Had a huge pork belly slip on me during a big catering order

I was breaking down a 15-pound pork belly for a wedding order at my shop in Tacoma, and the whole thing slid right off the block onto the floor. I had to stop everything, scrub it down, and start over with a fresh piece, which set me back almost two hours. Has anyone else had a close call like that with a big, slick cut, and what do you do to keep things secure?

3 comments

3 Comments

mila_brown102mo ago

My old boss in Seattle swore by a damp kitchen towel under the cutting board.

wesley3852mo ago

My buddy Dave in Phoenix tried that damp towel trick last year. He was slicing a big watermelon and the whole board slid right off the counter, towel and all. It made a huge mess on his kitchen floor. Honestly, I'm with @susanm56 on the shelf liner, that stuff really locks it down. I just keep a square of it in the same drawer as my knives so I see it every time. The damp towel seems like it would work until you get something really heavy or wet on there.

susanm562mo ago

Oh man, that's the worst feeling! I've definitely been there, doing a clumsy dance trying to catch a giant, greasy piece of meat with my bare hands. My own trick is putting a piece of that grippy shelf liner under the board, but half the time I forget to use it because I'm in a rush. Then I'm just hoping for the best while I cut, which is a terrible plan. What do you usually have under your cutting block to stop the slide?