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Wooden spoons

(56 Posts)
Auntieflo Fri 07-Oct-16 09:31:26

Yesterday, a friend emailed me a recipe, ( I live a really exciting life) and got onto the subject of wooden spoons and how long they last. She had read that they should be discarded after a couple of years. They shouldn't be machine washed often, it causes them to crack and split. I always wash mine by hand. We have both had our spoons for many years, and not come to harm. I think I also heard/ read, somewhere, that wooden chopping boards were the more hygenic choice. Think butchers blocks! They were used and scrubbed and served a long life. Do you still use wooden spoons, or is it just old fogies like me and my friend? ?

Tizliz Sat 08-Oct-16 10:17:15

Wooden chopping boards are best but I understand that you should not put chopping boards of any sort in the dishwasher. Wooden ones as mentioned above and plastic ones release all the bacteria which then settles on everything else. I give plastic ones a good scrub if used for chicken then put them in! I hate wooden spoons only use plastic

mischief Sat 08-Oct-16 10:19:13

I use my mother's wooden spoons and put them in the dishwasher. They are still as good as new. Does this prove that 'they don't make things like they used to'?

Worlass Sat 08-Oct-16 10:33:01

Veering off the subject somewhat, my eldest DGD, who is the only one in the family whom I think would appreciate it, has already been told she will inherit my old wooden rolling pin when I'm no longer here to bake. It was the first item I bought for my 'bottom drawer' (remember them?) fifty odd years ago and has been well-used since then and taken along wherever we lived during the intervening years. I use wooden spoons, which I wash by hand, due to lack of dishwasher. Although none have lasted as long as above rolling pin, I cannot remember last time I was forced to replace one. I think it was, perhaps, when DLH used it to stir paint.

Galen Sat 08-Oct-16 10:35:17

I've two spurtles I've had for over 40years. They go in the dishwasher with no problems.
Don't know what I'd do without them.
Do they still make them up there?

sunseeker Sat 08-Oct-16 10:42:21

I no longer bake so my wooden spoons sit in the drawer neglected! When my childless aunt died I was told I should choose something to remember her by. I looked around her kitchen and found her very old wooden rolling pin, she was an avid cook and every time I look at it I picture her in the kitchen baking.

SueDonim Sat 08-Oct-16 11:53:01

Galen spurtles are readily available in Scotland! They're a bit of a tourist souvenir item now, you'll even see them on sale in motorway service stations as last minute panic-gifts. grin

Maggiemaybe Sat 08-Oct-16 12:22:13

I can't use wooden spoons at all - just touching them, or any other rough wood, sends shivers up and down my spine (in fact, I'm cringing now just thinking about touching them!). So it's plastic all the way here. If DH is feeling particularly mean mischievous, he'll pretend that he's going to lick the spoon he's using and watch me freak out grin

My dad was the same with cottonwool, and so is DD1. We've obviously inherited freaky fingers! I've been very careful not to let the DGS see any sign of this, but DGS2 was helping put out the washing the other day and said that he didn't like the wooden pegs, he'd only use the plastic ones...

Galen Sat 08-Oct-16 12:33:40

Could do with a new one! The old ones are getting a bit shabby.
Couldn't do without them. They're especially good fr stirring the mix in my new nonstick, sautéing soup maker!

Wobblybits Sat 08-Oct-16 13:45:28

I turn spurtles from time to time.

Maggiemaybe Sat 08-Oct-16 14:46:46

Now that's a sentence you don't hear very often, Wobblybits grin

Purpledaffodil Sat 08-Oct-16 15:27:49

And a spurtle is????? (ignoramus emoticon)

Wobblybits Sat 08-Oct-16 16:07:20

A spurtle is -- a stick !! Some are sexier than others, but basically a stick.

pollyperkins Sat 08-Oct-16 16:20:02

Well I have always understood that wooden chopping boards are unhygienic as bacteria can survive in the cracks!! I have a wooden bread board but use a glass one for chopping veg and cuttng up meal.

pollyperkins Sat 08-Oct-16 16:20:22

Meat!

DanniRae Sat 08-Oct-16 16:50:30

I have a metal spoon that was my mum's that's worn away on one side. Every time I use it I can see her standing at the stove stirring something. Ah, that's a happy memory smile

Galen Sat 08-Oct-16 16:58:29

wobbly
I want!

Daddima Sat 08-Oct-16 17:04:37

I have my parents' ( though my father did most of the cooking) chopping board and wooden spoon , so they're at least 66 years old.

anne53 Sat 08-Oct-16 17:10:50

Always put my wooden spoons in dishwasher but do replace them fairly regularly as they seem to disappear. Think I must throw them out with the rubbish!
My DD and SIL bought me a beautiful new (quite expensive) wooden block chopping board one year for Christmas. They were staying with us and she put it in the dishwasher. It came out in lots of different little strips as the dishy had melted the glue! I'd only used it once!!

1974cookie Sat 08-Oct-16 17:30:40

I often put my wooden spoons in the dish washer, and like many people have already stated, mine have not cracked.
If I hand wash them, I use diluted Sterilising Fluid, the type that you use for baby's bottles as a rinse.

Maranta Sat 08-Oct-16 17:31:12

My spurtle (which goes in the dishwasher) belonged to my Scottish Grannie who was born in 1885. So if she had it when she married probably makes it 100 years old. It doesn't get used much now as I make porridge for myself in the microwave.

Galen Sat 08-Oct-16 18:30:43

How can people live without a spurtle?

Jalima Sat 08-Oct-16 18:39:00

I like my spurtle but DH thinks it's useless!

My wooden spoons are years old and go in the dishwasher regularly and none have cracked - yet.
My pastry board is years old, it was my mother's (although she used it a lot more regularly than me!)

I've just replaced wooden chopping boards and bread boards with bamboo ones, I wonder if they will last as long?

Jalima Sat 08-Oct-16 18:43:14

I don't keep my wooden utensils in a drawer, the are ladle side up in a utensil holder on the work surface

Legs55 Sat 08-Oct-16 19:30:09

I'm with you Jalima my wooden spoons are all like yours in a utensil holder - they're no use in a drawer I want them to hand. I have lots, some older than others, last ones I bought was 18 months ago when I was in temporary accommodation & didn't have any (mine were all in storage)grin

I don't put anything wood or with bone handles in Dishwasher, glue on handles melt !! I'm still here so can't have done me any harm or my DM who is nearly 88 & hand washes everything grin

Purpledaffodil Sat 08-Oct-16 19:43:59

All is clear now. Thanks for the picture wobblybits. flowers for you.