How to Care for Your Wooden Utensils

Wooden spoons are the quintessential kitchen tool. In addition to being timelessly aesthetic, wood is naturally antibacterial and safe for use on all cookware. My favourite wooden utensil is a spoon that was my grandmother’s, and with good care, it should last for my lifetime too.

How to Care for Wooden Utensils

• Always wash by hand with mild dish soap. The prolonged exposure to high heat in the dishwasher can cause them to dry out and crack. Allow to air cry completely.
• To clean stains or strong odours, rub with some salt and half of a lemon.
• Small splinters or roughness can be repaired with fine sandpaper, but cracked utensils should be composted.
• Once a year, I boil the business end of my utensils in a pot of water for about 5 minutes. The water is usually DISGUSTING, so be sure to give them a soap scrub again afterwards.
• Condition your utensils periodically (and always after sanding or boiling) to prevent them from drying out.

DIY Wood Conditioner Recipe

For wood conditioner, I use a 1:3 mix of beeswax and coconut oil. I typically only make enough to do my utensils and cutting boards with none left over to avoid wasting any.

Directions

1. Combine 1 tsp of beeswax and 1 tbsp of coconut in oil in a double boiler until just melted. You can also microwave in 10 second increments until melted.
2. Pour mixture into a small bowl or jar to cool.
3. Rub conditioner into utensils using a clean rag and set aside to “dry” on clean towel for about an hour. Rub again with a clean rag to remove any excess.
4. Store any remaining conditioner in a small jar in the refrigerator until next time!

With good care, your utensils should last you for years to come – loved things last!

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