Why Wood Cutting Boards are Better than Plastic or Glass
We were required to use plastic cutting boards when catering. In Plastic and Wooden Cutting Boards by Dean O. Cliver, Ph.D of UC Davis, they noted that “the U.S. Department of Agriculture told us they had no scientific evidence to support their recommendation that plastic, rather than wooden cutting boards”.
The problem is that while it may seem like plastic is non-porous and can’t absorb liquids, with use the surface becomes knife-scarred. This rough surface is exceptionally difficult to clean, even with bleach or running through the dishwasher. Wood, by contrast, shows the ability to halt the growth of and kill bacteria applied to its surface. Both new and used wooden cutting boards maintain this ability equally well.
In a study conducted at the University of Wisconsin (also by Dr. Cliver), they tested bacteria known to produce food poisoning – Salmonella, Listeria and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. These bacteria were placed on cutting boards made from seven different species of trees and four types of plastic. All the wooden boards consistently outperformed the plastic.
The scientists found that three minutes after contaminating a board that 99.9 percent of the bacteria on wooden boards had died, while none of the bacteria died on plastic. Bacterial numbers actually increased on plastic cutting boards held overnight at room temperature, but the scientists could not recover any bacteria from wooden boards treated the same way.
Continue reading My love of wooden cutting boards is supported
I moved to this new house 4 months ago and I am still “moving in.” When I had finished shelving the dishes. food and pot and pans in the kitchen. I said now I am home. Then I unpacked clothes and filled the closets and well you know… All the moving boxes were placed in the garage (a really good idea) so inside the rooms would not feel the chaos. The day I had unpacked enough that I could pull the car in the garage – that was a big day. As my things came out of boxes to find places around this new house, it really did feel more like home. The furniture has moved around more times than I can count, searching for that perfect feng shui spot. Hanging the first of the pictures brought a rush of home. . The roma tomato I planted out back has ripening fruit that I watch with glee. Putting the books on shelves really felt like home, like having old friends come to visit. There are clippings and new pictures on the refrigerator of current happenings- that says home. I final answer for finding home for me is to finally have the time and the mindset to do my morning stretches and then write on wordpress. Morning, coffee, bare feet, nightgown and writing- I am finally home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The plans for my new front planting area include an environment pleasing to butterflies and bees. Now that the warm weather has come, the bees already living there woke up. Yellow jackets!!!!!!!!! I am so fortunate I was not stung as I cut and trimmed the bushes. Life is funny……
mountainmae 
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