Wooden spoons are used in kitchens on most kitchens everyday for cooking, measuring and stirring drinks.
Do Wooden Spoons Have Any Negative Affects On The Wood?
Wooden spoons can crack over time, and when used with coloured sauces E.g tomato sauce for pasta can stain the wood. So there are some negatives when using a wooden spoon.
In this article we are going to go over in depth why wooden spoons are bad, whether they hold bacteria, why you shouldn’t soak a wooden spoon, and finally when you should throw it out!
Thanks for reading.
Why Are Wooden Spoons Bad?
Wooden spoons are inadequate when it comes to using in sauces and soup.
Usually, when encountering sauces and food with soups, your wooden spoons will retain stains from them. They will start to harbor bacteria in them and contaminate your food.
Your wooden spoon will require thorough cleaning because if you do not clean them well enough, they will become breeding grounds for bacteria. Cleaning them well will also prevent them from developing and retaining stains.
Wooden spoons are not easy to clean properly. This is because they have porous surfaces compared to other types of utensils.
Usually, food particles tend to stick to such kinds of characters. Additionally, you cannot use your wooden spoons in dishwashers, and you can’t even soak them in water for long to make them easy to wash.
It would be best to clean them, hand wash them with warm water and soap and dry them immediately after you are done, and avoid dishwater at all costs.
Wooden spoons are also prone to wearing and developing cracks.
When you use them for a while, they will start to wear off over time. Aside from this, your wooden spoons will set apertures or even break into two despite being made from durable wood. This problem requires better handling to prevent them from occurring.
When wooden spoons are exposed to extreme temperature changes, they will split as they dry up. It would be best to get rid of such scoops right away when they break because they will become areas where bacteria will start to grow, and food will get trapped.
What Is Wrong With Wooden Spoons?
The problem with wooden spoons is generally their drying cycle. It can affect them and become dangerous when not handled well. They will develop cracks and crevices when they are not dried properly.
These cracks and crevices can become breeding grounds for bacteria growth which will become difficult to clean or wash away. When you notice your spoon developing cracks, it would be best to pitch them right away and buy new ones.
Your wooden spoon can also absorb the smell of the food prepared in the kitchen, especially if they have a strong odour from garlic or oil, which may stick to other food that you will prepare later with them.
Wooden spoons need special attention so that you may use them for many years.
It is essential to wash them with soap and warm water and dry them immediately to avoid retaining bacteria. Would you please keep them in dry places where they will not get wet, avoid dishwater, and season your spoons properly with oil?
Do Wooden Spoons Hold Bacteria?
Yes, your wooden spoons will hold bacteria when you don’t clean them properly.
It is crucial them you wash them immediately after use before they dry up, and the food particles in them dry up and become difficult to clean. After cleaning, dry your spoon in dry air to ensure that they remain spotless.
Your wooden spoon, when they develop cracks and crevices, these spots will become a breeding ground for bacteria.
It will help if you get rid of your wooden spoons once they create openings to avoid infection that comes from bacteria. Food will always get stuck in those cracks and become difficult to clean. Here is a good article on how wooden spoons can turn black.
Using dish towels to dry your spoon can also lead to bacteria development. These towels can re-contaminate your spoon after washing them. Ensure that you let them dry in dry air to avoid bacteria formation.
Wooden spoons also need to be seasoned well. Immediately after acquiring your wooden spoon, please strengthen them first to preserve the wood. You can use natural mineral oil, which will add a protective layer to your scoops.
As a result, they can stand up to heat from food, water, and tear that they will encounter in your kitchen to help them ward off any bacteria from developing.
It would be best to re-season your wooden spoon several times during a year to keep them inducted with a protective coat on the wood surface.
Why We Should Not Use Wooden Spoons For Cooking?
Wooden spoons are durable and can be solid and sturdy. However, they can develop cracks when used for a long time, and on most occasions, they are exposed to a high heat wave during cooking.
The drying cycle of a wooden spoon is another reason to avoid using them for cooking. The drying cycle can affect your scoops and may threaten the longevity of their lifespan.
Typically, food particles may stick to the cracks that develop from your spoon when they are not dried up properly; leading to bacteria growing in those cracks and split.
Wood is porous, and when used to make a wooden spoon, the spoon can draw in oils and liquids when you are preparing food in your kitchen.
Therefore, you will have to maintain proper care of your spoon all the time to get rid of food particles from clinging to your spoon surface, keep them dry and wash with soap and warm water to avoid any contamination to your food.
When you use them in sources and soups, Wooden spoons will develop stains from the ingredients used and retain them. This may become grounds for your utensils to grow bacteria.
Supposing you will not clean your scoops thoroughly, the bacteria will stick on their surface, and the stains will not disappear.
Wooden spoons are prone to wear and tear compared to other spoon types.
Over time, as you continue to use them, they will wear off and break in half or develop cracks. Avoid dishwashing your wooden spoon if you want them to last longer, and wash them immediately after use.
What Is Negative About Soaking Wooden Spoons?
Soaking your wooden spoons in water is a big no.
When you wash your wooden utensils in water, it will strip your spoons of the oil in them and causes them to warp and develop cracks. They will not be fun to use anymore when they develop warp and cracks.
Food particles, in most cases, will seep into those tiny cracks that grow in your spoon, which will allow bacteria to proliferate and cause health risks to you and your family.
It would be best to wash your spoon immediately before food dries up on the surface that will need soaking. This will enable them to last longer.
Soaking your wooden spoon in dishwater is dangerous because the water can harbor bacteria that your wooden spoon can absorb. This will lead your kitchenware to become soft and crack or split.
When you soak your wooden spoon, it can lead to warping and furring of the wood. Dirty water can cause an odour to your utensils which, if it penetrates your wooden spoon, will have an unpleasant smell. When you use your scoop for cooking, you will feel the scent as you immerse them into the food.
Another adverse effect of soaking your wooden spoon can lead to raised grain development in your scoops. Usually, when you wash your wooden spoon for the first few times using any method, they will develop raised grain on them, which will stop after several piles of washing.
These grains can be treated by smoothening using sandpaper. However, soaking your spoon in water can remove the build up of protection cover on your wooden spoon, leading to problems developing.
Your wooden spoon will also develop some peeling effects when they are soaked.
Washing a wooden spoon soaked and a thin coat over the wood can lead to the finishing being separated from the wood. As a result, the pieces from the layers will slough off into your food when cooking.
The paint or lacquer used to finish the spoon may not be safe for your food consumption.
When Should You Throw Away A Wooden Spoon?
You will know it’s time to throw away your wooden spoons when you notice they have become soft, start to develop cracks, and become dark.
This will indicate that the wood used for making them is rotting from the attack it has gone through after developing bacteria.
When used for many years, your wooden spoon can harbor so many bacteria and contaminate your food. These bacteria will become difficult to clean when the cracks become big, and you will need to get rid of these types of wooden spoons and replace them with new ones.
Replace your wooden spoon after every five years of use or when you notice they are discolouring or developing soft spots. Wood tends to absorb moisture readily and may become a breeding ground for bacteria. It would be essential to be on the watch out to be safe.
When you notice your wooden spoons have developed odours, they may become so unpleasant to continue using them in your kitchen.
It will indicate that they are rotting due to infestation by bacteria. Therefore, you need to get rid of them to avoid food poisoning and the effect of bacteria. Also, when the wood fiber has become soft or fuzzy, it is time to throw them away and acquire new ones.