The Food Thread

turbo

Thanks, Lisab. Decades ago (here in Maine) the health-department nuts banned wooden spoons, wooden-handled utensils and wooden cutting boards and butcher-blocks. It cost the restaurants and food-processors a ton of money to comply. People still get food-poisoning.

A good (younger) friend of mine has an island in his kitchen that was taken out of a local restaurant, complete with a laminated maple butcher-block top that must be 2" thick. It was in his parents' kitchen until they split up and he inherited the place.

My wife and I use wooden spoons, wood-handled knives and utensils (forbidden here, commercially) and wooden cutting boards. We are doing OK and haven't killed (or sickened) anybody with food poisoning. Sometimes the old ways are OK.

lisab

Wood will definitely pick up smells. I haven't noticed it with bamboo, though...although I really don't know how bacteria will grow on bamboo. It's not wood, it's in the grass family.

Evo

If you're perfectly healthy, I'm sure there is not much risk, but for people like me with compromised systems, I can't take chances.

lisab

In that case, stainless is the way to go. After all, we don't see wood used much in operating rooms, haha.

But in the article I linked to, they find that plastic cutting boards harbor lots of bacteria once the surface has been scored by knives. Typical cleaning can't get into the gouges to really kill the germs.

Are stainless cutting boards available? Seems they might dull knives, though.

Evo

Don't get me wrong, I grew up using wooden spoons, but I have to be very careful now. And wood is just an unnecessary risk. I love wood though, I had a set of wood bowls that went from small enough for a few eggs to large enough to hold two turkeys. Of course the disappeared in a move.

Evo

I throw those out, they're cheap enough to replace regularly. i use the thin, cheap ones.

As does glass. Not good for cutting boards.

I can't do anything normal anymore.

Borek

I was always under impression that Daily Mail is not what we call a reliable source, more of a tabloid, but I am not sure. I don't read British papers.

We use wooden spoons that Marzena got as a gift from her class for her 18th birthday. So far, so good.

Evo

Ah, I missed your link and had just found it myself and was going to say you're correct about the wood not harboring bacteria. I stand corrected.

I still think I'm going to avoid wooden spoons, they start to smell funny.

dlgoff

Smoke wood maybe?

rollcast

The Daily Mail is prone to exaggerating their stories quite often, especially science or technology stories, though they aren't as bad as the Sun.

Jimmy Snyder

Depression Chicken Soup

1. Leftover chicken stock from the last time I made chicken soup.
2. Leftover roast chicken from tonight's dinner that could not be beat.
3. Leftover veggies from tonight's dinner.

Thaw out the chicken stock, cube the chicken, dice the veggies, Put it all together and bring it all to a boil. Let it cool a little and then serve. Cost: $0. Besides, I've caught cold and this will help with my depression.

Gad

I hope you get well soon Jimmy :)

Evo

Awww, get well soon, the soup sounds yummy!

lisab

Sounds great. I'd add egg noodles or maybe rice. Wait...no, definitely egg noodles.

Astronuc

Add habaneros or one of Dave's or Blair's Hot Sauces.

Astronuc

'Fermentation': When Food Goes Bad But Stays Good
http://www.npr.org/2012/06/13/154914...but-stays-good

Edible Fermentables: Wine, Beer, Cheese, Meat
http://www.npr.org/2012/06/19/155305...er-cheese-meat

Borek

And many pickled (without vinegar) things - like cabbage, cucumbers, apples. I am sure there is more.