The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Bread Board

oskar270's picture
oskar270

Bread Board

I want to stop using the kitchen table top to make my breads but don't want either to invest big $$ for a bread board.

What kind bread board are you using? Is it a good idea to use a piece of plywood covered with oak vaneer or arborite?

 

flournwater's picture
flournwater

I'm not familiar with "arborite" but if it's a food safe non-absorbant material it should work fine.  Frankly, I'd probably opt for a maple veneer plywood (well seasoned with a good quality food grade oil) with a hard wood cleat attached to one side so it didn't slide on the counter top (my big belly will hold it in place) while I'm working with it.

oskar270's picture
oskar270

Sounds good, thanks for your time

Jahosacat's picture
Jahosacat

I found a nice size wood cutting baord at a garage sale that works great for me. I use it for rolling pie custs and cookies, too. The garage sale was in my neighborhood, so, I trust the family I bought it from.

Ambimom's picture
Ambimom

If you have a TJMaxx, Homegoods, or Marshall's near you, they have extra large bamboo cutting boards that work great.  They cost about $10.

flournwater's picture
flournwater

I'd go for that.  Easier than cutting and pasting up a bunch of pieces of wood.  Nice idea Ambimom.

Elagins's picture
Elagins

is that it starts to delaminate and throw off splinters the minute it gets wet ... same for veneers, unless they're very well sealed and glued with a waterproof glue. if you're not going with a regular bench board, i'd suggest a piece of cabinet-grade birch plywood.

Stan Ginsberg
www.nybakers.com

dasmueller's picture
dasmueller

New York Bakers has alder boards but they are going to run you more than the $10 bamboo boards mentioned by Ambimom above.  Our kitchen has built in bread boards in the cabinets that pull out for use which is a great idea for anyone doing a kitchen makeover. I remade one a few years back out of 1" thick cherry w a brazilian rosewood cleat on the end. The old soft pine had been used for so long to also cut bread that it was shot. The new one is great.

Doc Tracy's picture
Doc Tracy

I've found that my best board is actually a particle board that was given to me for my wedding. It wasn't cheap. It's a huge, lightweight board from Sur La Table or Crate and Barrel. (not sure which, I was registered at both). It doesn't warp like real wood.

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

Why do you want to stop using the kitchen table top to make breads?

Mini

oskar270's picture
oskar270

My kitchen table is a good antique table set with a painted white glossy surface like a glass.

I started for the fun of it making bread and the table was fine but now that I enjoy bread making I would like not to damage the table top especially when I cut the dough with a sharp knife.

Thank you all for your ideas

 

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

Designed for abuse.  Ok, I understand.  What do you think about a large piece of teflon? With a tablecloth between, the table stays lovely and surface can be cut into.   Could even be cut to size and they come in colors too! 

I've got a table with glass, and the wood below gives up paint chips.  I use teflon and plastic bench scrapers to prevent scratching the glass but I wouldn't call it ideal.  I do make use of large flat plastic bowls.  You could also use glass but that costs $$$.  Whatever you decide it should be something you can clean easily and sanitize if needed.

Mini

Mebake's picture
Mebake

I bought my wooden bench from IKEA, it cost me around 13$. It warps with excess moisture however.

 

oskar270's picture
oskar270

Lots of usefull ideas, now I have to decide which one to go for

Thank you all for your tiem

 

Barbarainnc's picture
Barbarainnc

go to www.fantes.com and click on Pastry Boards. I got the largest one. Cheaper than buying a new table to work on. :) :) :)

oskar270's picture
oskar270

Finally I got a good piece of "bread board" for $5.00

My local Home Depot has a bin of scrap pieces next to where they do the cutting for customers. I found there a piece of kitchen counter 24"x 36"; it is particle board covered with melamine and although it is bigger than I wanted it serves me ok.

When not in use, I put it against the side of my fridge in the kitchen and you can hardly notice it.

Particle board does not like water so after I finish my bread business and wash the board, I have to be careful not to wet too much the edges and leave it on the kitchen table so all edges dry well.