The first step in sauteeing your food is to cut whatever you’re going to saute into uniform, bite-size pieces…
And unless you totally want to ruin both your countertops and your knives, it is very important to invest in a decent cutting board.
As you are shopping for your new cutting board, it is important to consider several things—such as size, maintenance, material, and cost.
Size…As far as size, I have found that it is smart to have at least two different sized cutting boards—a small one for cutting up fruit and small vegetables—such as strawberries, lemons, and limes…and a larger one for everything else.
As far as the larger cutting board, a general rule of thumb is to buy a board that measures 15″x20″.
You should be able to lay your knife diagonally on your cutting board and have at least 1″-2″ on either side of the knife.
Buying such a large board is great for several reasons, including…
- allowing you to better control the board as well as the knife
- being more comfortable in general
- giving you plenty of room to work safely and effectively
- making cutting both easier and safer