Wooden spoons

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.

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?

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.

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'?

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

Annodomini I love that heirloom!

It has never occurred to me not to put wooden spoons in the dishwasher and they are none the worse. I have a large pastry board that I bought in Nairobi fifty years ago. It just gets a good scrub and will live to see another fifty years. As will the bread board, bought at the same time.

I have also read that wood is a far more hygienic material to use for spoons and chopping boards as it is 'naturally self cleaning' where bacteria are concerned . (Don't know how - just quoting the article) We have moved away from using anything plastic in the kitchen having read so many horror stories about plasticisers (sp?) that transfer from utensils and bowls into food. 'Now use stainless steel saucepans and Pyrex in the oven as these seem as easy to clean as so called non stick that rapidly become 'stick' in no time at all and then can't be scrubbed with a wire scourer. I still have my Mother's breadboard (she was married in 1936) and use it regularly.

I wondered that

Venus, why would you wrap your wooden spoons in foil before putting them in the dishwasher? How would they get cleaned?

a friend told me about Spoon Butter for wooden spoon/boards care. I haven't tried it yet, but it could be fun to use while watching a film or something.

Spoon Butter

I've found, roughly speaking, that a ratio of one part beeswax to three parts extra virgin coconut oil makes a nice, spreadable spoon butter.

3.5 ounces / 100 grams extra virgin coconut oil
~1 ounce / 35 grams beeswax, cut into small chunks

To make the spoon butter: Place the coconut oil in a mason jar and top with the beeswax. Fill a thick-bottomed saucepan with an inch or so of water, and set over gentle (low-medium) heat. Set the beeswax jar in the water. The water should come up the sides a bit. Allow the water to come barely to a simmer, and allow the mixture to melt, stirring occasionally, until all the beeswax is fluid. Turn off the heat, and allow to set. The oil is hot, so I allow it to cool and set in the pan, instead of moving it at this point. When cool, cover and keep in a dark place until ready to use.

To treat cutting boards, wooden spoons, etc: Start by making sure your wood surface is scrubbed very clean and is completely dry. Use your hands (or a cloth) to slather a generous amount of the spoon butter across the wood, working across the entire surface. Let sit over night. You can then use a smooth cloth to buff off all residual oil at this point. You should have a nice, satiny surface, not at all greasy.

Prep time: 3 min - Cook time: 10 min

I like wooden spoons , they're great for chasing kids with . My girls tell me that I used to chase them and try to whack them with a spoon when they were bad . I can't remember it at all !

Wrap wooden items in silver foil before placing them in the dish washer. They will survive a lot longer.

Everything we have is dishwasher proof, if it isn't it doesn't last long

Never occurs to me to put wooden spoons in the dishwasher, wonder we survive really.

It's just some germ freak having an outburst, auntieflo. Or possibly the idea of a maker or seller of wooden spoons who wants to sell more. Carry on as you always have and ignore the nonsense.

I have had my wooden spoons for years and they go in the dishwasher regularly. More by accident than design, most of my cooking utensils are wood or metal, only my spatula is plastic.

I use wooden spatulas for stirring anything being simmered or fried, these do not last long, when they start looking sad I just burn them in the stove and buy new ones

Chopping boards, all wood, just get held under a running hot tap and scrubbed.

I buy a set of three wooden spoons every fortnight or so. They always end up in the garden chewed by the dog. (He manages to take them out of the sink or dishwasher and they disappear). As SueD says, luckily they are cheap to replace.

Wobblybits my grandson made my daughter a beautiful bread board out of left over teak work top it was so lovely and she made the mistake of putting it in the dishwasher you can imagine his dismay when it came out as sticks..

A good point about things like bread boards, unless you are 100% certain that they are one single piece of wood, don't get them too wet or you may end up with some sticks.

My wooden utensils (including a rolling pin) all go in the dishwasher and have not suffered for it. Among others, I have one which I have had since the mid 1970s, and a wooden spatula that my daughter made at school in a woodworking class (she is now 45). I have one with a gruffalo on it which belongs to my grandson who still uses it when he helps in the kitchen but I'm not allowed to tell anyone!

I inherited all my wooden spoons from my mother, by way of my father who died six years after her. One small spoon is worn on one side showing how she stirred sauces, gravies and so on. I will have to explain to my GD that this particular spoon is an heirloom. That will have to be my right-handed GD. If Mum had been left handed, the spoon would have been worn on the other side.

I have ancient wooden spoons that have survived umpteen dishwasher cycles. They're not expensive to replace, in any case. Even my fancy local cookware shop sells them for under £1 each.

I have two wooden spoons which belonged to my mother and she died in 1979 so they have been around for years. I pop them in the dishwasher and they are fine. I also use synthetic ones which go in the dishwasher.

I have several wooden spoons which go in the dishwasher. Some did a long stint in the bathroom, when GDs came to stay. They did 'cooking' with plastic pots, cups and the bubbles.