Closing Updated on September 12, 2024
I spend loads of time throughout the kitchen experimenting with scraptastic recipes and filming these I actually like. In reality, my new cookbook 101 Solutions 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 frequent American spends roughly 400 hours a 12 months throughout the kitchen, and I may have beat that stat.
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Nonetheless I converse from experience after I say not every slicing board is created equal. As any individual 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 private a chopping board manufactured from plastic, or a picket one with a plastic coating, you is perhaps ingesting a notable amount of microplastics out of your chopping board alone (additional on that later).
That’s why I wish to suggest switching to a picket slicing board that’s made with out plastic coatings or glues.
Getting a sturdy steady slab of wood is an funding that pays off to your nicely being, and the planet. You merely need to make sure the mannequin is sourcing the wood sustainably and that there aren’t any in all probability questionable coatings, glues or finishings used.
Listed beneath are among the many most interesting picket slicing board producers obtainable available on the market.
should you stop using plastic slicing boards?
If in case you might have a plastic slicing board, you may have to ponder switching to a picket slicing board. Plastic chopping boards shed microplastics launched all through chopping on them.
Consistent with a newest analysistwo kinds of plastic chopping boards (polyethylene and polypropylene) have 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 numerous phrases, every have been releasing microplastics – though polypropylene was confirmed to launch additional.
These microplastics end up in our meals, and finally us. Microplastics have simply recently been current in human blood, feces, placentas, and even brains. Whereas the nicely being outcomes of microplastic consumption are nonetheless being researched, it should probably’t be good.
Whereas it is perhaps unimaginable to stay away from microplastics completely, reducing the amount we’re uncovered to every day is an efficient place to start.
You’ll be able to do that by switching to a picket slicing board that doesn’t have any plastic resin or coating.
Listed beneath are one other strategies to stay away from microplastics:
- Choose pure supplies each time potential (comparable to cotton, hemp and linen) for garments and bedsheets.
- Mud and vacuum repeatedly (microplastics can linger in mud, inflicting us to inadvertently breathe them in).
- Swap to plastic-free tea baggage which is perhaps labeled compostable on the packaging (Yogi and Pukka are good examples). You’ll be able to even assist Arbor Teaswhich has an assortment of loose-leaf tea in compostable packaging. Or get free leaf tea package-free at your native bulk meals retailer.
what to utilize as a substitute of plastic slicing boards?
As an alternative of plastic slicing boards, you need to make the most of picket, glass or stone slicing boards. Picket is my non-public hottest methodology.
Nonetheless, be recommended not all picket slicing boards are created equal. Many picket slicing boards have glues and resins on them.
Some picket slicing boards are crafted from a single block of wood, nonetheless more often than not they comprise objects of wood which is perhaps glued collectively.
Chopping 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 protected once they’re totally cured (utterly dried).
Nonetheless, some accepted substances like melamine-formaldehyde resins can launch harmful gases and set off totally different factors for human and environmental nicely being alike.
Due to this, it’s most interesting to stay away from picket slicing boards formulated with any glue resins or polymers. You’ll be able to do that by looking for steady slabs of wood: Many commonplace picket slicing boards are merely various objects of lumber glued collectively.
This talked about, it might be arduous to find a picket slicing board that’s glue-free. In case you’re unsure, you may need to attain out to the mannequin and ask.
In case you really cannot stay away from glue in picket slicing boards, for reference, Titebond III and Gorilla Wood Glue are every considered safer for meals contact.
Moreover, be acutely aware that petroleum-derived wood preservatives like parafin wax and petroleum hydrocarbon resin are typically used as finishes. Trying to find boards with beeswax coatings, or none the least bit, is preferable.
what is the most interesting wood for a slicing board?
The right wood for a slicing board are hardwoods, comparable to maple, walnut and birch. It is as a result of they’re additional sturdy and proof against moisture absorption.
Ideally it’s best to seek for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) licensed picket slicing boards, as this ensures the wood comes from a sustainably managed forest.
Nonetheless, bamboo is one different wood-like chance: Whereas technically not labeled as a “wood” nonetheless a grass, it has comparable properties to hardwoods.
Furthermore, bamboo grows once more quicker than hardwood bushes, making it additional renewable. Due to this, I’ve chosen to include some bamboo slicing board selections alongside standard picket ones on this roundup.
deal with a picket slicing board
One draw again to picket slicing boards is that they’re liable to warping and drying out. Nonetheless that’s all preventable! You merely should take care of them with care and always hand wash them (stay away from the dishwasher the least bit costs!).
It’s moreover a great suggestion to grease your boards recurrently. It is going to assure your picket chopping board lasts for years to come back again.
to wash your picket slicing board:
- Handwash using a picket dish brush and delicate dish cleansing cleaning soap (bar cleansing cleaning soap or liquid cleansing cleaning soap will do). Let it air dry totally sooner than putting 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 picket slicing board:
- In case you uncover 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 a bit to your board, then let the oil sit on the ground for at the very least 10-Quarter-hour, or as a lot as 24 hours at most. Buff the ground with a transparent, lint-free materials to remove additional and create sheen.
- In case you’d like, you probably can observe it up with some Precise Milk Paint wood wax as properly. Using a transparent rag, apply the wood wax, letting it keep on the ground for 10-Quarter-hour, then buff off the excess with one different clear materials. Ensure you wait 5 to 7 days sooner than evenly using your slicing board. Bear in mind the truth that Wood Wax by the Precise Milk Paint Co. takes 15 to 30 days to completely remedy, so plan your initiatives accordingly.
Oiling and waxing your board all will rely upon when the board begins to look thirsty (aka dried out).
Doing an oiling every month is true, nonetheless proper right here’s one surefire resolution to tell if it desires it: In case you sprinkle just some drops of water on the board collectively together with your fingertips, and it beads up, your board is sufficiently oiled. Nonetheless, if the water disperses or soaks into the wood, your board desires additional oil.
gzw accepted picket slicing boards
Listed beneath are some producers that promote picket slicing boards and get the Going Zero Waste seal of approval. An entire lot of those producers profit from FSC licensed wood, and loads of are handmade from one slab of wood (as a substitute of varied objects glued collectively).
I’ve gone ahead and highlighted some key choices of each mannequin, however it certainly isn’t an exhaustive guidelines. Ensure you check out their internet sites for additional information.
1. caraway
- Constituted of FSC-certified birch wood
- 4-piece board set (small, medium, large)
- 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 doubt their slicing boards are equally sound.
2. bamboo
- Constituted of FSC-certified bamboo
- Medium + large dimension selections
- Constructed using a water-based, food-grade adhesive imported from Europe that comes with no formaldehyde
- Hand accomplished with food-safe wood oil
- USDA Licensed Biobased
- No lacquer coating
- B firm
I’ve tried their slicing board sooner than and beloved it! I’ve a small one. I’ve been using it for a few 12 months now and it has held up fairly nicely. It’s surprisingly sturdy and nonetheless seems really good! I even have their wood and bamboo oil which does a incredible job upkeeping the board.
3. made commerce
- Constituted of sustainably harvested Teak wood
- Small + large dimension selections
- Handcrafted in Panama by the skilled artisans of Trasto
4. treeboard
- Sustainably sourced maple and oak picket slicing boards
- Made with out glue or petroleum merchandise
- Scale back from a steady block of wood 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 wood
- Small, medium + large dimension selections
- Reside edge slicing boards made with none glues
- Accomplished with their food-safe, allergen-free Walnut Wood Oil
- Handmade in Vermont
What do you contemplate these picket slicing board selections? Let me know throughout the suggestions!