Wooden utensils are beautiful and offer a great cooking experience—learn how to keep them safe and functional with proper care.

Kitchen utensils are often chosen for a combination of aesthetics and function. Few types are more popular than wooden utensils, which have become increasingly common in recent years.

These trendy kitchen tools are easy to use, and they look great—but they do require more care than your standard set of utensils. Wood is a natural material that can last for a very long time with appropriate care. Without it, you may find your utensils ruined in a matter of weeks.

Let’s cover how to keep your wooden kitchen utensils looking and feeling great.

Caring for Your Wooden Utensils, Tongs, and Surfaces

Wooden utensils can improve the appearance and functionality of your home kitchen. Of course, to continue to gain these benefits, you will need to maintain your utensils using the right steps. These four tips will help you to give your wooden utensils a long and lasting life!

Clean Utensils Quickly

When you use wooden utensils, you may notice that food and sauces tend to color and stick to them with use. For this reason, it is very important to rinse and clean them off as soon as you are done using them. This will make it easy for you to avoid staining or dried-on food that may damage the finish.

Hand Wash Utensils When Possible

Wooden utensils have come a long way in design. In today’s world, many of them are even stated to be dishwasher safe. This can be convenient, but it still isn’t always ideal. Using a dishwasher to clean wooden utensils can shorten their lifespan and may cause visible damage over time. Hand washing your utensils is always best.

Apply Oil if Necessary

With use, wood can dry out. As this happens, it can start to fray and show damage. However, it doesn’t have to happen that way. Applying olive oil once a month or every couple of months and allowing it to soak into the wood can help to keep them smooth and shining.

Follow the Provided Care Instructions

Wood may be a material that comes from nature, but not all wooden utensils are made the same way. Since companies can use different finishes and may have different processes that they follow, it is always best to follow the instructions that come with your utensils. The manufacturer will always know best when it comes to maintaining these items.

The Takeaway

A little cleaning and care can drastically lengthen the lifespan of your wooden utensils at home. Whether you buy a set of utensils off the shelf at your local supermarket or invest in great custom tongs or spoons to give your kitchen a fresh, new look–treating and maintaining your wooden utensils should always be a part of your chores.

To find the best wooden utensils, explore our collections today!