BBQ Accessory Maintenance - How to Care for Wooden Utensils
Wooden spoons used to stir that pot of chili or spaghetti sauce, mix those cake and cookie batters, they just make those foods taste better. There’s no real reason why, but when cooking for the family, I always reached for this battered old wooden spoon that was my mother’s mother’s spoon. The bottom edge has been worn off from use, the handle is slightly warped and it has some chips and stains. But the food that I made using this particular spoon tasted the best. This spoon is so special that my mother had one custom made for myself and my sister using the exact specifications from the original. I treat this new spoon as a treasure. No one else in the house is allowed to use it and this new spoon is only for use in baking.
How to Care for and Maintain Wooden Utensils
It’s a fact that that old wooden spoon somehow makes your soup, stew, or sauce taste better. It’s the one you always go to when cooking something delicious for the family. But you need to know how to care for and maintain your wooden utensils. Like a wooden cutting board, the surface of your favorite wooden utensils should be properly cleaned and cared for to ensure that they don’t become dirty and unsafe to use.
That being said. Remember to use one for baking and another for savory foods if you like to use a wood spoon/utensil. You don’t want to use the spoon you made spicy chili with to stir those lovely shortbread cookies They are also perfect for non-stick cookware to boot. However, like wooden cutting boards, your wooden utensils need to be cleaned and seasoned, cared for properly.
How to Clean Wooden Utensils
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If the wooden spoons/utensils are brand new, they will need to be washed with dish soap and warm water, then dried completely first.
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Sand brand new wooden utensils smooth with 150, and then 180 grit sandpaper if they’re rough. You can get away with 180 grit if they’re well finished.
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Oil the utensils with a soft, lint-free cloth, making sure that you go over any areas that seem to soak up the oil and become dry again quickly.
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Allow the utensils to dry and then wax them, allowing them to dry again. Buff any excess wax off.
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Re-season your utensils if they become dry-looking or at least one per month.
Wooden utensils are sensitive like a wooden cutting board. They should be cleaned as soon as you are done with using them, before food can dry on them. They should never be soaked or put into the dishwasher for cleaning. If something damages the finish or cuts into the spoon, you can always sand the damage to make it smooth, then wash and re-season the spoon.
Do you love your wooden utensils? Did we miss a tip/trick or do you have some of your own? Share your wooden utensil stories and photos with us. Use the hashtags #NapoleonMoments and #NapoleonGrills and share your thoughts with us on your favorite social media site, like Facebook and Instagram.