitute of plastic slicing boards, it is best to use wooden, glass or stone slicing boards. Picket is my personal preferred methodology.
However, be instructed not all wooden slicing boards are created equal. Many wooden slicing boards have glues and resins on them.
Some wooden slicing boards are crafted from a single block of picket, nonetheless as a rule they comprise objects of picket which could be glued collectively.
Lowering board provides fall beneath the FDA “meals contact substances” and “indirect meals elements” guidelines since any part of a slicing board can contact your meals.
The FDA considers meals contact substances like glue resins/polymers meals safe after they’re completely cured (fully dried).
However, some permitted substances like melamine-formaldehyde resins can launch harmful gases and set off completely different factors for human and environmental nicely being alike.
Due to this, it’s biggest to avoid wooden slicing boards formulated with any glue resins or polymers. You’ll be able to do that by trying to find steady slabs of picket: Many normal wooden slicing boards are merely diversified objects of lumber glued collectively.
This acknowledged, it might be onerous to find a wooden slicing board that’s glue-free. In case you occur to’re unsure, bear in mind to realize out to the mannequin and ask.
In case you occur to truly cannot avoid glue in wooden slicing boards, for reference, Titebond III and Gorilla Wood Glue are every thought-about safer for meals contact.
Moreover, bear in mind that petroleum-derived picket preservatives like parafin wax and petroleum hydrocarbon resin are usually used as finishes. Looking out for boards with beeswax coatings, or none the least bit, is preferable.
what is the biggest picket for a slicing board?
The simplest picket for a slicing board are hardwoods, akin to maple, walnut and birch. It’s as a result of they’re further sturdy and proof towards moisture absorption.
Ideally you should seek for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) licensed wooden slicing boards, as this ensures the picket comes from a sustainably managed forest.
However, bamboo is one different wood-like chance: Whereas technically not categorised as a “picket” nonetheless a grass, it has comparable properties to hardwoods.
Furthermore, bamboo grows once more sooner than hardwood bushes, making it further renewable. Due to this, I’ve chosen to include some bamboo slicing board decisions alongside standard wooden ones on this roundup.
learn the way to care for a wooden slicing board
One draw again to wooden slicing boards is that they’re liable to warping and drying out. Nonetheless that’s all preventable! You merely should cope with them with care and on a regular basis hand wash them (avoid the dishwasher the least bit costs!).
It’s moreover a great suggestion to grease your boards normally. This will assure your wooden chopping board lasts for years to return.
to wash your wooden slicing board:
- Handwash using a wooden dish brush and delicate dish cleansing cleaning soap (bar cleansing cleaning soap or liquid cleansing cleaning soap will do). Let it air dry completely sooner than inserting it away.
- For sturdy stains, sprinkle some baking soda and scrub away.
- In case your board is smelly, use salt and a lemon to deodorize your board.
for oiling your wooden slicing board:
- In case you occur to find your board turning into brittle and dry, it’s time to grease and wax it! This plant-based slicing board oil from Precise Milk Paint is mineral-oil free and non-toxic. Merely add slightly bit to your board, then let the oil sit on the ground for at least 10-Quarter-hour, or as a lot as 24 hours at most. Buff the ground with a transparent, lint-free cloth to remove further and create sheen.
- In case you occur to’d like, chances are you’ll adjust to it up with some Precise Milk Paint picket wax as properly. Using a transparent rag, apply the picket wax, letting it keep on the ground for 10-Quarter-hour, then buff off the excess with one different clear cloth. You will need to wait 5 to 7 days sooner than frivolously using your slicing board. For sure Wood Wax by the Precise Milk Paint Co. takes 15 to 30 days to completely treatment, so plan your initiatives accordingly.
Oiling and waxing your board all is decided by when the board begins to look thirsty (aka dried out).
Doing an oiling every month is nice, nonetheless proper right here’s one surefire choice to tell if it desires it: In case you occur to sprinkle a few drops of water on the board collectively together with your fingertips, and it beads up, your board is sufficiently oiled. However, if the water disperses or soaks into the picket, your board desires further oil.
gzw permitted wooden slicing boards
Listed beneath are some producers that promote wooden slicing boards and get the Going Zero Waste seal of approval. A number of these producers profit from FSC licensed picket, and loads of are handmade from one slab of picket (instead of various objects glued collectively).
I’ve gone ahead and highlighted some key choices of each mannequin, nonetheless it isn’t an exhaustive guidelines. You will need to attempt their websites for further information.
1. caraway
- Constituted of FSC-certified birch picket
- 4-piece board set (small, medium, huge)
- Storage organizer included
- Mineral oil + wax finish
Whereas I haven’t tried out Caraway’s slicing boards, I’ve tried out their cookware and bakeware. I can attest to their high-quality merchandise, so I’ve little query their slicing boards are equally sound.
2. bamboo
- Constituted of FSC-certified bamboo
- Medium + huge dimension decisions
- Constructed using a water-based, food-grade adhesive imported from Europe that accommodates no formaldehyde
- Hand accomplished with food-safe picket oil
- USDA Licensed Biobased
- No lacquer coating
- B firm
I’ve tried their slicing board sooner than and appreciated it! I’ve a small one. I’ve been using it for a few yr now and it has held up fairly nicely. It’s surprisingly sturdy and nonetheless appears truly good! I even have their picket and bamboo oil which does an necessary job upkeeping the board.
3. made commerce
- Constituted of sustainably harvested Teak picket
- Small + huge dimension decisions
- Handcrafted in Panama by the knowledgeable artisans of Trasto
4. treeboard
- Sustainably sourced maple and oak wooden slicing boards
- Made with out glue or petroleum merchandise
- Reduce from a steady block of picket of their Maryland workshop
- Hand accomplished with pure raw linseed oil and their very personal board balm.
- Each board comes with a complimentary tin of their very personal plant-based board balm
5. andrew pearce
- Made with responsibly sourced cherry or walnut picket
- Small, medium + huge dimension decisions
- Reside edge slicing boards made with none glues
- Accomplished with their food-safe, allergen-free Walnut Wood Oil
- Handmade in Vermont
What do you think about these wooden slicing board decisions? Let me know throughout the suggestions!