How To Clean Wooden Spoons?

Everyone loves a versatile wooden spoon. Still, these lovely tools need care. Wood is organic matter, and it has its own set of problems.

Learning how to clean wooden spoons will extend your utensils’ life and ensure you cook with them safely. Here’s how to take care of wooden spoons.

Why Use Wooden Spoons?

Wooden spoons are a traditional kitchen utensil predating their metallic counterparts for millennia. Wood is a reliable, resistant and versatile material that can become the most useful kitchen utensils. It’s easy to see why so many people have at least one wooden spoon in their kitchen drawer.

Wood, though, is a unique material. It is porous and absorbs moisture. This means you must know how to clean a wooden spoon to ensure it’s still usable after many years. Most importantly, keeping your wooden spoons clean will protect you and your loved ones from foodborne diseases.

Here’s all you need to know about wooden spoons and how to clean them. These rustic utensils are not for everyone, but there’s no doubt they’re a joy to use.

How To Clean Wooden Spoons?

Photo By Canva

The best way to clean your wooden spoons is to take care of them diligently before, during and after cooking.

• Wipe. Wipe wooden spoons with a clean paper towel after every use, preventing stains and excess moisture. Use and wipe; make it a habit.
• Wash. Wash wooden spoons by hand with a soft sponge and odorless dish soap. Wash the handle, too, and ensure you scrape off any stubborn food.
• Air dry. Place your washed wooden spoons in a drying rack with the handle facing down. Don’t store the utensils until they’re completely dry.
• Don’t soak wooden spoons or leave them in the sink overnight; this will only make the wood absorb water and cause mold and bacterial problems.
• Avoid using chloride or strong detergents to clean wooden utensils, as they might damage the wood.

Can I Put Wooden Spoons in the Dishwasher?

Although nowadays dishwashers are sophisticated, they’re not ideal for cleaning all utensils. Sadly, wooden spoons are not dishwasher safe, not because they don’t get cleaned, but because they are porous, and dishwashers are best for cleaning the surface of non-porous materials.

Then there’s the heat. Dishwashers work at elevated temperatures, and such temperatures can cause wood to warp or crack. Of course, this won’t happen every time and to every spoon, but the dishwasher will take a toll on your wooden utensils.

Clean your wooden utensils after every use, wash them by hand and keep them from soaking. Follow these steps, and you won’t need to use the dishwasher. Now, if you’re in a hurry or must deal with dozens of spoons after, let’s say, a catering event or a big dinner party, the dishwasher is okay as long as you don’t make it a habit.

Are Wooden Spoons Safe?

Wooden spoons might look and feel pretty, and there’s nothing wrong with using them, as long as you take care of them. Having said that, international hygiene standards for the food industry are not all that into wooden utensils. After all, wood is porous, and commercial kitchens might be too busy to take care of their utensils as they should.

Wooden spoons are a big no-no in restaurants and commercial kitchens to prevent foodborne diseases, even if such cases are rare. When spoons are not properly dried after washing, they can accumulate mold, fungi and bacteria, and these microorganisms can find their way into our food.

If used in a restaurant environment, wooden utensils must be replaced often, but it’s better to do without them. There’s no problem with having a few wooden spoons as long as you care for them at home.

Other Maintenance Tips

Here are a few extra tips to keep your wooden spoons as good as new:

• Remove odors by scraping the utensils with moist baking soda. Scrub the spoons and rinse them with fresh water. The air dry is as usual.
• Sanitize your wooden spoons once a week with hydrogen peroxide or regular food disinfectant in a quick soak of no more than 10-15 minutes. Rinse and air dry after disinfecting.
• Treat the wood with beeswax, grapeseed oil or mineral oil if it appears dry. Don’t use commercial wood polishing agents or cooking oil. Use dedicated oils.
• Sand wooden spoons if they splinter and rinse them immediately to eliminate wood dust. Avoid sanding too often since you’re literally thinning the utensils, making them more fragile.
• Store unused wooden spoons in a cool dark place that’s not too dry nor too moist, and ensure you store them away from direct sunlight or a heat source.

How To Keep Wooden Spoons from Cracking?

Preventing wooden spoons from cracking is paramount and easier than you think. For starters, treat your wooden utensils differently than your metallic ones; keep them separately and don’t just throw them in a box or a cabinet, have a place for them.

Don’t wash wooden spoons in the dishwasher, and clean them after every use. The secret behind long-lasting wooden spoons is taking care of them every time you use them and keeping them safe while you aren’t.

Wash your wooden spoons by hand, oil and sand them regularly, and keep them away from excessive heat or dry conditions. Follow the tips above, and you’ll be able to pass your wooden spoons from generation to generation — that’s the beauty of it. Food tastes better when cooked with the family’s spoons!

Wooden Utensils Are Awesome

There’s no doubt wooden spoons make cooking more enjoyable. The rustic utensils might not add flavor to the food, but they surely give it a special touch. And now that you know if wooden spoons are for you and how to keep them in good shape, there’s no reason not to have your favorite spoon around.

Knowing how to clean a wooden spoon is a step in the right direction in terms of hygiene and food safety, and following similar rules with the rest of your utensils and cooking equipment will make you feel more comfortable in the kitchen.

Wooden spoons might not be for everyone, but they’re loved by millions worldwide in a tradition that goes back at least a few thousand years. Cooking is also about keeping such traditions alive, and you’re doing your part by keeping your wooden spoons in ideal conditions.

Check out our other posts:

• What Is a Kumquat & How To Eat Them?
• What Is The Flexitarian Diet?
• 5+ Ways To Cook Corn on the Cob