Disinfect Plastic Cutting Boards In The Microwave

Most of our slicing and dicing in the kitchen is done on our wood cutting board. We do still have a plastic one around for a spare and until now have been quite confident in our ability to keep it clean using soap and water. Recently we learned a new trick that will not only clean our boards but guarantee that they're disinfected as well.

Real Simple shared this tip and since it was one we hadn't heard before, we thought it might be new to you as well. They say that rubbing a plastic cutting board with the cut side of a lemon and then putting it in the microwave will disinfect it of all its lovely bacteria. That is, if your cutting board fits in your microwave.

• Check out their other 14 tips on their list of surprising uses for the microwave, although we think you'll find you already know most of them.

(Images: GE via Appliancist; Rick Lew for Real Simple)

Comments (5)

Hopefully I will have a big enough microwave some day to use this tip. In the meantime, I soak my plastic cutting boards in a bleach and water mix for 60 seconds on each side to kill germs. Then I wash the board with hot soapy water.
Works for me!

posted by Teacherteacher on October 26th 2009 at 2:04pm
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I spray vinegar and then hydrogen peroxide onto contaminated cutting boards and counter tops. Be sure to read about it first if you want to use this method- it's important to keep them in separate spray bottles!
http://www.michaelandjudystouffer.com/judy/articles/vinegar.htm

posted by Meghann on October 26th 2009 at 5:52pm
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I rinse my plastic cutting boards as soon as I've finished using them, and then soak them in hot, soapy water while doing the rest of my dishes. I think they come out pretty clean.

posted by SarahBerneche on October 26th 2009 at 6:41pm
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How long do you nuke it? I'm confused. What about dioxins?

posted by peapod23 on October 27th 2009 at 12:28pm
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I run mine through the dishwasher.

posted by Paladin on October 27th 2009 at 5:08pm
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