[CH] (CH) Cutting boards (for chiles, of course)

F. Eugene (dunnam@phys.ufl.edu)
Tue, 18 Nov 2003 09:47:07 -0500

Greetings-
I made plastic cutting boards from the salvaged pieces of a broken
office chair mat (the plastic mat that protects carpet from
chair casters). The transparent plastic appeared to be 
Lucite/Perspex/Plexiglas & was 1/4" thick.  I sawed out 10" & 12" 
diameter circles, fire-polished
the edges, ran 'em through the dishwasher & they're still going
strong 3 years later.  After cutting/mincing a batch of Habs it's a
good idea to wash it off w/ soap & hot water.  If you forget, the
next items cut may have an unexpected flavor(!).

I saw a report some months ago that various bacteria live longer on & are
harder to clean from plastic cutting boards than wood....seems that
the wood has some natural anti-bacterial action.  So wood's better 
but (free!) plastic is very convenient.... IMHO plastic is unlikely 
to be a problem so long as you wash it thoroughly, especially after 
cutting meat/fish

Gene

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