How to Clean and Sanitize a Cutting Board

When it comes to sanitizing your cutting board, there are many safe options available to you. You can clean it with lemons, baking soda, or vinegar. Bleach and hydrogen peroxide is also effective however not the best for a wooden board. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and is a good choice for most cutting boards.

Bear in mind, if ever you use a serrated knife for bread or meats on a chopping board they will score the surface, even if only used lightly. Those ‘scores’ will harbor any bacteria and germs, which is why it is so important to clean and sanitize a cutting board properly.
Cleaning a bamboo cutting board is a different process from a typical wooden or plastic board.

Lemons and baking soda

Using lemons and baking soda to clean and sanitize a cutting board is a simple and effective way to eliminate germs and unpleasant smells. Whether the cutting board is made of wood or plastic, lemons and baking soda will provide a natural antibacterial and sanitizing agent.

To sanitize a cutting board, simply apply a paste made of baking soda and salt to the cutting board. Alternatively, you can use lemons but make sure to squeeze them first to get rid of the citric acid. After scrubbing the board, rinse it with warm water and pat dry with a soft cloth. For best results, sanitize your cutting board after every light use and never use it for raw meat.

To remove hardened residue, apply a paste made of baking soda to wooden cutting boards. Let the paste sit on the board for about 5 minutes before rinsing it. After the paste has dried, you can apply plain or kosher salt to scrub. If you don’t have any baking soda or salt on hand, try using vinegar and water to clean and sanitize your cutting board.

Bleach

If you don’t want to purchase a new cutting board, a simple way to sanitize and clean it yourself is to use a diluted solution of chlorine bleach. Using it to sanitize a cutting board is safe as long as you remember to thoroughly rinse it afterward, but make sure you do it the right way.
This solution works well to kill bacteria and prevent mold growth on a cutting board. It does not have a strong smell, so you can use it after washing your cutting board. You should rinse the board thoroughly with hot water afterward.

Bleach can kill harmful bacteria that hide in the crevices of cutting boards. Soap and water are not enough to get rid of these germs. Bleach kills bacteria by causing the proteins on their surface to unfold. This action destroys the bacteria’s defense mechanism called a ‘protein chaperone’, which protects essential proteins from degradation.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is an effective disinfectant and cleaning solution that will leave your cutting board sanitized and bacteria-free. It is safe for food contact and can be applied to a wooden cutting board using a paper towel or cloth. It should be allowed to sit on the board for at least two minutes before you rinse it with water. You should also thoroughly dry it after application as the peroxide can leave the board discolored if left on too long.

The method of cleaning and disinfecting a cutting board involves using three-percent hydrogen peroxide. This chemical is most likely available in your medicine cabinet. Simply distribute it onto the board using a cloth and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Afterward, wipe off with a clean cloth.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a natural disinfectant that can be used to clean and sanitize chopping boards. The acetic acid in white vinegar helps kill certain bacteria and viruses. You can spray a solution of white vinegar on a cutting board and then allow it to sit for several minutes. This will kill germs and remove odors. However, if you plan to use the board to chop raw meats, you should consider using other disinfectants because the vinegar flavor may transfer itself to the meat, or add to discolorization.