Unique Serving Platter

When I got married, I asked for were some new cutting boards. For some reason this was one thing I had never bought, but had always wanted to have. When you have to cut meat, cheese, fruits and veggies it is important you use a cutting board instead of your countertop. If you use your countertop to cut anything, you’re going to end up with scratch marks that you cannot repair, and you may also be trapping bacteria that will get in your food the next time you cut something.

One of the first cutting boards I got was a wood cutting board. I got it from my sister-in-law for Christmas and I loved it because of the size and the durability. The problem with wooden cutting boards is that they can warp very easily if you put them in the dishwasher. This is something you should never do if you have woodcutting boards. You must scrub them by hand with an antibacterial detergent instead. These cutting boards are prone to harboring bacteria, so should only be used for fruits and vegetables.

If you want something you can use to cut meat and cheeses, you should make sure you buy good quality plastic cutting boards. Though these boards may not look as nice in your kitchen as the wooden cutting boards, they are by far safer and will last a lot longer. I have found that the plastic boards take more of a beating than the wooden boards and can very easily go into the dishwasher. They will not warp in the dishwasher and you may find they last a lot longer than any wooden board ever could.

If you’re going to have someone buy your cutting boards, make sure you specify what type of board you want. It is okay to have both kinds in your kitchen as long you should know which type of food should go on which type of board. A good rule of the thumb is to only use wooden cutting boards for items you can grow in your own garden. If you follow this rule, you should be able to use your cutting board safely. Just remember to keep them clean and remember to keep the wooden ones out of your dishwasher. I always the err on the side of caution when using my boards. If in doubt, use plastic and a good antibacterial soap.

If you love coffee and are looking for a way to get a better cup of coffee at home, you should consider grinding your own coffee. Personally, I can’t start the day without a cup or two and I want to drink the best that I can each day. Because I work at home, I don’t have the option of running into Starbucks each day. I started buying more expensive brands of coffee and a coffee grinder. Coffee grinders help you get a fresher cup of coffee and are easy to use. Most consumer models are small. A blade coffee grinder works well, but if you want the best you should get a Burr coffee grinder.

A blade grinder slices and dices your coffee beans down to an acceptable size, but a Burr coffee grinder does a better job. The grain is more even, and your coffee will taste better. Unlike the slicing action of the blade variety, the Burr coffee grinder chips it away little by little. In the end, this type is more expensive, but works much better.

Most restaurants will grind their own coffee beans and if you look in their kitchen, you will probably find that they also use a Burr coffee grinder. Some may use pre-packaged coffee grounds, but for the freshest cup possible, the beans should be ground right before brewing. When coffee is ground, it immediately begins to lose the oils that give coffee it’s great taste. Imagine what has been lost by the time coffee is ground in the factory, packaged and arrives in the store.

If you can’t find a Burr coffee grinder in a department store, ask them if they carry them. Places like Wal-Mart may not carry them, but places like Bed Bath and Beyond or other like stores will. These will range in price, color and size. You can get a Burr coffee grinder that will fit in your hand, or larger models that sit on your counter.

You may also find a good Burr coffee grinder online. Just make sure it is in fact a Burr grinder and not a blade one when you order. Many people get them confused. While a blade works just fine, some people simply insist on using a Burr coffee grinder for the better quality grounds they produce. If you see a listing for a grinder, but it doesn’t say what type it is, you can assume it’s the blade variety. Keep looking for one that specifically says ‘Burr’ on it.