Choose wood or a surface such as plastic, marble, glass, or pyroceramic, which is easier to clean than wood.

Avoid cross-contamination. Consider using one cutting board for fresh produce and bread and a separate one for raw meat, poultry, and seafood. This will prevent bacteria on a cutting board that is used for raw meat, poultry, or seafood from contaminating food that is eaten raw.

Cleaning cutting boards: To keep all cutting boards clean, wash them with hot, soapy water after each use. Then rinse with clear water and air dry or pat dry with clean paper towels. Acrylic, plastic, glass, and solid wood boards can be washed in a dishwasher (laminated boards may crack and split).

Both wooden and plastic cutting boards can be sanitized with a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Flood the surface with the bleach solution and allow it to stand for several minutes. Rinse with clear water and air dry or pat dry with clean paper towels.

Replace worn cutting boards: All plastic and wooden cutting boards wear out over time. Once cutting boards become very worn or develop hard-to-clean grooves, they should be thrown out.

KITCHEN SPONGES

Kitchen sponges can grow harmful bacteria, yeasts, and molds that can make you sick.

The United States Department of Agriculture says that the best ways to kill germs on a kitchen sponge are:

• Microwave the sponge on high for one minute, which kills up to 99% of germs.
• Clean it in the dishwasher, using both wash and dry cycles and a water temperature of 140 degrees F or higher.

Soap and water or bleach and water do not work as well for killing germs on sponges. Another option is to buy a new sponge each week.

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Review Date: 05/05/2011
Reviewed By: Alison Evert, MS, RD, CDE, Nutritionist, University of Washington Medical Center Diabetes Care Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)