Kitchen Knives and Cutting Boards go Hand in Hand
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Written by: Peggy Hebert
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Word Count: 494 |
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 |
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Every cook knows that good kitchen knives are essential tools. Likewise, a cutting board is also an important necessity. They can add style and efficiency to any kitchen, and also play a large part in the proper care of quality kitchen knives. A wealth of styles and materials can be found and your choices are almost limitless. In the event that none of the ready made products suit you, some manufacturers offer custom made cutting boards.
Your first consideration should be size. How much counter space do you have? Available space can also be a factor in deciding what shape to buy. Some basic shapes to consider are rectangular, square, and round. Choose the one that is most appealing to you and that will best fit your work area.
Once you have decided on how big or how small your cutting board needs to be, you must then decide on what material you want. Wood, glass, and plastic are some of the most common materials found in cutting boards. They each have different qualities, and before you make a purchase you should consider some of the advantages and disadvantages. Some materials need more care than others in order to keep them in prime condition. While others may be easier to care for, they may not be suitable for all chores, or may cause more wear on your kitchen knives.
Wooden cutting boards are very popular choices for some people. They are attractive and can be made from many different kinds of wood. Your kitchen knives will retain their sharpness better when used with a wooden board. However, there are very specific steps in the proper care of a wooden cutting board and you might prefer something easier.
Glass cutting boards can be purchased in different colors, making it an attractive choice for the style conscious cook. You can even get ones that are color coded for use with different food to prevent cross contamination. While glass may be easier to clean, it has a hard non-porous surface, and won't be as kind to your kitchen knives.
Plastic cutting boards have many of the same advantages that glass boards offer. They come in a variety of colors and styles to fit most any décor. Although they are not hard to care for, some manufacturers recommend that they not be used for certain cutting tasks, such as any chore that requires a meat cleaver.
If you don't own a cutting board, or if you have one that needs replacing, don't put off buying one any longer. I personally own several; three are wooden, one is plastic, and one is glass. None of mine are custom made, but that might be the perfect solution for you. No matter what you choose you can be sure that it will be a welcome addition to your kitchen, and I'm sure that if your kitchen knives could talk they would thank you.
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