I’ve chucked away all my plastic chopping boards

I changed over some time ago, the action of sawing with a knife on a plastic board disturbed me, it was obvious that I would be cutting plastic particles. I have used wooden boards for years now and they are easy to clean, however I never use them for meat or fish. Meat and fish are rarely used but when needed are carefully cut on large ceramic plates as the plates can be dish washed.

A few months ago I also changed all my plastic utensils to wood, a very nice teak, they were pricey but so be it. They are nice to use and easy to clean

Re tumbler driers, put polyester and acrylics in and yes of course there is a large production of micro plastics. I make my own clothes, all natural fabrics, cotton, linen, wool

butterandjam apart from balancing it on wooden spoons we treat our wooden work surfaces in similar fashion. I think DH uses special wood oil though.

butterandjam

Allira

M0nica

Bamboo is a wood product. I doubt it would be dangerous of odd bits were eaten. Less damaging than microplastics.

Bamboo is poisonous to humans if ingested in large quantities but I doubt anyone is going to do that.

Does anyone oil their wooden or bamboo chopping boards?

We have a bread board made from olive wood, used exclusively for cutting bread. It's about 30 years old. About once a year I give it a really good scrub in hot soapy water, rinse, drain and let it dry; then I oil it with olive oil (the one we eat/cook with), using hands, both sides, leave it overnight balanced across 2 wooden spons, then wipe off the surplus with kitchen paper.

Thanks butterandjam
Perhaps I should try that.

Plus ca change.... I recall being told by some cookery pundit that we shoukd ditch our wooden chopping boards as tbey were impossible to clean of bacteria and use only plastic ones. I ignored him/ her to no bad effect.

I have accummulated 3/4 hardwood chopping boards, that also double as serving boards. All made from sustainable, British wood (elm, oak or plane). All at least 10 years old, well scrubbed on hot soapy water each time they are used and still going strong. They are expensive to buy but cheaper in the long run and will leave nothing behind at the eventual end of their lives. I am a big fan of buying well, buying once. And there is the added little everyday bonus of using a lovely thing. (DH can give them a light sanding if visitors have been heavy handed with the knives. We should oil them more regularly, but rarely do...)

Allira

M0nica

Bamboo is a wood product. I doubt it would be dangerous of odd bits were eaten. Less damaging than microplastics.

Bamboo is poisonous to humans if ingested in large quantities but I doubt anyone is going to do that.

Does anyone oil their wooden or bamboo chopping boards?

We have a bread board made from olive wood, used exclusively for cutting bread. It's about 30 years old. About once a year I give it a really good scrub in hot soapy water, rinse, drain and let it dry; then I oil it with olive oil (the one we eat/cook with), using hands, both sides, leave it overnight balanced across 2 wooden spons, then wipe off the surplus with kitchen paper.

M0nica

Bamboo is a wood product. I doubt it would be dangerous of odd bits were eaten. Less damaging than microplastics.

Bamboo is poisonous to humans if ingested in large quantities but I doubt anyone is going to do that.

Does anyone oil their wooden or bamboo chopping boards?

I'd never heard of titanium chopping boards either. So this thread is entirely to blame for this morning's online exploration.

Now all I have to do is talk myself into why it's perfectly rational to spend 60 quid on a state of the art chopping board.

A titanium chopping board might save myself, my husband and the planet.
It's a longterm investment.
But I'm almost 80.
Oh, good, so it probably will last a lifetime then.
Old plastic CB's won't; too worn and stained.

( She's weakening already, folks; not long now )

Bamboo is a wood product. I doubt it would be dangerous of odd bits were eaten. Less damaging than microplastics.

Allira

knspol

I read that titanium chopping boards are the best and then saw the prices so have stuck with plastic for now. I mostly use them for prepping vegetables and usually have a sheet of kitchen roll on top to avoid direct contact. Did use bamboo for a while but when used regularly fibres come off them so they were discarded.

I've had bamboo ones for years and haven't seen any fibres coming off them.

Perhaps yours are better quality than mine were. I had 1 in particular that I used for slicing bread and after a year or thereabouts 'fibres' were definitely being shed, I thought cd be quite dangerous if ever ingested.

you do know that the fake fleece
is plastic
started as a way to use reused plastics/soda bottles

sue421

This is all getting too much for me, it really is. I have lived long enough for everyone to change their minds. Local butchers closed down as they had wooden tables! For heavens sake, no on died because they bought from local butchers, go abroad and the butchers still use wooden tables! I will not have an electric car, too many tales about charging etc, plus I can't charge it at home. My friends electric car failed in the middle lane, caused a huge shut down of the motorway! We have been lucky with our wall and loft insulation, we must have dealt with a reputable firm. I need to travel further than an electric car can go with out a recharge.... I feel we are being persuaded to go along with the government thoughts on this. I would like them to travel where I would travel and get there within one day.

"persuaded to go along with the government thoughts on this".
Yes, but forced to comply with really. And most of the measures they are forcing onto us are not really as green as they say and will be superceded in a few years.
But they create work for building companies, jobsworths etc. and is just a box ticking exercise.
In particular the proposed change in house energy certificates that private landlords are being forced to comply with, but council housing does not have to.
It will reduce the rental housing stock and put rents up!

My chopping board has been around the world with me one side marked for salad chopping one for cutting meat. Often soaked in Domestos or brushed gently with olive oil and lemon juice. I love James Martin’s chopping boards. Worth the money as they last for years and don’t deteriorate with disinfecting.

I don't have a tumble dryer. Never have. Line drying is possible even in our climate if you pick your day for washing. i bought some different colour plastic chopping boards to reduce risk of cross contamination but have junked them and returned to bamboo/wood.
On a different note but still relevant - did you know a well known washing up liquid kills aquatic life when it gets into waterways. It says so on the bottle - the one with a baby!!

knspol

I read that titanium chopping boards are the best and then saw the prices so have stuck with plastic for now. I mostly use them for prepping vegetables and usually have a sheet of kitchen roll on top to avoid direct contact. Did use bamboo for a while but when used regularly fibres come off them so they were discarded.

I've had bamboo ones for years and haven't seen any fibres coming off them.

I’ve never even heard of titanium chopping boards. As someone said earlier it’s all a bit too much for me.

I read that titanium chopping boards are the best and then saw the prices so have stuck with plastic for now. I mostly use them for prepping vegetables and usually have a sheet of kitchen roll on top to avoid direct contact. Did use bamboo for a while but when used regularly fibres come off them so they were discarded.

Catgrann

Living is a dangerous business, just do the best we can,and get on with it.When it's our time to go ,we go. That's what I think anyway

It's what we leave behind that worries me.

None of us can change the world, we can only try to reduce our impact.
You don’t have to be vegan, just eat meat less often.
You can’t avoid plastics but use an alternative when you can.
Cut down or cut out as many bad things as you know about.
Just be aware. Read the news and change your life as far as you reasonably can when you learn of something else threatening us. Or something which we are threatening.

Living is a dangerous business, just do the best we can,and get on with it.When it's our time to go ,we go. That's what I think anyway

I’ve just spent quite a bit of time over the festive period with young people and am amazed at what we are concerned about and they aren’t.
I do try to be as eco friendly as I can but am beginning to think I’m wasting my time.
We used to have the best water out of our taps in the world. As children we came on leave to the U.K. and were amazed that we could drink water straight from the tap.
Now it’s got microplastics in it. I do use a water filter because I live in a hard water area but now I’ve discovered that, apparently, they also have the added advantage of filtering out the pesky little particles.

I use mine for hot pots!
I have a large safety glass one for chopping etc. it’s fantastic and so easy to keep clean. Use it every day.

Yes I’ve thrown mine too. As research progresses scientists are finding out about things in our environment all the time that are damaging our health. It’s best we take this knowledge on board and act accordingly. Research is done for a reason.

I got rid of all my plastic chopping boards, spatulas and plastic tupperware. Replaced with wood and pyrex. Then started on floss and toothbrush (now bamboo). All well and good, but my toothpaste is in a plastic tube, I put fridge items in plastic bags, I use a tumble drier. I could go a bit crazy thinking about it. My compromise is to just do what I can easily and try not to dwell on the rest.

icanhandthemback

I am not only thinking of getting rid of plastic chopping boards but I am gradually changing all my storage tubs to glass. They are heavier but I don't like the idea of eating stuff out of plastic tubs. I am going to be changing the plastic cooking utensils too. I'd like to chuck the lot but my husband would have something to say about the cost of replacing them all in one go!

I find Douwe Egbert coffee jars useful for storage afterwards, although there is a bit of plastic in the lid to create a good seal.

I'd like to chuck the lot but my husband would have something to say about the cost of replacing them all in one go!

Ask him if he likes eating plastic.
Microplastics have been detected in various human organs, including the brain, lungs, heart, and placenta. While research into the long-term health effects is ongoing and the precise risks remain an area of active study, concerns include:
DNA damage and oxidative stress.
Increased inflammation.
Potential links to a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cancer.

Must sort through mine!