Plastic and Wooden Cutting Boards

There are a lot of us that love to cook in the comfort of our own home. From cutting up fresh vegetables and/or meats, to make a homemade meal, or just slicing some fruit to enjoy as a snack. For those people who find themselves in the kitchen often, it's probably a good idea to have a good, long lasting cutting board. A lot of people when shopping just choose one and don't really consider the differences between the types.

When people are looking to purchase a cutting board, there are two main types that are found; plastic and wooden. Some argue that plastic is a better choice, because they are easy to clean and often cheaper. Others argue that the wood that tends to develop heavy knife scarring is easier to clean and disinfect than a heavily knife-scarred plastic board, which could be linked to the wood's "self healing" properties. Choosing plastic or wood that is easy to clean and isn't hazardous to your knives is important when looking for long term use. Since there are different kinds, they will have different qualities. Having one that is non slip and durable is also helpful, as to prevent any accidents that may occur.

Plastic cutting boards tend to be inexpensive and lightweight. Because plastic always seems to be the cheaper route, it is practical to buy more than one to be used for separate food preparation. Plastic boards come in a variety of colors shapes and sizes, if matching to your home decor is of importance. But, since they are plastic, they may not carry a long life span. The deep scarring from knives that accumulate over time and use can also make it difficult to clean and get rid of bacteria.

When looking at the types of wooden cutting boards, you want to keep in mind there is a type of wood that is known to be ideal for kitchen cooking purposes. Teak wood can be great for kitchen use, since teak wood is known for resisting moisture and bacteria growth. The reason for this is its naturally high oil content. So a wooden board butcher block, or carving board could be a good choice for sustaining an extended amount of kitchen wear and tear. Many famous chefs use teak wood boards for the way they repel moisture, warping and their stability and longevity. The difference with wooden boards is the maintenance. But, by taking proper care of the teak of your choice, you can extend the life of a cutting board or wooden block. Correct treatment is important to guard against the germs, mold growth, and splitting of cutting boards.

Hotel Supplies for the Professional

There is a great deal of hard work and effort which goes into running a successful hotel, from organising the staff, managing the bookings and looking after the guests. One of the most important elements of hotel management is staying on top of the hotel supplies, whether looking for the best guest toiletries to dressing the bathrooms.

Hotel lobbies and restaurants should offer guests a warm welcome in their décor. Hotel bedrooms should also leave a good impression on guests, and it is important that a guest's hotel bedroom and bathroom be presented well. Naturally, this includes keeping it spotless, but how it is dressed is also essential to their experience.

To help deliver the room in the best possible way, there is a range of hotel supplies to help. Most commonly of course, it is essential that the basics are provided, such as kettles, hangers, irons, hair dryers and so forth. However, adding a few more details such as offering slippers and bathrobes can also help create the right atmosphere.

In the bathroom too, the first impression is all important. This includes, once again, making sure that the basics are provided. This means that stocks of toilet tissues, sanitary bags and dispensers, as well as essential bathroom accessories such as bath mats and shower curtains, are always included when ordering in hotel supplies.

Taking care of the more luxurious elements of the bathroom is also important, for example, by looking after guests with toiletries that are well-suited to the environment and setting. Today, there are many different types of toiletries to choose from too, from basic yet classic, affordable ranges to high-end products with herbal extracts and scents for guests to luxuriate in.

As vital as it is to present guest rooms well with accessories and toiletries, so too is it important to ensure all areas of the hotel are clean and tidy at all times. Though not the most glamorous part of running a hotel, its housekeeping and cleaning is the most essential, to maintain standards as well as provide a healthy and hygienic environment for guests and staff.

At every level, it is essential that hotel supplies used for the cleaning and upkeep of the hotel are in good supply. This includes the fundamentals such as the cleaning products, wipes, rubber gloves and the like. However, it is also essential that the housekeeping trolleys are suited to the task, with enough features and space to hold everything needed to clean and redress a room.

In a similar fashion, it is important that vacuum cleaners perform well and are as advanced as possible. Mops too, for hard floors, should be well maintained and replaced often, to ensure they are as effective as possible throughout the hotel. Supplies of dusters too should be kept in good supply as they are used and worn out regularly.

Every hotelier is well aware of just how much work goes into running a hotel. However, like many things, the work involved can sometimes only really be fully understood when things go wrong. This can easily be seen even when there is just one mistake made in not ordering enough hotel supplies.

Cook Like a Pro With a Baker's Scale

You probably already realize you need a baker's scale. The trouble is you may not yet be familiar with all of the options available. In fact, you may not even be aware of what comes in your basic model. Getting a better understanding of these will help you make an informed decision as a consumer and a baker.

Here are some quick tips to consider as you begin to get an understanding of what these scales are and what they can be used to do:

• The more baking you do the more important it is to have one of these. Some bakers may need this for every ingredient they use. Even if you only need it for a few ingredients, when you need it nothing else provides the same type of accuracy.

• One major decision you will have to make about your scale is whether you want to go digital or not. Some baker's prefer the accuracy of the digital reader for the results. Other bakers prefer the more old fashioned approach to reading the scale and feel there is less chance for error this way. The choice is entirely up to you.

• Calibrating is a huge part of making sure your results are accurate. Digital models do not require this task, while other styles do. Keeping your readings accurate with scales that are not digital relies on the calibration.

• It is also important to keep your scale clean. Whenever possible, most bakers use a material such as wax paper in the base of the scale to keep it clean. Either way you will still need to wipe it down regularly for cleanliness and accuracy as well as to avoid food contamination. Every scale comes complete with cleaning instructions based on the materials involved with construction of the device.

• If you plan on using your scale only at home, you may not need a larger scale. For those who are planning to use theirs in a commercial environment, it may be a better idea to get a more industrial sized one. For anyone just starting out with baking scales, they are probably better in a smaller size at first.

• If you look after proper maintenance, cleaning and care, you should be able to get a long life out of your scale. For this reason you may want to invest a little more upfront in order to have a solid and reliable device that can last for years to come. If you settle for anything too cheap, you may be replacing it before you have even truly learned to use it.

The bottom line is that with some research you can see all the different styles available. Pick the baker's scale you think is right for whatever you intend to use it to do. Most importantly, take good care of it so you can get years of use from it.

Top Ten Essential Kitchen Utensils

A yummy food is just as good as the components you create it with and the same goes for your home; after all, the kitchen area which contains only empty compartments plus a microwave oven will probably be useless for any wannabe cook. Bag these must-have kitchen utensils, stat, for an unmatched cooking experience.

The whisk

The whisk is a must have cooking equipment for any inexperienced cook; suitable for whisking up sauces, desserts, whipping cream, mixing gravy and more, it's likely to beat (ha!) a stir with the fork hands down every single time.

The cheese grater

If you love tasty new cheese together with your best potato, pasta or pizza dish (as well as beans on toast!) then you definitely need a cheese grater in the kitchen equipment cabinet. Certain cheese graters also provide individual blades for peeling oranges and citrus fruits, creating bread crumbs, grating carrots and more. What a versatile cooking equipment!

The single-handed colander

Stop dangerous occasions holding the saucepan lid down firm when you try to empty your pasta or rice; the single-handed colander is the cooking utensil to end all draining dilemmas.

The garlic press

When you like garlicky food (we're presuming this just valid for non-vampires!) then a garlic press is a certain must. This brilliant kitchen utensil squeezes all of that tasty garlic juice from the cloves, putting an end to garlicky fingers - but not, of course, garlicky breath.

The ladle

The ladle is among the most conventional and useful kitchen utensils; great for offering sauces, soups and many more, it's simply the bad boy in the spoon world.

The spatula

Elegant mixing, distributing or raising food easily? Therefore introducing the spatula, a fundamental necessity for every kitchen utensil drawer.

The rolling pin

You'll never realise how tough creating a pie crust is until you attempt to get it done without a rolling pin. Ever hopeful baker needs to get their (oven) mitts on this old school cooking utensil.

The pestle and mortar

If your meals need a fusion of herbs and spices, then you need to make such as the major chefs and secure yourself your own mortar and pestle. A handy addition to the kitchen utensil cupboard, it's the best way to create your personal spices from scratch.

The vegetable peeler

The name says it all; the vegetable peeler is the cooking utensil to put an end to hours spend chipping away at potato skins with a dull butter knife.

The tongs

One of the handiest kitchen utensils around, the tongs are great for serving food like salads, for switching hot meals underneath the grill, to pick up warm pieces of food and even for reaching things on top of the cabinet that one could never wish to reach otherwise. What is tong with this?

Choosing the best cooking equipment will help you effectively when it come to food preparation. There are many services that can provide great equipments and you just need to visit this page.

Getting Started in the Kitchen

If you love to cook or are looking to set up your own catering business, it is essential that you have to correct equipment to complete each task in the kitchen with ease, precision and health in mind; after all you are dealing with food. There are a couple of key factors to consider when the time arrives that you must collect a variety of cooking utensils to help you get started in the kitchen.

Hygiene is perhaps the most important factor when you decide to set up your own business in catering or want to cook food for your friends and family. To ensure everybody that you feed is free from harm, it is vital that you work in a clean and tidy workplace that is regularly cleaned to ensure germs and contamination are kept at a minimum. Simple things such as washing your hands regularly, using disposable packaging to prevent germs building up and using quality cleaning products to make sure all of your work surfaces, including the floor, are free from bacteria and dirt.

Following on from hygiene, it is essential to have a knife set that provides you with a special knife for all of your needs in the kitchen. So whether you are cutting up a tough piece of meat or chopping a baguette into segments, you should own the appropriate knife to help you complete the task with ease and precision. Some catering suppliers have different coloured handles on their knives to indicate the use of each one. Also, making sure your knives are in pristine condition to ensure you get the most out of your equipment is vital so investing in a sharpener is highly recommended.

Safety is also an issue when working in the kitchen which is why a set of rules should be put into place to ensure maximum safety for yourself and your employees. Having professional chef clothing such as hair nets and aprons will help you to stay clean and safe whilst reinforcing hygiene issues. The kitchen should also be easy to move around in and not have obstacles that could be a possible fire hazard or put any person present in the kitchen in any danger.

By taking these issues into consideration you will be able to set up a safe and happy working environment. Once you have everything covered, you can begin to expand your basic catering equipment collection and invest in some professional utensils that you will use on a daily basis.

Samantha Brown is an experienced author who specialises in catering and enjoys sharing her thoughts and interests with you. The websites recommended by Samantha have been chosen by herself from her own personal experiences. Take a look at catering supplies and buy online today.