- Never expose wooden utensils to open flames or direct heat from grills.
- Always hand-wash wooden utensils to avoid warping and splitting.
- Proper drying and occasional oiling will extend their lifespan significantly.
Quality wooden utensils—from spoons and spatulas to tongs and ladles—are built to take a beating in the kitchen. That means you can use them to prepare and cook all kinds of foods, and even store them haphazardly without worrying about compromising their functionality and longevity. Still, there are a few rather common mistakes that can ruin your wooden utensils. To help you avoid these mistakes, EatingWell tapped a master woodworker, Brad Bernhart, CEO and founder of Earlywood Designs, to learn his top tips for keeping your tools in tip-top shape.
Mistake 1: Exposing Wooden Utensils To Flames
This might seem like an obvious mistake, but many wooden utensils have quite literally gone up in flames when exposed to direct heat. So while you can use them in high-heat cooking scenarios like frying, they should never come into contact with fire. In other words, never use your wooden utensils to flip foods on gas and propane grills or to grab foods you might char directly atop stove grates (think tortillas and peppers).
The Fix: Opt for stainless-steel utensils when cooking on direct heat.
Mistake 2: Washing Wooden Utensils in the Dishwasher
There’s no doubt that everyone appreciates the convenience that dishwashers provide, but that doesn’t mean that all kitchenware can safely make it through a cycle. “Putting wooden utensils in the dishwasher is OK if… you are OK with your utensils looking horrible, warping, splitting, getting rough and needing replacement decades sooner than if you wash them by hand,” says Bernhart. “Dishwashers create prolonged exposure to heat, water and soaps. Eventually, dishwashers leach natural colors and oils from the surface of wood, actually making your utensils more likely to harbor bacteria!”
The Fix: To avoid damaging your wooden utensils when it comes time to clean up, wash them by hand using warm, soapy water and the proper cleaning tools (more on this later).
Mistake 3: Soaking Wooden Utensils in Water
Bernhart says hardly any foods are off limits when using wooden utensils, but some foods can leave behind odors and stains, like beets and curries. When that happens, it’s common for people to think that the fix is to soak the utensils. This method can help lift some of the odors and stains, but it can also do a lot of damage in the process. “Plain and simple, the more times your wooden utensils get wet and then dry, the sooner they will start cracking. Wood gets bigger as water soaks into its pores and cells. When it dries, it shrinks back down to its original size. This process is hard on all parts of a piece of wood and will eventually cause an early demise,” explains Bernhart.
The Fix: The easy solution is simply not allowing your wooden utensils to soak in water—or in any liquid for that matter (yes, even in a pot of soup).
Mistake 4: Using The Wrong Tools To Clean Wooden Utensils
It may feel intuitive to use a soft sponge to clean your wooden utensils, but Bernhart says just as he uses sandpaper in his shop to make utensils smooth, comfortable and safe, you should be using a scratchy tool at home to clean them. “The scratchy side of a sponge is also abrasive, just less so than sandpaper. Every time you use the scratchy side of your sponge to clean wood utensils, you are removing bacteria, odors and stains while also very lightly sanding the utensil.”
The Fix: Use the rough side of a sponge or a dish cleaning brush with stiff bristles to clean your wooden utensils. For deep odors and stains, apply a paste made with baking soda and water, scrub with a halved lemon, then rinse thoroughly.
Mistake 5: Not Allowing Wooden Utensils To Properly Dry
After you’ve taken the time to clean your wooden utensils by hand, you can still ruin them if you don’t allow them to properly dry. “It’s always best to dry your utensils in a position where both sides get air. If one side stays wet and the other dries, the utensil will warp,” says Bernhart. As far as where you choose to store them afterward, a utensil crock is ideal, but they’ll also be fine tossed into a drawer alongside other wooden kitchen tools.
The Fix: “If this happens, simply turn the utensil over for a few hours, and you’ll be good to go again,” says Bernhart. Even better: dry the utensils with a dishcloth, then place them in a well-ventilated area to finish drying—preferably in a position where they will have as little contact with surfaces as possible, like standing upright in the cutlery basket of a dish-drying rack.
Mistake 6: Not Periodically Maintaining Wooden Utensils
While Bernhart says that wooden utensils don’t require oiling as often as most people might think, it is a necessary step for prolonging the longevity and overall performance of your tools. Skipping this step can lead to drying, cracking and splintering, as well as increased absorption of foods and bacteria. Conversely, oiling your utensils creates not only a beautiful shine but also a protective barrier, which can reduce expansion and contraction.
The Fix: To help properly maintain your wood utensils, use a soft, clean cloth to rub them liberally with a food-grade oil—such as mineral oil, which is a top choice for superior hydration and for avoiding an after odor and taste. Any excess oil can be gently wiped off after you’ve allowed the utensils to absorb the oil for a few hours or overnight. “I tell people to oil their utensils once every six to 12 months, or whenever they want them to look better,” says Bernhart.
Our Expert Take
Wood utensils are a surprisingly resilient kitchen tool that can stand up to a range of cooking scenarios and foods, including high heat and acidic foods. They can even be tossed in a drawer with other wooden utensils and still look and work well for long periods of time. However, an expert wood utensil craftsperson noted that keeping them away from direct flames, avoiding soaking or putting them in the dishwasher and allowing them to properly dry between uses is key to maintaining their luster, as well as their functionality and longevity.
