How to Treat Plastic Cutting Boards
- 1). Wash the board with antibacterial soap and hot water before use. You should always clean the board after you are finished with it, but if it has been even a day since you last used it, it is best to clean it off before you put food on it. Rinse the board with more hot water and dry it off with a paper towel.
- 2). Rinse with hot water and scrub with a paper towel when switching foods during cooking, such as going from raw meat to vegetables. Once food particles are removed, spray with lemon juice and let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off in hot water while you scrub with another paper towel. The acid in the lemon juice kills bacteria, and if there is any leftover residue after the board is cleaned, it is less likely to leave a bad taste or odor on the food like vinegar would.
- 3). Wash the board with antibacterial soap and hot water when you are through cooking for the day. Use a paper towel to scrub and remove food particles.
- 4). Spray the plastic cutting board with full-strength vinegar after you have washed it, and let the vinegar sit on the board for three or four minutes. The acid in the vinegar kills any remaining bacteria. It is better to use vinegar over lemon juice at the end of the cooking process because the odor will not attract insects. Rinse the board off with hot water after time is up and dry it with a paper towel.
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