Whenever I try to cook some dinner and I get the chicken out of the freeze, I have to think twice if I really want to undergo the messy process of chopping it up into smaller pieces.
I have a butchers knife and a wooden chopping board. Whenever I swing my knife on it, it make a loud noise and the whole kitchen counter feels like it took the hit and shakes a little bit.
I feel bad because I think my neighbors can hear that and it might bother them. I use small hand towels underneath the chopping board to absorb some of the shock from the knife.
Is there any other solutions to this so that I can just cut the chicken more efficiently without banging on the kitchen counter too much? Is there some kind of shock absorbing mat that I can use beneath my chopping board?
Best Answer
Plan a bit ahead. Move the chicken from the freezer to the fridge the night before, so it's thawed (or at least not rock-hard) when it's time to cut it. Or if for some reason that won't work, thaw it at least partially under running water.
Beyond that, make sure your knife is sharp, so you're not having to spend more effort than you should. With thawed meat and a sharp knife, you shouldn't need violent swings of your knife.
To answer the actual question you asked, a kitchen towel (or several layered) will dampen impact on the counter some. And you might find that different parts of the counter rattle less, or even try cutting on your table. But I'd really suggest avoiding having to whack it hard enough to make the counter shake in the first place!