Oval Maple End Grain Cutting Board

Noble Bear Maple End-Grain Up Cutting Boards are the best cutting boards to use and will meet the needs of the most discerning cooks. Noble Bear maple end-grain Up cutting boards are more durable than regular cutting boards. The end-grain Up has a much harder surface and provides a greater tolerance for a knifes chopping motion. Noble Bear Maple end-grain Up cutting boards give a truly resistant cutting surface while being kind to the blade's sharp edge. The reason for the end grain design is when you use a knife on them instead of crushing the blade against the wood fibers the blade goes between them much like cutting straight into a brushes bristles instead of across them. The wood itself is not cut, but instead you are cutting between the fibers, when the knife strikes the surface during cutting, the grain of the wood actually separates and then closes when the knife is removed. This accounts for the self-healing aspect of the end-grain surface. You will find that your knife blade edges will last much longer. It is surprising to people when they hear that a Noble Bear maple end-grain Up cutting board may be more resistant to bacterial buildup than the plastic ones. Research has shown that bacteria, such as the salmonella found on raw chicken, will thrive and multiply if not removed from plastic boards. The knife-scarred nooks and crannies that develop on the surface of a plastic cutting board provide an ideal place for germs to hide out and multiply. Hand scrubbing with soap and hot water can clear germs from the surface of new or used wooden cutting boards. Take note that knife-scared plastic boards are resistant to decontamination by hand washing. To clean your Noble Bear maple end-grain Up cutting board use hot water and soap. Rinse and dry thoroughly. It is not recommended to submerge cutting boards in a sink of water! Wood is porous and it will soak up water causing the cutting board to crack if this method is used on a regular basis. Your Noble Bear maple end grain Up cutting board should be kept dry when not in use. Bacteria will not survive more than a few hours without moisture. Prop one end of your cutting board up when not using it to prevent moisture of any type from collecting on the surface. To disinfect and clean your Noble Bear maple end grain Up cutting board, wipe it with full-strength white vinegar after each use. The acetic acid in the vinegar is a good disinfectant, effective against such harmful bugs as E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus. Vinegar is especially good for people with chemical allergies. I like to keep a spray bottle of undiluted vinegar handy for easy sanitizing. At home I use a Noble Bear round maple end-grain Up cutting board. I marked one side with a small "V" and on the other side an "M". The V is for veggies and the M is for meat. I prep my raw vegetables first, and then flip it over to prep my meats. After I am done prepping with both sides I wash it with hot water and soap and then spray with full strength white vinegar to sanitize. Using this method you should never have to worry about cross contamination. Wooden boards need oiling or re-seasoning once a week to seal the grain against bacteria. daily washing with hot water and soap removes small amounts of the protective mineral oil. Re applying the mineral oil finish will help prevent the wood from the ware and tear of daily use. Before applying the mineral oil to butcher block, warm the oil slightly. Apply oil with a soft cloth allowing the oil to soak in, then remove all excess oil with a dry, clean cloth. When applied, mineral oil seals the pores of the wood blocking the penetration of moisture. Mineral oil is used because it remains safe throughout its life. I use the cheapest pure food-grade mineral oil I can find. (do not use vegetable or olive oils because they can turn rancid). Food grade mineral oil can be found at the local supermarket, hardware store or drug store. To eliminate garlic, onion, fish, or other unwanted smells from your Noble Bear maple end grain Up cutting board you can rub the board with course salt or baking soda. Let stand a few minutes and wipe salt or baking soda from board, and then rinse. Another very easy technique is to rub fresh lemon juice or rub a cut lemon over the surface of the cutting board to neutralize onion and garlic odors. Using full strength white vinegar will help stop unwanted smells from accruing. You may need to re-season your Noble Bear cutting board with food grade mineral oil after rinsing and drying your cutting board.