How To Clean A Cutting Board After Cutting Raw Meat

How to Clean a Cutting Board After Raw Meat Use

how to clean a cutting board after raw meat use

Foodborne illnesses resulting from contaminated food via raw meat are a real threat. Vomiting, diarrhea, and fever are common symptoms that can last for over one week, depending on the germs or microbes carried.

The advice on how to clean a cutting board after raw meat is applicable for many board materials, including wood, bamboo, and plastic. You can wash a cutting board in a dishwasher with other dishes or in the sink using dish soap or bleach.

Daily Use & Maintenance Cleaning After Cutting

Cleaning cutting boards immediately after you use them to cut raw meat is crucial for preventing harmful bacteria and pathogens from getting into your system.

  • Start by rinsing the cutting board with hot soapy water.
  • Then, apply bleach, but don’t use too much – one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water is all you need.
  • You can also put your cutting board in the dishwasher if it’s plastic.

In either case, make sure to wipe down the counter with dish soap and disinfectant around the area where you used the board.

Is It OK to Cut Vegetables on a Cutting Board After You Have Cut Raw Meat?

is it ok to cut vegetables on a cutting board after you have cut raw meat

The best food safety practice is to use a separate cutting board for your raw meat and veggies, no matter how thoroughly you clean the meat cutting board.

Nevertheless, I know that having a little cupboard or counter space can make it seem silly to keep more than one cutting board lying around.

So, as long as you first use warm water, dish soap, and a disinfectant, it should be safe to cut your vegetables on the same board you cut your raw meat.

How Do You Disinfect a Cutting Board?

how do you disinfect a cutting board

Knowing how to clean the cutting board after raw meat isn’t enough—you also need to know how to disinfect it. Using a bleach and water solution is one of the most effective approaches.

Use nylon bristled brush to your cutting board along with bleach and water is even better. That way you can push the disinfectant into the crevices that your knife creates, killing more bacteria and cleaning much more effectively.

Does Vinegar Disinfect Cutting Boards?

Many studies show that vinegar is an effective disinfectant against foodborne pathogenic bacteria like E. coli.

If you don’t want to pull your rubber gloves out to disinfect your cutting board with bleach, grab your white vinegar. You’ll want to use a ratio of double the water to vinegar.

If you have a half cup of vinegar, mix in one cup of water. Afterward, pat the cutting board dry with a clean paper towel or let it air dry.

Removing Bad Smells From Wooden Cutting Boards

removing bad smells from wooden cutting boards

Wooden boards often need more care than plastic ones, given their porous nature. So, if your wooden cutting board smells after you clean off the raw meat, grab some salt and lemon.

  • Start by soaking the board in hot soapy water.
  • Next, sprinkle salt on the board.
  • Then cut your lemon and squeeze a liberal amount of lemon juice around it.
  • Let this mixture of salt and lemon soak into the board.
  • Once you can no longer see the salt granules, take one lemon half and use it as a scrubber.

When scrubbing, put some muscle into it. Five minutes or so should do the trick to give you a smell-free clean wooden cutting board.

Removing Stains From a Wooden Cutting Board

removing stains from a wooden cutting board

If you have a clean wooden cutting board, but a nasty stain still shows, it’s time to pull out some salt and baking soda. Cover all the stains on your wooden chopping board in both.

Now, grab a brush or scrubber with a hard surface and dunk it in hot water. Then, roll up your sleeves and get to work scrubbing the stains, dipping your scrubber back in the water periodically. Continue this process until you no longer see the stain.

Cleaning Tips for Cutting Boards

Now that you know the ropes of how to clean a cutting board after raw meat, below are a few more tips to help:

  • Use the hottest water that your hands can tolerate
  • Wash both sides of a wooden board to keep it from warping
  • You can add baking soda to the salt and lemon mixture when trying to remove odors

What Oil Is Best for Cutting Boards?

what oil is best for cutting boards

Disinfecting your cutting board from raw food debris is a step that most people recognize as important. However, oiling wooden cutting boards is a lesser-known process crucial to preventing a dry and cracked surface, inviting bacteria.

Mineral oil with a “food safe” label is the ideal type of oil for cutting boards. To apply, squeeze the oil all over the board until it’s dripping wet, using a brush to spread it across the wood. Let it soak overnight and air dry.

Can I Use Olive Oil for My Cutting Board?

No, you shouldn’t use olive oil for your cutting board. The reason being is that olive oil undergoes rancidification. So, you’ll not only end up with a smelly board but a stench in your food too.

James Marshall

About the author

James is a business management professional and consultant with a former background in maintenance, repair, and hands-on projects. He enjoys DIY tasks and maintenance around the home as well as part-time writing. Read more »