YumSugar

Do You Mind Sharing a Cooking Station?

partysugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 07:50:58 -0700

While I enjoy help (and company) when cooking, there's truth to the saying about too many cooks in the kitchen. I prefer to have plenty of room and a work station with my own cutting board and knife. How about you?

Do You Separate Cutting Boards For Different Uses?

YumSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:15:33 -0700

Source

Elvis Cutting Board: Love It or Hate It?

YumSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:50:44 -0700

This King of cutting boards ($20) had me cracking up at first sight. I'm not an avid Elvis fan, but the whole concept - his eggplant hair, his bell pepper ear, his carrot-and-corn collar - makes me laugh. I love the vibrant colors, too. Still, I could see how some might find this accessory too garish and gaudy for their kitchen.

Off to Market Recap: Wood Cutting Board

partysugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:00:25 -0700

While I was writing about my common kitchen mistake - I'm prone to burning plastic cutting boards! - I realized the best way to avoid burning any more would be to invest in wooden cutting boards and I asked you to help me find them. You looked for different sized, wooden cutting boards that are thick and durable. You bookmarked the boards in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Wood Cutting Board. I like the pale color of these bamboo cutting boards that jopperma discovered. They are lightweight and environmentally friendly. Check out the wood cutting boards below and let me know which one is your favorite!

To learn more about the bookmarking feature please read geeksugar's explanation.

Off to Market: Wood Cutting Board

partysugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:00:36 -0700

While I was writing about my common kitchen mistake - I'm prone to burning plastic cutting boards! - I realized the best way to avoid burning more would be to invest in wooden cutting boards. Can you help me find some? Look for different sized, wooden cutting boards that are thick and durable. Bookmark the boards in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Wood Cutting Board. I look forward to checking out collection!

To learn more about the bookmarking feature please read geeksugar's explanation.
Don't know where to start searching? Check out a list of my favorite online stores when you, read more

Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Cooking.com
Crate & Barrel
Ikea
Linens and Things
NapaStyle
Pier 1
Plum Party
Pottery Barn
Sur La Table
Target
Restoration Hardware
Williams Sonoma
Wishing Fish
World Market

What's Better: Wood or Plastic Cutting Boards?

YumSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:11:56 -0800

I use mostly wooden cutting boards, though I do own a plastic one that's looking pretty rough. After noticing several discolored grooves on the plastic last week, I started wondering if and when I should get rid of old boards. I was also curious about whether plastic or wooden cutting boards are safer, so I decided to do a little research.

It turns out that there's not much difference between plastic and wooden boards when it comes to food safety; it's really a matter of preference. According to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, nonporous surfaces like plastic are easier to clean, but as long as you clean them, both wood and plastic are safe. Just be sure to always use a clean board, especially if you use one to cut raw meat. For tips on when to get rid of cutting boards, and how to clean them, read more.

Wooden and plastic boards both wear out over time, and you should toss your cutting boards once they start to look very worn out or have grooves that are discolored or hard to clean. I guess that means it's time to say good-bye to my plastic cutting board.

Here are a few tips on cleaning cutting boards.

After each use, wash your cutting board with soap and hot water.
If you have a plastic cutting board, run it through the dishwasher for further disinfecting.
For deeper cleaning, wash wooden or plastic cutting boards with a solution of three tablespoons of bleach and one quart of water.

Source

Off To Market: Cheese Board

partysugar — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 03:11:31 -0700

I love cheese. It is one of my all time favorite foods. Whenever I host an impromptu dinner party, cheese inevitably makes it into the first course. However there is just one teeny weeny problem, I never know what to display the cheese on! My cutting boards are not exactly "party ready" and a plate doesn't do the cheese justice.

To remedy this problem, I've decided I need a cheese board - a little wooden board that I will only use to display and devour cheese. Can you help me find one? Search the web for a cheese board that is rustic and attractive. Nothing too showy, it should be a backdrop to highlight glorious cheeses. Save the boards in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Cheese Board. I'm looking forward to browsing your finds!

GeekSugar has put together an explanation on how to use the fun bookmarking feature, so check it out to learn more.

For a list of my favorite online stores, read more

Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Cooking.com
Crate & Barrel
Ikea
Linens and Things
NapaStyle
Pier 1
Plum Party
Pottery Barn
Sur La Table
Target
Restoration Hardware
Williams Sonoma
Wishing Fish
World Market

The Ultimate Kitchen: Cutting Boards

YumSugar — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 14:01:32 -0800

This one seems obvious, but the ultimate kitchen should have a cutting board or three. Traditionally cutting boards were big blocks of wood, however these days there are many different kinds of materials, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. For example, glass is very durable and easy to clean, however they are terrible for your sharp knife edges. Wooden boards, on the other hand, are terrific for knife edges, but not so easy to clean.

At my house, we have several plastic boards, and a large wooden one. The plastic boards are used for meats and fish and the wooden one for vegetables and pastry (it's pretty large and fits over one half of the sink, creating more work space - which is great in my tiny house).

The right kind of cutting board will depend on your needs and personal taste. Pay attention to the size of it vs. your countertops, and the weight. A good board should be heavy, so it does not slip, but if it's too heavy to move and won't fit in your sink, it won't do you much good.

No matter what you end up deciding on, here are a few rules that you need to follow:

All boards need to be washed in hot soapy water immediately after use.
If your board has many small cracks and cuts, it's time to say farewell. Those grooves are a terrific hiding place for bacteria and raw food. Wooden boards can be resurfaced, but you will need to coat them with a "food safe" finish.
Don't put a wooden board into the dishwasher. It will dry it out and ruin the lifespan.
Always cut raw meats (including poultry and fish) on a board that is easy to properly sanitize.
Be sure your boards are completely dry before putting them away for the night.
Wooden boards should be seasoned and oiled with food grade oil. This should be done before using and then again on a monthly basis, or as needed.

The large wooden board by John Boos & Co. (shown above) gets rave reviews and is available for $57.95.

And, I'm not sure about the durability of these particular bamboo boards($24.95 - $25.95), but, to be honest, I really like the way they look.

Simple Tip: Stop Cutting Board Slippage

partysugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:08:13 -0700

Isn't it the worst when you chop veggies or grate cheese, and your cutting board slides all over the counter? This happens to me all the time, especially when I'm using a plastic cutting board that was warped in the dishwasher. Luckily my handsome buddy Javi showed me what he does to stop slippage and promote perfectly uniform dices.

Wet a paper towel in the sink.
Place on the counter in the area where you will be doing the food preparation.
Put the cutting board on top of the paper towel to secure in place.

Voila, happy chopping!!

Note: This works best with plastic cutting boards. While it works well for wooden cutting boards, if the towel is constantly too wet, you run the risk of warping the wood after many uses.

View 3 Photos ›

Sleek & Chic (& Functional!) Cutting Board

partysugar — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:01:37 -0700

How cool is this cutting board?? The ultimate clean cook's kitchen tool, this chopping block promotes cleaning while you cook - something I always encourage! Store diced vegetables on one side and the waste (stems, seeds, peels, etc.) on the other. The trays attach to the cutting board with magnets that allow for easy removal. I love that designer Peter D'Alessandro takes an ordinary, everyday kitchen essential and turns it into a sleek, modern, functional product. A special thanks to eruntale for bookmarking this fabulous find!

Source: Apartment Therapy