The Best Wooden Spoons and How to Clean Them
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Our Picks For The Top Wooden Spoon & Spoon Sets
- 1. ADLORYEA BPA-Free Wooden Spoon & Spoon Set, 6-Piece
- 2. Riveira Organic Wooden Spoon & Spoon Set, 6-Piece
- 3. Zulay Kitchen Easy Clean Organic Wooden Spoon & Spoon Set, 6-Piece
- 4. Zhuoyue Natural Wooden Spoon & Spoon Set, 6-Piece
- 5. IOOLEEM Easy Clean Nonstick Wooden Spoon & Spoon Set, 6-Piece
- 6. AIUHI Non-Toxic Wooden Spoon & Spoon Set, 8-Piece
- 7. OXO 1130780 Good Grips Beech Wooden Spoon & Spoon Set, 3-Piece
- 8. IMUSA USA PAN-10011W Asian-Style Wooden Spoon & Spoon Set, 3-Piece
- 9. Folkulture Eco-Friendly Scratch-Free Wooden Spoon & Spoon Set, 5-Piece
- 10. Chef Craft Long-Lasting Wooden Spoon & Spoon Set, 3-Piece
- 11. Eddington 50002 Lightweight Handmade Wooden Spoon
The unique size of these spoons makes them perfect for both cooking and eating with. Each spoon is made by hand and finished with a natural plant oil glaze that does not come off. They are an ideal housewarming gift for friends and family.
Exquisite Grain PatternsThese stunning spoons are made with high-quality craftsmanship.
You'll love the eco-friendly construction of this bamboo wooden spoon & spoon set. Each set includes six pieces to help you stir, flip and grab your favorite foods. The pieces are non-stick, easy to clean and made to resist moisture, so you don't have to worry about the spoons deteriorating over time.
Multiple Storage OptionsIn addition to storing this wooden spoon & spoon set in a drawer or utensil holder, you can hang the pieces from the built-in holes in the handles.
This wooden spoon & spoon set is an excellent gift option for young couples who are just starting out with their first apartment or home. The set includes six pieces made from a beautiful teak wood. Not only are the utensils lightweight, but they're also scratch-resistant.
Great Starter SetA hole for hanging is built into the handle of each piece in this wooden spoon & spoon set.
The first thing you'll notice about this wooden spoon & spoon set is its smooth finish. That's because it's made from an eco-friendly bamboo. The set includes six utensils, each of which feature a hole at the end of the handle for hanging.
Great Starter SetLooking for a housewarming gift for a couple who's just starting out? This wooden spoon & spoon set is an excellent buy.
Buying Guide
Whether you’re a professional chef or a budding home cook, one of the most essential tools in your kitchen is the humble wooden spoon. They typically have a wide base, which makes it easier to move large amounts of food around in your pot or mixing bowl. The long, sturdy handle offers both control and comfort, so you can easily stir the food.
Another important task the wooden spoon helps with is scraping bits of food from the bottom of the pot. This is particularly useful when you’re deglazing the pan, making a pan sauce, or braising meat. The wooden surface is smooth so it doesn’t scratch the bottom of your metal pans. And as any good cook knows, you have to taste your food while you make it. A wooden spoon is the perfect shape to be able to lift both liquids and solids from the pot to your mouth.
Wooden Spoon Shapes and Uses
- The basic round wooden spoon is highly versatile, perfect for mixing salads, stirring soups and mixing batters. It’s the most common type of wooden spoon you will find.
- The slatted wooden spoon has vertical openings in the spoon, so liquid can drain through them. This spoon is great for stirring or scraping meals like pasta and hearty stews.
- The wooden spatula is another useful tool for your kitchen. This one is great for tossing stir-fries or making scrambled eggs.
What to Look For
- When you’re looking to buy wooden spoons, take an inventory of the cooking utensils you already have so you can purchase ones to complement your set. You’ll want to make sure you have round wooden spoons in different sizes, as well as a slatted wooden spoon and a wooden spatula. You can find sets that come with multiple types of wooden spoons, or buy each spoon individually.
- Take note of the type of wood your spoons are made out of. This will give you an idea of the quality you’ll get. Aim for wooden spoons that are made out of solid beech wood, bamboo or olive wood for the best results.
- When it comes to the handle of the wooden spoon, the optimal length is 14 inches. This is long enough so that the spoon can sit against the walls of the pot without falling completely inside. It’s also short enough that it is not cumbersome or in the way while you cook. Keep this in mind when buying your wooden spoons. One of the most frustrating things is setting your spoon up against the side of the pot and having it fall into the food.
- Depending on your kitchen setup, you may want to look for wooden spoons that have holes at the end of the handles. This will enable you to hang up your wooden spoons and easily access them while cooking.
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How to Clean Wooden Spoons Without Damaging Them
The simplest and best way to clean a wooden spoon is to hand-wash it in hot water with a mild dish soap immediately after use. Cleaning it immediately will help prevent stains from forming, especially if you’re using the wooden spoon for bright-colored sauces. Afterward, blot any excess moisture with a clean towel and then allow it to air-dry completely to prevent any moisture from getting trapped inside the porous wood material.
To disinfect a wooden spoon, you can also dip it into a glass of vinegar or a low-concentration formula with hydrogen peroxide for about five minutes after washing. (If you prefer not to soak them, you can also just give them a quick rinse with either liquid.)
Some people also swear by a popular TikTok hack that dictates you soak your wooden spoons in a glass of boiling water for 5-20 minutes or up to a few hours. This method reportedly degreases the wooden utensil as well as sanitizes it. Plus, you’ll get to watch the grease from the spoon turn the clear boiling water into a murky-colored mess.
Here’s the simple method from TikTok user Jessica Haizman:
@jessicahaizman The end result though 🤢🤢 #satisfying #deepclean #woodenspoon #thewoodenspoon #cleanhome #deepcleaning #cleantok #cleaningtok #nasty #gross #kitchen ♬ Bongo cha-cha-cha – Remastered – Caterina Valente
Lots of folks — including writers at TheKitchn and Real Homes — tried the hack as seen on TikTok, and were disgusted/fascinated with the amount of icky muck that was released from the spoons after sitting in boiling-hot water. Some people followed the sitting-in-water step with scrubbing the spoons and then allowing them to air-dry, and admittedly, the spoons do seem much cleaner after this process.
However, allowing wooden utensils to sit in piping hot water for long periods of time will shorten their lifespans. As one cleaning expert explained to Daily Express, exposing wood to moisture and heat will only encourage warping and cracking, and may lead to bacteria forming in the wood fibers.
How To Clean Stained Wooden Spoons
Foods like tomato sauce and berries can easily stain wooden spoons, and while it may look unsightly, the wooden spoons are still safe to use, even if discolored. Fortunately, the staining will also fade over time. Still, if you dislike the immediate look of food stains on your wooden spoons, you can speed up the fading process along by creating your own spoon exfoliation scrub.
To do so, you just need to grab a few items you likely already have in your pantry. Try the following methods:
- Create a salt and citrus scrub by pouring a tablespoon of salt onto the spoon. Then, use half of a cut lemon to scrub the salt over the stain to buff it away.
- Alternatively, create a paste with baking soda and water and scrub it on the stain with half of a lemon. In addition to minimizing stains, baking soda is also fantastic at neutralizing any lingering odors your wooden spoon may have absorbed.
- If the above options don’t work, and you happen to have a piece of finely-textured sandpaper laying around, you can also use this to buff and restore your wooden spoon. Not only will this help reduce staining, it will also smooth out any rough spots.
Oil Wooden Spoons To Extend Their Lifespan
Wooden spoons may become dried out or take on a fuzzy-looking appearance with a lot of use. If you notice this is the case for your spoons, it’s a great idea to season them with a food-safe mineral oil to help prevent cracking. Regular moisturizing will extend the lifespan of your spoons.
Although food oils like olive and canola are also safe to use, some experts recommend avoiding them when moisturizing wooden utensils because the oils may become rancid over time.
Many foodies also swear by wood balm as the best way to deep-condition wooden utensils (and cutting boards) and keep them in rotation for years. This Lancaster Cast Iron Wood Wax is made from beeswax and mineral oil, which will hydrate the wood and prevent cracking.
How Often Should You Replace Wooden Spoons?
Wooden spoons can dry and crack over time, even with proper care and regular moisturizing. That should be your cue to throw them out and replace them with a fresh set.
Although wood contains natural antibacterial properties, mold is also an issue to watch for. Mold can form on a wooden spoon that was left soaking in water for an extended period of time or on spoons that were put away without being thoroughly dried. So, if you notice any black spots or soft areas on your wooden utensils, that’s another indication that it’s time to throw your spoons away. As a general rule, you may want to think about replacing your wooden spoons every five years or so.
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