Introducing Bamboo into the Kitchen
Sunday, May 15th, 2011Bamboo is perhaps the most useful renewable resource we have because it is so versatile and has a number of properties that are useful. It is thus very good green sense to introduce bamboo into your kitchen. This post will look at ways that this can be achieved.
There are over 1,000 varieties of bamboo and they all grow quickly. Some take only 3 months to reach maturity. The widely used moso bamboo takes 5 to 7 years to reach full height. This makes bamboo a great renewable resource. It is a hard material that has a Janka Hardness equal to that of many hardwoods. Bamboo can also be carved and worked like wood and thus it is ideal for making bamboo kitchen utensils.
Commonly available bamboo kitchen equipment includes bamboo chopping boards, bamboo drawer organizers, bamboo serving utensils, bamboo bowls, bamboo tongs and bamboo knife blocks. You can also find placemats and drink coasters made of bamboo. And then there’s bamboo kitchen furniture.
Bamboo is hardwearing and durable and will stand up to the rigors of being used in the kitchen. It also has a natural grain and soft honey color that means it isn’t stained or dyed. Darker bamboo is natural – the bamboo is just heated to caramelize the sugars and turn the bamboo a deeper color. Moreover, bamboo is naturally antimicrobial and anti fungal and so helps to improve the hygiene of a kitchen.
Another interesting property of bamboo is that in charcoal form it can be used as an effective air freshener. Bamboo charcoal also helps to regulate humidity in a room. In Japan bamboo charcoal is used on faucet filters because the bamboo charcoal is great at absorbing unwanted chlorine and other chemicals from water.
Finally bamboo vinegar makes an excellent organic and safe cleaner for the kitchen. It can also be diluted and sprayed on plants to act as a natural fertilizer and pesticide.
If you want to make your kitchen a more environmentally friendly place and a healthier place for the family then a good way to start is to introduce bamboo products.