I’ve read or heard that using walnut in a cutting board may not be the best practice because some people can be allergic to the wood and since the knife may run through the wood then through the food it could get into the food.
First question, is this true and if so, what is the commonly reffered to percentage of the population that this effects?
Now, I’m not planning on using the wood on a cutting board, but I’d like to use it in a segmented salad bowl. Since the walls of a bowl don’t see many knives in their life, would I have the same problem as in the cutting boards?
Also, are there any others woods that would not be suitable, because of allergies, for use in cutting boards and and salad bowls?
Thanks,
Adam
Replies
Out in Missouri they make beautiful walnut salad bowls. I think people who might have nut allergies just don't buy nut wood bowls. Go for it.
Agree with Gretchen on this one. Walnut kitchenware is quite a cottage industry in Lake of the Ozarks region. I have a complete collection due to trips to Iowa w/ wife no. #2, including the big walnut fork and big walnut spoon. Jon will probably chime in with the "stick to maple" line. I'll toast him with a bowl of cornflakes in my big walnut salad bowl.
The irritating compounds in walnut aren't all that irritating nor all that soluble, and salad wetted with salad dressing is only in the bowl for a brief period. I wouldn't worry about it.
There is no science in this answer but I am allergic to eating tree nuts but work with walnut all the time and it doesn't bother me. I have read that the irritants and herbicidal agents are not water soluble (which is why you don't put walnut shavings in your garden compost) so I agree with the other posts that there is PROBABLY little danger. Of course, you should identify the wood type so the buyers can make their own judgement.
Norse
I work with walnut a lot. I have a waiting list for the sawdust/shavings to use as garden compost. And love walnut as the dark wood in cutting boards and salad bowls.
The story put together from a lot of different sources, that seem to be confirmed in practice, is that the material in walnut prevents germination of seeds, but not the growth of plants. So people with rose gardens, where weeds grow from seeds and the "good" plants are normally transplanted, LOVE the walnut as compost. We have used some on ordinary shrubs around our house, and 90% of the weeds are gone, with no apparent impact on the landscaping. A physician uses it under his kid's swing set.
Too much of anything can hurt you, including too much dust while sanding any wood, but I wouldn't worry more about the walnut.
________________________
Charlie Plesums Austin, Texas
http://www.plesums.com/wood
I just now finished cutting up 16 lbs of lamb and 10 lbs of beef chuck (to grind for hamburger) on a walnut cutting board (mineral oil finish) I made 10-12 yrs ago and have used continually. So far it hasn"t bothered me or anyoune who ate the meat or veggies prepared on it.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled