Chopping boards

glitch · 16 May 2011 at 12:26

I'm after a set of colour-coded polyethylene chopping boards, but so far all the ones I've come across have been absolute rubbish.

They all seem to be either too thin, made from some horrid rock-hard polyethylene, warped, massively large or all of the above.

About 18" x 12" x 0.5" seems to be the ideal size, but I need to know they'll be made from a decent polyethylene that doesn't fall to pieces but isn't rock solid and aren't brittle or easily warped.

Any recommendations, professional chefs and enthusiastic amateurs?

glitch · 16 May 2011 at 13:02

Ah, I think I might know where I've been going wrong. I think I've been looking at the high-density versions of these boards and not the low-density ones.

Would a 'Low Density Chopping Board Set' for around £35 be the one to go for? I'm after boards that have the same density and 'knife feel' of those T&G Anti-Bacterial ones.

glitch · 16 May 2011 at 14:52

tuckenator said:
Costco do this type of set for around £20, far cheaper than i've seen anywhere else.

If that's the Joseph Joseph set, which I think it is, unfortunately the boards are too small and fiddly for proper cooking.

I'm after something more like the set below, although I'd love something with the design implantation of the JJ offering.

glitch · 16 May 2011 at 15:16

And not a bad size either... Is it the area around the handle and the strip at the bottom of the board that provides the grip? Would save putting a silicon mat underneath my boards when chopping.

glitch · 16 May 2011 at 16:50

Robbie G said:
I personally prefer chopping on our 'Top Gourmet' series boards as I like them hard ()

Christ, those things?! I'm not sure I'd let my knives anywhere near them - they seem to be like the next worst thing to toughened glass chopping boards.

Are they actually any good then?

glitch · 16 May 2011 at 16:53

Disco Boy said:
Joseph Joseph chop2pot.

Nice idea but useless in practice. And too small.

Stupot_ said:
Do people actually use different boards for different things...?

Er, yes? Do you not have one board for raw meat/fish and one for everything else at the very least?

glitch · 16 May 2011 at 16:57

Disco Boy said:
I have one, my girlfriend has one and my mum has one, we'd all beg to differ on the "useless" front.

They don't sit flat, they don't fold up properly and stuff gets caught in the grooves.

I say useless, but your mileage might vary.

glitch · 16 May 2011 at 17:44

Oh, maybe I'm thinking of something else then. I'll have to give them another look when I get the chance.

glitch · 16 May 2011 at 18:35

AcidHell2 said:
Any reason you want plastic and coloured? Are you going to be producing food for the public? Much prefer wood ones myself.

I like plastic chopping boards, provided the density of the material isn't too high, and the colour-coding appeals to my OCD.

I don't produce food for the public directly and when I do cook for paying customers its in their kitchens with their equipment, at least for the most part. But there's something nice and neat about a set of colour-coded boards.

But maybe that's just me...

AcidHell2 said:
tom_e said:

Nope and neither does anyone else I know, I just do my veg or cooked stuff first then my raw stuff then wash it.

Click to expand...

Exactly why would you, unless you are a producer and dictated to by laws.

Because most people are sorely lacking in the common sense department. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen someone prepare raw meat or fish and then use the same board to make their or their kids sandwiches or something equally as stupid.

At the very least one board for raw and one for everything else. Or go completely mental like me and have a set.

Justin said:
I much prefer a proper wooden chopping board.

As do I, but all my wooden boards are for serving on, not chopping on.

And yes, that'll be my OCD kicking in again.

glitch · 16 May 2011 at 19:02

AcidHell2 said:
How many random people do you have cooking in your kitchen?

I'm talking about being in other people's kitchens and watching what they do.

glitch · 17 May 2011 at 10:54

rG-tom said:
I have the joseph joseph ones from earlier in the thread and love them bar being slightly on the small side. Noticed in john lewis today they have started doing a set that are more like a3 in size, perfect! Certainly on the to buy list.

Is that the Index Steel?

Their website has the boards down at 33.5 x 23.5 cm but the original Index doesn't seem that much smaller.

glitch · 17 May 2011 at 11:34

I've got two within striking distance, so I'll pop down and take a look for myself.

Appreciate the heads-up though, Tom!