I know I know … wooden spoons and the like are cheapo. I could buy a new set every month. But I like my wooden spoons that I’ve had since we were married. 42 years y’all.
I’ve broken one over the years and warped one pretty good from stirring. One has a burn mark, which I’m pretty sure was achieved the first year I had them in our first apartment.
They were made in the U.S. which isn’t totally necessary but I like that.
My girls probably won’t want them, they’re a whole lot more practical than I am, not nearly as sentimental as me. I don’t know what happened to me to make me like that. 🤣 It’s just me. So I plan on using them up and to do that they need to be cared for.
An important thing you should remember about wooden utensils is NOT to run them through the dishwasher. It won’t ruin them but it will weaken them over the years. It water-logs them and they might not ever get really dry if you keep running them through the dishwasher. That could lead to them being weakened and breaking or to bacteria and mold growth.
I wash them off and even scrub them after use. I sometimes dip them in water with some peroxide in it and then air dry then to sanitize them if needed, after washing.
Let them dry thoroughly before storing them. overnight is best, maybe even all day the next day too.
If you happen to have a utensil that is black with age and water damage, sometimes the best thing is to take a small sharp knife and scrape it along the grain, gently, to remove all the black. Don’t actually cut the wood, though. Then sand it.
About once a year I sand them all and oil them. Be sure they are completely dry when you sand them. If you sand them while they’re damp the wood is soft and can be damaged and misshapen.
I use a rough grit sand paper, usually 120 and then a finer grit, usually 220. After they’re sanded really well I wipe them down with a clean cloth and get all the sawdust off. You could use a tack cloth for this.
Then I apply a good oil like avocado or coconut oil. I rub in the oil really well, let it sit and soak in over night and then polish the utensils to a shine with a clean cloth. This takes some time, so just get your tools together, sit at a well-lighted table and enjoy the work.
The oil coating keeps moisture out of the wood and keeps them looking good. They can be as smooth or rough looking as you want them to be. The idea isn’t to make them look new, but to keep them in good shape for using. I think there is a beauty in that.
I know it’s more trouble than most people want to go to but I like old things and the durability of a tried and true tool. I also like the idea of using things til they can’t be used any more.
Hello and welcome! I'm Sylvia Britton, and I've been online since 1996 offering encouragement and help in the spirit of Titus 2 and Proverbs 31 at Christian Homekeeper. CHK is the original Homekeeping site on the internet
Hi there Sylvia, thank you for the tip on looking after my wooden spoons, rolling pin’s…I pray you and yours are having a wonderful day!
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You’re welcome Jilly! Thank you for stopping by <3
Oh my, Sylvia! I don’t feel so alone in this kind of thinking any more – so thank you!🥰 I love old things in my Kitchen; they tell a story of my past – some happy memories and some not so happy, but still part of my journey! When we moved from one state to another many years ago, my sweet Mama brought most of her kitchen utensils with us. In fact, I helped her pack them into large wooden tea chests. After being here for some years, Mama decided to throw out some things and I went behind her picking the things out of the throw box. Both my Mama and Sisters laughed and asked, Why are you keeping this stuff? My answer was, Just because something from your past is old or even cracked, one does not have to throw it away! Some of those things mean so very much to me, and they help me keep alive the memories I hold so dear!
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Jilly, what a a sweet thing to do and yes, I feel the same way. I love the meaning and memories attached to certain old objects and they do help keep those memories alive. Thank you for stopping by and commenting <3
Thank you ever so much for this post. I have been needing to oil my utensils for some time now and didn’t know what to use to oil them. Would this also be good for cutting boards too? Again thank you for sharing your knowledge. I turned 50 this year but feel there is so much to learn still.
Hi Rose, thank you so much for stopping by. Yes you can treat your cutting boards like this as well. I have one that my husband made for me before we got married and it has lasted a long time being taken care of like this.
Sylvia,
Thank you ever so much.
Perfect 😊😊