Skip to main content

12 May 2018 - Cut It Out!

Does Your Kitchen Have Two Cutting Boards?

"There's a very good reason for having two cutting boards in a kitchen. That reason is one that can't be emphasized too often - the matter of cleanliness."


Contamination

This is a serious issue.
It can happen in more ways than one.

Biological Contamination
This is when bacteria contaminates food. It can happen from improper hand washing or in our topic today, using a dirty cutting board.
This is a good reason to have more than just one cutting board. If you cut raw chicken on a board and not property sanitize it before cutting fresh veggies, you have just contaminated your food.

Chemical Contamination
Kitchen cleaners are usually the culprit in the case. This is why it is very important to store all cleaning products in their own space away from any thing you may use for food.
That includes pots and pans, cutting boards, plastic storage bins, etc.

 Cross Contamination
Let's say you have followed all the rules.
You store your cleaners properly. You keep raw meats and fresh food separate.
Somehow someone got food poisoning anyway.
Cross contamination is when an unclean surface reaches an otherwise safe food surface.
This could be unwashed hands, dirty cooking utensils, 

or even

That cutting board!

Traditionally, most homes have wooden cutting boards. They look rustic and fancy but are they safe?


They are totally safe.

Just like any cutting board, you have to take care of them.
Just think of the abuse they take!
Knife marks in any cutting board are normal. You do need to take extra care to clean them.
Cuts in a board if not properly cleaned are fantastic breeding grounds for bacteria, mold, and fungus.

Most commercial kitchens will use plastic cutting boards.

Just because these are commercial grade doesn't mean you can't have them in your home!

See those wonderful colors.
They are are color coded for specific food types to prevent cross contamination.

RED - Beef, lamb, or other red meats

YELLOW - Poultry: Chicken, turkey, or duck

GREEN - Fruits and vegetables only

BLUE - Seafood

WHITE - Dairy products (cheese cutting and such)

BLACK - Cooked foods only!

Now you can make your own color code rules and most kitchens can vary. This is a very safe way of protecting your food and your family from getting sick.

The only other way to keep yourself safe on a cutting board is to use the proper knife for the cutting task.


But that will be for another post!



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

15 February 2018 - The Mustard Mix

This History of Mustard "The delights of mustard as a food accompaniment apparently had been known only a few years before the appearance of the advertisement described in today's historical note." TODAY IN HISTORY On February 15 1768, one Benjamin Jackson advertised in a Philadelphia newspaper that he was "the only mustard manufacturer on the continent. I brought to art with me into the country."  Mr. Jackson came to America from London, England. He sold his product labeled in glass bottles. Benjamin Jackson, from the book Chocolate: History, Culture, and Heritage, was a chocolate and mustard maker. He introduced mustard into his chocolate shop where he also sold other spices and flours. Now the mustard he sold was not like the mustard we have today. He sold bottles labeled "Flour of Mustard" which means that you had to follow the directions on the bottle to mix the powder with hot water to create your condiment. Mustard...
Post a Comment
Read more

1 January 2018 - Happy New Year!!

A couple years ago I started collecting interesting antique books. I love seeing a peek into the time period the book was written. Until the end of 2017 I was a stay at home mom. We moved across the country and a new chapter began for our family. This morning for the beginning of the new year I pick up my "Illustrated Almanac for Homemakers" book.  This book was written in 1974.  Just check out those bellbottoms.  Originally sold for $9.95. I bought at Half Price Books for $7.00 I thought this book would be fun to flip through. Just see what homemakers were doing in the 1970's verses what I was doing or not doing. So for 2018 I thought it would be fun to see what I can accomplish this 365 days from this almanac even though I am no longer a full time homemaker.  Lets begin in January!  Each month has a super cute illustration featuring our homemaker heroine!  It's the first day of the first year so let's peek at today's tas...
Post a Comment
Read more

19 March 2018 - Why Woodn't You

Try Putting Up Wallboard? Why Not? "In the spring one tends to think about the sprucing up the home." In the 70's wood paneling was all the rage. Wallboard or as it commonly called today - Decorative Paneling. There are some seriously cute panelings out there today. Typically, when you think of wall paneling, you think of wooden paneling. I have some in my living room and it is very dated. It's so dark that is great for movie nights but mostly it just feels like a room that is sucking the light from your house. I found an article from Houzz that has some modern looks for us in the year 2018. So if you decide to go the way of decorative paneling, please steer clear of the basic stuff, and go for a nice chic modern look!
Post a Comment
Read more