Tips on How to Avoid Cross-Contamination in Cutting Boards

June 8, 2018

While cutting boards are invaluable in a commercial kitchen to protect countertops and other surfaces from knife damage, they also can be a major source of cross-contamination when you use or care for them incorrectly. An example of a cause for this issue happening is when you slice raw chicken on one of your boards and then use it immediately for chopping vegetables without cleaning it. The seriousness of cross-contamination should never be underestimated since it a major cause of foodbourne illnesses. For this reason, we provide you with some effective tips below on how to prevent this issue from occurring with your cutting boards.

Buy Only Quality Cutting Boards

First thing for you to do to prevent cross-contamination is to purchase only quality cutting boards. Cheap, poorly made ones will warp easily, wear out quickly and even may be difficult to sanitise effectively.

Clean Cutting Boards Thoroughly Between Uses

Always clean cutting boards thoroughly between uses to prevent food debris for one type of food from contaminated another type of food. This holds true all of the time and not with any one particular food.

You Can Colour Code Cutting Boards When You Buy the Right Type

Another ideal way to prevent cross-contamination is to colour code your cutting boards when you purchase the right style of them. Polyethylene ones come in a wide assortment of colours and are ideal for this purpose. Just allot a specific type of food for each colour and make sure your staff does not veer from this. Examples of this include brown for cooked meats, yellow for raw vegetables and white for raw poultry. By doing this, you ensure that all of your food always is safe for consumption.

Ensure That Your Boards Are in Proper Condition at All Times

When the boards develop deep knife grooves, these grooves can harbour bacteria and make it nearly impossible to santitise the boards efficiently and effectively. At the first sign of wear, you should professionally recondition your cutting boards. This returns the boards to an ideal condition to ensure that you can clean and sanitise them properly. Also, you will extend their lifespan at the same time.

For additional advice about how to avoid cross-contamination in your cutting boards, consult with Cutting Board Services. We are experts at reconditioning your present cutting boards, and we also carry a high line of European, polyethylene ones in a variety of thicknesses, colours and grades. Our boards will not warp, peel, crack, absorb moisture or react with strong acids.

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