If there's a celebrity who really knows his food – it's Stanley Tucci.
The actor-turned-chef has become somewhat of an internet sensation for his quick cooking tips and tricks. This time, it was a recent video showcasing how Tucci cleans his chopping block with a knife that caught our eye, and I couldn't wait to put it to the test.
Taking cleaning tips from Tucci to restore my cutting board to near new, I grabbed my old chopping board, knife, and a bottle of olive oil and got to work – and the results seriously surprised me.
I tried Stanley Tucci's unusual method for cleaning a chopping board
I use wooden chopping boards daily in the kitchen, washing them thoroughly after use, but I'm still often left wondering just how clean they really are. Enter: Stanley Tucci's Monday morning ritual.
Posted alongside the caption of 'What else would I be doing on a Monday morning?' Tucci explains, 'I'm scraping down the chopping block, because it gets kind of gross, so I do that and then oil it.' As bizarre as it might appear, this method works by smoothing the board, and removing any bacteria from the top layer of wood, leaving it clean and sanitary. As I've been looking for ways to care for my wooden cutting board, I decided to give his simple, two-step process a go.
You will need:
- A wooden chopping board/ block
- An old knife: I used one that was already blunt, but you can always re-sharpen knives using a sharpener, such as the 4-in-1 Knife Sharpener available at Amazon.
- A bottle of affordable olive oil: such as the Great Value Classic Olive Oil available at Walmart.
- Kitchen roll: such as the Scott Choose-a-Sheet Paper Towels available at Walmart.
Step 1. Scrape
I began by washing my cutting board and leaving it to dry, using dish soap and warm water. I recommend the Fairy Original Liquid available at Amazon, before wiping down with a cotton tea towel, such as the top-rated Coyuchi Organic Waffle Kitchen Towel available at Anthropologie, before leaving to completely dry on a rack.
Then, armed with my knife, I began scraping away at the top layer of my chopping board and was surprised at how easily the wood peeled away thinly.
Granted, the board I was cleaning was a lot smaller than Tucci's, but it worked in just the same way. I continued scraping until the board was an even color, before tipping the shavings into the trash.
Step 2. Oil
Next, it was time to oil my board, which is important when cleaning and caring for cutting boards as it prevents the wood from drying out and becoming porous to bacteria. So, forgetting to do so is a mistake to avoid when cleaning kitchenware.
I used a paper towel to do this, and simply poured the oil on, before spreading it in an even layer. This made the board look shiny and restored, and I was instantly impressed with the results. I then left it to dry overnight, and it was ready for use in the morning.
My verdict?
Stanley Tucci's method does really work, but it is time-consuming. I think I will incorporate it into my weekly achievable cleaning routine, to have my boards looking good as new, but I will stick to regular washing for daily use.
As Tucci says, 'I'm going to take a picture of it later and post it,' about his board, I'm not sure mine was quite Instagram-worthy, but it's clean, and most importantly hygienic.
FAQs
Can you put wooden chopping boards in the dishwasher?
As tempting as it might be, wooden chopping boards cannot be put in a dishwasher. This will cause them to crack, warp, and eventually break, and these cracks become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, particularly when using them to slice raw meat.
To avoid any dishwasher mistakes, always hand wash wooden boards, spoons, and serveware.
How do you disinfect a chopping board naturally?
Tucci's method is natural, but if your board requires more sanitization, you can use a spray bottle filled with white vinegar to clean it. This will neutralize odors and naturally disinfect it, and you can also rub it with half a lemon to further clean it.
After testing Tucci's method, I was keen to try some more cleaning hacks. This baking soda trick for a streak-free floor is next on my list, which is quick, easy, and super affordable to try, using only baking soda, vinegar, dish soap and hot water.
