How To Season A Wooden Spoon – Freelance food writer, trained chef, and appliance expert Jessica Harlan has written eight cookbooks on topics like quinoa and ramen.
A common question of many home cooks is how to care for wooden kitchen utensils and are they hygienic. Wooden spoons, cutting boards and other kitchen tools are the workhorses of the kitchen. They can be used for all types of cooking. If properly cared for, wooden utensils can last for years.
How To Season A Wooden Spoon
Wood is one of the oldest materials used to make cookware, and for good reason. “Wood is naturally more antibacterial than any man-made object,” says Brian Hayes, vice president of sales and marketing for Lamson & Goodnow, which makes kitchen items such as maple kitchen tools and accessories. “Trees naturally fight infection, bacteria and mold, and even though it’s no longer a living organism, the properties of wood are still the same; wood still has cells that don’t produce bacteria or mold.”
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Wooden utensils are also one of the best tools to use on nonstick cookware because they don’t scratch the coating like metal utensils.
When made, most wooden spoons, utensils and cutting boards are treated with mineral oils, which creates an inert, neutral surface that does not allow bacteria to live.
By clicking “Accept all cookies”, you consent to the storage of cookies on your device to improve site navigation, analyze site usage and assist in our marketing efforts. A well-made wooden spoon is a joy to cook with. I have my great-grandmother’s wooden spoon, a couple of hand-carved spoons I bought from a local craftsman, and some older ones I picked up at an estate sale. I love them all. The weight of them. How they fit my hand. His beautiful form. Its wood grain. Using them just makes me happy.
I want them to last, long enough to pass them on to my daughters, so I take care of them. I seasoned each one when I got it and re-season them regularly. It only takes a few minutes, and it’s worth the effort.
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Step 1: Use a cloth to apply a thick layer of mineral oil to your spoons. Be sure to work with the grain.
The wood will probably be quite thirsty. If you find that the spoon has absorbed all the oil you applied, give it a second coat. Still busy? Make a third layer. Continue until you have an abundance of oil on the surface of the spoon.
Seasoning your wooden spoons is only one part of taking care of them. If you want them to last, keep them out of the dishwasher. Hand wash them in soapy water (do not soak). Then dry them and let them air dry.
It’s made from a mixture of mineral oil and beeswax, so it lasts longer and does a better job of sealing the wood. Here is my recipe for butter for wooden spoons. One of my favorite wooden spoons recently broke. It wasn’t a very expensive spoon, but I used it a lot. It had a long handle that I used to stir the gallons of iced tea I make throughout the year and also great with stir fry. Ok, replace it! My mind drifted to my mother’s kitchen, where she has a set of beautiful, well-used wooden spoons. The kind that’s soft, dark, and doesn’t stick to anything, stops almost anything, doesn’t pick up odors or flavors, and doesn’t harm what you put it on. I’m sure he’s had this one for the 50+ years they’ve been married. However, what I remember most from my mother regarding this utensil is ‘don’t wash them in the dishwasher they will spoil them’. I always thought the heat during the dry cycle was the devil he was referring to.
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Just like a cutting board or a cast iron pan, she didn’t want to waste the grass, the blessed years of grass. If you already have weathered wooden utensils, consider yourself lucky. If you want to keep what you have, follow us.
In general, when any wood is seasoned for food preparation, the goal is to create a protective layer to prevent warping or impregnation.
If I really want to season a wooden utensil like a wooden spoon, I would do it the same way I would a wooden cutting board: Use a food-grade mineral oil and rub it well with a cloth or paper towel, repeat as needed. after it is dry.
One method suggests sanding and polishing. Personally, I can’t imagine that sanding and polishing a wooden spoon would be useful
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Apps, though I guess it might look smoother. I can think of one exception, that is if the spoon takes on a fuzzy texture when you wet it. In that case, sanding would be done in the context of grain collection.
Before using wooden spoons, you need to season them according to the way you want to use them (see below). This will help them last longer, repel odors and perform even better.
You may be wondering why bother when there are so many new products on the market in the utensil category. Don’t get me wrong, I’m almost married to my silicone spatula, however, wooden spoons offer many advantages when used as prep tools in the kitchen and baking. Wooden spoons are sturdy enough to mix even the thickest ingredients, yet soft enough to prevent scratching non-stick cookware. And as a bonus, wooden spoons also have health benefits, as wood is naturally resistant to many types of bacteria.
Clean your wooden spoons before seasoning them. Wash wooden spoons with mild dish soap and warm water. Air dry or towel dry the wooden spoons until they are almost dry, but still slightly damp.
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If you think you need to sand the wooden spoon, use medium grit sandpaper (between #80 and #60) to sand the spoons while they are still wet. Smooth out any splinters or rough edges you find in the wood. Making sure wooden spoons are completely smooth before seasoning will prevent food particles and liquids from collecting in small crevices, allowing harmful bacteria to grow.
Disinfect wooden spoons before use. Mix one part white vinegar with five parts warm water in a small plate, bowl or bucket and dip wooden spoons into the mixture for several minutes. Rinse the spoons with warm water and let them dry completely. It may take two to three days for the spoons to dry completely.
Put two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil in a small pot. If you plan to use your wooden spoons to cook salty foods, add 2 teaspoons of table salt to the oil. If you are planning to use your wooden spoons for baking or sweet foods, measure 2 teaspoons of sugar into the oil. Heat the oil over low heat until the salt or sugar dissolves. Let the oil cool a little. (Omit the salt or sugar if you plan to use the wooden spoon for a variety of foods.)
Dip a paper towel into the oil mixture. Coat the wooden spoons with the oil and place them on a baking sheet. Place the pan in a 350 degree oven for two minutes. Remove the baking sheet and let the spoons cool completely before using.
How To Season Wooden Spoons
You might be thinking…this sounds like a lot of work for just one spoon, but considering it might just be in your kitchen 50 years from now, it’s totally worth it.
I finished the first seasoning on my new spoon and it’s well on its way to being my new favorite, right next to my silicone spatula (but we’ll leave that for another day).
About Felecia McAbee I am blessed beyond imagination and filled with joy from the inside out! I am married to my best friend and lover, Clark. We have 5 grown children between us and a very injured cocker spaniel, Sophie. I am happy when my hands are in the soil gardening and in the kitchen cooking and my heart is in Jesus. My goal is to educate, entertain and empower friends while having fun along the way. One of my favorite scriptures against is Galatians 6:9 Let us not grow weary in doing good; for in due time we shall reap the harvest; IF we don’t give up!
This entry was posted in Did you know?, Life in the kitchen, Tools of the trade and tagged Food, Wooden spoon, Wooden spoon, Olive oil, Recreation, Wooden spoon, Kitchen, Non-stick surface. Bookmark the permalink. I will teach you how to season wooden spoons and cutting boards in this post. I’m also going to give you a wood butter recipe! Are you scratching your head? Well, if you want to preserve your wooden spoons and cutting boards to last forever, read on!
How To Care For Wooden Spoons So They’ll Last Forever
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