However, research suggests wooden spoons are safe to use in your kitchen. Yes, wood is porous, and it may draw in liquids and oils from the food you’re cooking. … The best way to eliminate bacteria from the surface of a spoon—wooden or otherwise—is to wash it after cooking with soap and hot water.
Why we should not use wooden utensils for cooking?
While they are strong and sturdy, they can crack over time if they’re exposed to high heat for long periods of time. The drying cycle, in particular, poses a threat to the longevity of a wooden spoon. Food particles can embed into the cracks, which can cause bacteria to grow.
Do wooden utensils harbor bacteria?
Wooden utensils are also among the best tools to be used on nonstick cookware, as they won’t scratch the coating like metal utensils might. When they’re made, most wooden spoons, utensils and cutting boards are treated with mineral oils, which creates an inert, neutral surface that will not allow bacteria to reside.
Are wooden spoons toxic?
Oxo Wooden Spoons. Oxo’s 3-pack of wooden spoons is an affordable, classic, and non-toxic alternative to plastic utensils.
Why are wooden spoons bad?
Don’t use olive oil or vegetable oil because they can make wood musty. When you see wooden spoons or cutting boards be cracked, you need to remove them. It’s necessary to throw them away because food can be stuck in the cracks. … Wooden tools also can absorb smell from food with a strong smell like garlic or oil.
Which wood is best for cooking utensils?
The best are hard, lightweight, durable woods, like beech, maple, or (the new eco-friendly favorite of many manufacturers) bamboo. Wood isn’t only naturally a little giving, but also softer on the hands, and, with time, it will slowly conform to the shape of your hand and pot.
Why do chefs use wooden spoons?
By consistently cooking the same recipe with the same wooden spoon, the wood may absorb the flavors of the dish and its ingredients. This is believed by many chefs to add a special, magical quality to the dish and ensures that the taste and quality remain perfect every time.
How do you disinfect wooden spoons?
Sanitize your wooden spoons.
To sanitize your spoons, first clean the spoons with warm, soapy water. Next, lay the spoons on a flat surface — such as a clean baking sheet — and pour 3 percent hydrogen peroxide over them. Wait fifteen minutes, rinse the spoons off and hang them to dry.
When should you throw away wooden spoons?
Though their ability to limit the spread of germs means wood products are safer to use over a longer period than their plastic counterparts, they don’t last forever. According to The Kitchn, you can tell it’s time to toss your wood utensils and cutting boards as soon as cracks start to appear.
Do wooden spoons scratch Teflon?
Wooden Cooking Utensils
Wooden spoons, feature rounded edges and are comfortable to grip. These tools are soft enough that they won’t harm your non stick pans but sturdy enough that they last a lifetime.
What are the healthiest cooking utensils?
Instead choose stable materials such as: wood, bamboo, silicone or stainless steel. The safest materials for cookware and bakeware include: glass, high quality 304 grade stainless steel, cast iron and Xtrema ceramic cookware.
Is wood or silicone utensils better?
Wood’s a bit harder than silicone, so you might have an easier time scraping with a wooden stirrer than a silicone one, but silicone is a whole lot easier to wash and care for, so if you’re not really used to wood, and you’re not particularly nostalgic, it’s a good alternative.
Should you boil wooden spoons?
Back in 2016, Matt Preston shared with delicious.com.au a handy hack for cleaning your wooden spoons. In the story, Matt suggested soaking your wooden spoons in a cup of boiling water for around 20 minutes to help release oils and liquids that have been absorbed into the wood.
Is it better to cook with wooden spoons?
Benefits. Wooden spoons are soft and gentle on cooking surfaces, meaning they won’t scratch your cast iron skillets and stainless steel pots. They also don’t make that metal scraping on metal sound—the one that tends to offset the otherwise peaceful nature of stirring.
How often should I oil my wooden spoons?
Oil repels water and the more oil you have in the pores of your wooden utensil, the less water they want to soak up. Oil basically reduces the number of times your utensil goes through that wet/dry cycle and reduces the severity of the cycle too. How often do I oil my own utensils? About once every 6 months.
Are wooden spoons better than metal?
Wooden spoons don’t quickly heat to scalding temperatures, chemically react with acidic foods, or scratch pots and bowls, as their metal counterparts do. They don’t melt or leach chemicals or strange tastes into hot foods as plastic does. A wooden spoon can be used to stir any dish in any type of vessel.