How to Master Your Kitchen

*Today is my grandma's birthday so happy birthday Grandma. I love you!

How to Master Your Kitchen is a series that I started several weeks ago because I believe that having the right tools in the kitchen will help each of you be a better cook or maybe even want to cook a bit more frequently. You have certain tools at work that you have to make your job a bit easier and functional, I feel the same goes with kitchen tools. This was the inspiration for this series. The previous installments in this series are: whiskstand mixergarlic presstongscitrus juicersteamerzesterfood processorDutch oven, a box grater and a rolling pin.  

Today's installment of How to Master Your Kitchen is another kitchen essential. I am talking about the cutting board today. A cutting board is very important because you want to protect your kitchen counters and because you want a clean surface to cut whatever you are cutting on. Cutting boards can be made out of several different types of material, wood, bamboo, plastic, marble, etc. Some cutting boards may be flexible so they can be folded to pour the food you just cut into a pot or bowl. Cutting boards will come in different sizes, larger ones, circular ones and then smaller ones. I have three different size cutting boards. Some cutting boards will have a groove near the edge of the cutting board, this will catch any juice running from the food you are cutting. This board is very handy when I count the countless watermelons I will consume this upcoming summer. No joke on the countless watermelons either. :-)

It is important to keep your cutting board sanitary for food, regardless of the type of material your cutting board is made. Some common cleaning solutions are your basic soap and water, or bleach or even a half of a lemon. It will help take stains out of a plastic cutting board. For wood cutting boards, mineral oils are great for preserving the wood. The oil doesn't allow water to seep into the grain of the wood, which would destroy your wooden cutting board and make it warp. 
If your cutting board has odors, rinse the board, rub some coarse salt onto the surface of the board and let the salt work its magic into the odors for a few minutes. Then rinse the salt off and your cutting board will be free of odors. 

cutting board
Any questions about cutting boards?
p.s. you know who just so awesome and so sweet that I wish I was in real life friends with, Callie Collins? She sent me a text last night that I needed to hear with a quote that took my focus off of myself and back into God and His plans for me, rather than my plans for myself. Thank you Callie, you know my heart!

14 comments:

whit | Black Little Button blog said...

We have a paula deen wood one and I love it. On one side it has the outlines for sizing pies ;)
-wHiT

Unknown said...

bamboo cutting boards are one of my gift-giving staples. if i can't think of anything else to buy someone they are probably getting a bamboo cutting board because they are gorgeous and immensely useful! ironically i own an ugly plastic one from walmart, but what can ya do.

happy birthday to grammy!

<3becky
www.loosefromthezoo.com

Simply LKJ said...

Happy Birthday to your Grandma! We have 3 different sizes of the Epicurean cutting boards and love them. I love that they are dishwasher safe.

Jamie Sefcik || Hello Little Scout said...

Aw, happy birthday to your Grandma! That is so sweet. We don't have a very good cutting board but I think I need to invest in one of these wooden ones!! Thanks for the recommendations :)

TheTinyHeart said...

Happy birthday to your grandma! The cutting boards I use have some antibacterial thing in them.

-Sharon
The Tiny Heart
Target Giveaway!

Life With Lauren said...

Happy Birthday to your Grandma! I use the Pampered Chef.

awhite said...

I love my bamboo cutting board- was part of the wedding gift haul last year and I use it all the time. :)

Hope you're having a good Thursday, doll!

-Ashley
http://lestylorouge.com

Amanda || Eclectic Snapshots said...

I love the bamboo cutting boards. But I love even more the boards that have the ridge for catching juice, a life saver when cutting fruit!

Unknown said...

Great post! Love the cutting board advice!

http://thattallgirlinheels.com

Unknown said...

Okay, my kitchen may be small, but I do have plenty of cutting boards :-) I couldn't function in the kitchen without them.

always, koru kate

Sarah Alway said...

Score again! I actually have quite a few cutting boards and even use them on a regular basis. :-)

Sarah @ Life As Always

Postcards from Rachel said...

Have you seen the wooden cutting boards in the shape of different States? I want one of those soooo badly. :)

The Olive Tree Blog said...

i want a new wooded cutting board! we also have boards for meats only and then another board for veggies and fruit :)

Heather said...

Happy birthday to your grandma! I have so many wood and plastic cutting boards in all different sizes.