M POP STORM DAILY
// general

Is it safe to use wooden utensils for cooking?

By Mia Kelly

Is it safe to use wooden utensils for cooking?

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.

Are wooden utensils toxic?

Cooking utensils can be made with a variety of materials such as plastic, silicone, bamboo, bamboo melamine resin, solid wood, and stainless steel. Among them, the most non toxic cooking utensil materials are solid wood and stainless steel. For wooden cooking utensils, the finish on their wood is also important.

Are wooden spoons antibacterial?

The truth is they are safe for food and cooking if you know how to use, clean, and store them. In fact, this kind of old material is antibacterial naturally. It’s safer than some of man-made materials. Moreover, wooden cooking tools are easily washed.

Why are wooden utensils bad for the kitchen?

Because wood needs to be kept dry, it becomes difficult to clean and disinfect these items. Kitchens don’t follow the above, and 9/10 boards and spoons are damaged. These damaged areas harbour bacteria and allow the bacteria and moulds to be released into the foods. So, you’ve decided to stick with wood.

Is it safe to use a wooden spoon in the kitchen?

However, a spoon that is made from wood will not have the same issue. Wood will not be impacted at all by the extreme heat of the water you happen to be using it in. Therefore, you will have an overall safer kitchen by switching to wooden utensils.

Why do wooden utensils have bacteria in them?

The interesting part of the research is that bacteria tend to stay in the wood, and does not easily transfer from the cutting board/spoon into foods. It is only when the material becomes damaged or peels off, that it releases the bacteria that has built up in the wood. See here for the article showing all the research.

Why are wooden cutting boards and spoons bad for food?

Wooden cutting boards and spoons can eventually split as they dry out or are exposed to extreme temperature changes. Discard split wooden tools, because food could get trapped in the cracks and allow bacteria to grow. Stains or roughness can be rubbed away with a piece of fine sandpaper.

Because wood needs to be kept dry, it becomes difficult to clean and disinfect these items. Kitchens don’t follow the above, and 9/10 boards and spoons are damaged. These damaged areas harbour bacteria and allow the bacteria and moulds to be released into the foods. So, you’ve decided to stick with wood.

However, a spoon that is made from wood will not have the same issue. Wood will not be impacted at all by the extreme heat of the water you happen to be using it in. Therefore, you will have an overall safer kitchen by switching to wooden utensils.

Wooden cutting boards and spoons can eventually split as they dry out or are exposed to extreme temperature changes. Discard split wooden tools, because food could get trapped in the cracks and allow bacteria to grow. Stains or roughness can be rubbed away with a piece of fine sandpaper.

Why are wooden spoons good to use on nonstick cookware?

“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 grow bacteria or mold.” 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.