Everyone has a wooden spoon in their kitchen.
It's a practical tool, but one that we often tend to mistreat.
Did you know that this utensil could easily serve you for several years?
To prolong its life, discover the 11 things you need to know about your wooden spoon.
You will also discover 11 surprising uses of this utensil, at the end of the article.
Now let's see together 11 tips to take care of it and use it well . Watch:
The wooden spoon is the ideal utensil for receptacles that you do not want to damage :non-stick pans, enameled cast iron casseroles, etc.
It is also practical for tossing and stirring sauces, since it does not conduct heat.
It's still better than burning your hands on the handle of a metal utensil.
And, of course, you can also use the wooden spoon to mix the ingredients.
Basically, wood is an antibacterial material .
This means that if a wooden spoon is in good condition, it presents no more danger for hygiene than a plastic or metal spoon.
In contrast, when a spoon is split or cracked, food can get in and get stuck in those spaces.
And that is not very hygienic.
It's really not complicated!
- Wash the spoon by hand with soapy water (you can use your usual washing up liquid).
- Then, rinse it thoroughly and dry it with a cloth or let it air dry.
Find out how here.
Of course!
But, naturally, any wooden object washed in the dishwasher will wear out faster.
Conclusion, it will be necessary to replace the spoon more often.
So, if you have a wooden spoon that you particularly care about, it is strongly recommended to wash it by hand .
A word of advice:avoid leaving a wooden spoon lying around in dirty water (in the sink, for example). It will wear it down even faster.
It really is best to clean your spoon immediately after using it.
- Wash the spoon with hot water and dish soap.
- Then, rinse it and soak it in a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar .
- Afterwards, rinse the spoon and dab it with a dry cloth to remove any excess moisture.
- Finally, let the spoon air dry completely.
- Rub the spoon with a generous amount of heated olive oil (a paper towel works just fine).
- Then put the spoon in the oven for 2-3 min at 175°.
Optional:
- Add a good pinch of salt to the oil if you are going to use the spoon to prepare savory dishes.
- Add a good pinch of sugar to the oil if the spoon is going to be used to prepare pastry.
Too bad, it works very well :-)
But here is an alternative:replace olive oil with sweet almond oil (you can find some here).
After rubbing the spoon, let it soak in the oil for 24 hours.
To intensify the effect of the oil, you can surround your spoon with 2 to 3 layers of stretch film.
You can also soak the spoon in a salt water solution for a few hours before oiling the spoon.
Oiling a utensil feeds the wood and clogs its pores — which will increase its lifespan.
Is it necessary? No.
On the other hand, it will prolong the life of the spoon. And that's a little extra savings.
Here's how to remove bad odors (onions, garlic, etc.) from wooden spoons:
- Prepare a solution of hot water and baking soda (2 tablespoons of baking soda for 50 cl of hot water).
- Soak the wooden spoon in the solution for 15-20 min.
- Finally, rinse thoroughly with water.
Here is another method to get rid of bad odors from your wooden spoon:
- Prepare a paste by mixing baking soda with a little water.
- Apply the paste on the spoon, rubbing.
- Let stand for 45 min.
- Finally, rinse thoroughly with water.
When the wood splits, cracks , or form splinters, it's time to get rid of the spoon.
Indeed, food can enter these small spaces and get stuck there. This is when bacteria can grow.
It's simple — just sand the stains out and rough spots with sandpaper.
For stubborn stains, soak the spoon in white vinegar for 1 hour before sanding.
And it also works for spatulas, for all wooden utensils and honey spoons.
We all know that you can use the wooden spoon to stir sauces and mix the ingredients of a recipe.
But the spoon has other surprising uses.
Discover 6 amazing uses of this utensil:
1. To test frying oil. Dip the end of the handle of your spoon into the hot oil. If little bubbles form around the wood, your oil is hot enough to dip the fries in!
2. For sewing. You can use the spoon handle to open a small seam. Place the handle behind the seam and apply pressure with your iron to flatten it.
3. For the garden. Mark the desired depth on your spoon handle. Then, use the handle as a guide when planting seeds (push the handle into the soil to the desired depth).
4. To make the bed. Use your wooden spoon in your bedroom to wedge the sheets under the mattress.
5. For pasta lovers. If you leave a wooden spoon in the cooking water for your pasta, it won't stick.
6. For the kitchen. Place a wooden spoon on the edges of your pan:the boiling water will no longer overflow. Check out the trick here.
