Choosing the Right Cutting Board
March 18, 2019Every kitchen, from a food truck to a large restaurant, needs cutting boards. From vegetables to bread to meat and fish, your chefs and cooks have to chop things every day.
Have you put a lot of thought into this important piece of kitchen equipment? Like many other items you might take for granted, the truth is there are many, many options available.
From different sizes and shapes to a variety of materials, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to cutting boards. Here’s what you need to know.
What Material is Best?
This is an area that is open to significant debate. There are four primary types, with variations within each. Let’s look at everything, from wood to bamboo to plastic, to help you make a decision.
Wood Cutting Boards
Wood boards are the most traditional and are extremely popular. They’ve gained a bad rap with the rise of plastic cutting boards, but the truth is that the traditional kitchen equipment is still one of the best kinds.
Many wood boards are quite hard and resist grooving. You can choose woods that are less porous as well, to avoid absorption of juices and bacteria. Keep in mind that the cleaning and maintenance of wood is a bit more involved as well.
Bamboo Cutting Boards
Although it looks like wood, bamboo is actually a fast-growing grass. This makes bamboo boards not only economical but excellent for the environment. It’s less porous than most woods and very durable.
Like wood, this type of kitchen equipment requires oiling to maintain so that the board doesn’t split. Washing is similar to wood, using soap and water and being able to stand up to a dishwasher.
Plastic Cutting Boards
These have been the darling of commercial kitchens for some time, but the benefits may be overblown. Many plastic cutting boards quickly develop grooves that can be hard to clean, requiring you to replace them more often.
However, many kitchens find plastic cutting boards to be affordable, making it easy to have enough on hand. In addition, they come in a variety of colors, making color-coding simple. This along with their durability can make them the right kitchen equipment for your restaurant.
Rubber Cutting Boards
Rubber boards are non-porous and non-absorbent, while also being resistant to warping. They are easy to clean but are not safe in a dishwasher. They don’t require a lot of maintenance but must be replaced once they are scarred by knife use.
Choose the Right Kitchen Equipment for Your Restaurant
Once you decide on a material, you’ll need to think about how many you need and what sizes. If you have a small kitchen, you may need fewer boards, but don’t skimp. If you don’t have enough your staff are more likely to reuse and mix boards, causing problems with food safety.
If you’re ready to get better cutting boards or need other kitchen equipment, let us help. We have been working with Little Rock restaurants for years, helping them source the equipment they need. Contact us for a quote today!
Roast: What’s Wrong With The Honeymooner’s Kitchen? Kitchen Supplies
Welcome to our new series, “Roast and Toast”! Each month we’ll feature one kitchen that we love and one that… well, could use improvements. The kitchens we feature can come from anywhere – TV, films, popular culture, you name it. We’ll talk about what we love and what...
Restaurant Supplies: The Growing Menu Role of Specialty Cheeses
As a commercial restaurant owner or manager, you might wonder what you can do to revive your menu a bit. There are a lot of fun ways to diversify your menu, but one trend you might have noticed is the growing role of specialty cheeses. We’ve all used common cheeses,...
It’s a Toast: Why We Love the “Friends” Kitchen
Welcome to our new series, “Roast and Toast!” Each month we’re going to feature one kitchen we love and one kitchen we hate. It can be from anywhere – a sitcom, a cooking show, a cartoon, a movie, or any other screen you’d see one on! We’re starting off with a toast...
Ready to Open a Second Restaurant Location?
If your current restaurant is booming, it might be time to consider a second location. Congratulations on your current success – you’ve already beaten the odds! Opening a second location can be easier than your first one – you’ve already worked out a lot of the kinks....
The One Product to Boost Convenience Store Sales
Is there one product that can single-handedly make or break the success of your convenience store? A lot of store owners would say no. When they look at their store, they see products coming from hot dish foodservice equipment, shelves, and a variety of categories...
Restaurant Equipment Spotlight: Gas vs. Electric
Does your Little Rock restaurant use gas or electric restaurant equipment? In all likelihood you made this decision a long time ago, but it’s one that can always be reconsidered. There are benefits to both. If you’re opening a new restaurant location, it’s vital to...
Restaurant Equipment: Self-Ordering Technology
One of the biggest challenges of running a restaurant is keeping up with all the technology and restaurant equipment that is available. You might have thought when you opened your location that you could run things basically the same way for decades. While they may...
Four Tips to Opening a Successful Restaurant
Have you been dreaming about bringing your food expertise to the forefront of you life? Many people have thought about opening their own restaurant. Folks don’t follow through for a variety of reasons – money, fear, or simple inertia. You can be different, though. You...
The Case for Timeless Restaurant Décor
What’s the newest trend in restaurant décor? Evidently, people are loving “Millennial pink,” and they’re using it for everything. If you’re trying to keep up with what’s hot, you better get some new restaurant supplies right away! And remember, this isn’t just any...
Deep Fry Safely & Efficiently
When it comes to kitchen equipment, knowing how to use it correctly is vital. Not only does it keep your employees safe, it ensures that the food comes out well and that your equipment last a long time in good condition. Using a deep fryer may seem pretty simple, and...
Should You Buy Closeout Restaurant Supplies?
As a restaurant owner, you, of course, want to save money in any way possible. Restaurant margins are known for being razor-thin, so every dollar counts. Because of this, you might be tempted when you see a closeout deal for restaurant supplies. After all, you can get...
Choosing Environmentally Friendly Restaurant Supplies
There’s been a lot of controversy recently about restaurant supplies and how they affect the environment. The current focus is on plastic straws, but the same conversation has been had about Styrofoam and a variety of other materials. Can you choose environmentally...
Restaurant Supplies to Prepare Your Location for Spring
In March you can begin to feel warmer weather around the corner here in Little Rock. After all, the groundhog didn’t see its shadow this year, so we’re in for an early spring, right? As you think about how to prepare your restaurant for spring, think about getting the...
Proper Use of Cutting Boards
Food safety is vital to every restaurant – consistent inspections make sure of it! Unfortunately, the day-to-day operations can sometimes mean that safety falls through the cracks. One thing that can get overlooked in a busy kitchen is the safe use of cutting boards....
Four Myths About Food Trucks
You probably know that the food truck industry is booming – it’s grown by 7.3% in the last five years and shows no signs of slowing down. That makes it an attractive industry for anyone interested in serving food – from established restaurants to new entrepreneurs....