5 reasons why you should use wooden utensils

Many of us have opted for wooden utensils, such as the traditional wooden spoon used to cook our pasta, to mix our ratatouille, etc. However, there is a range of wooden utensils that deserve our attention because wood has many advantages in cooking. 

1.  Wooden utensils do not conduct heat

You can therefore easily leave your wooden spoon in the pan, even long, without burning your hand when you pick up the spoon. This is one of the reasons why we prefer wooden utensils to metal ones which strongly conduct heat. Plastic utensils melt quite simply on the side of the pan. 

2. Wooden utensils are not toxic to your organism 

Wood is not toxic to your body, so if a thin piece of wood is found in your food, it is no big deal (contrary to a plastic utensil for instance). Wood is natural, so you limit the risk to your health by using wooden utensils.   

Of course, the type of wood used for your utensils is chosen inter alia for its nontoxicity and its compatibility with food. All types of wood are not harmless. 

3. Wooden utensils do not scratch your beautiful pans 

We buy beautiful pans or frying pans so that they can last several years. However, these pans sometimes scratch easily when we use metal cutlery, for instance. Let’s privilege wooden utensils to avoid that because wood does not scratch.  

Most of the frying pans are covered with Teflon which is a cancer-causing material when ingested. It is therefore important too to not scratch Teflon pans to avoid that this material is found in your food. Moreover, we strongly advise you to stop using Teflon frying pans!  

4. Wooden utensils are inert 

Contrary to other materials, such as certain metals (aluminum is a good example), wood does not react with food and does not leave behind an unpleasant taste in your food. Wooden utensils are therefore also a good ally for your wonderful meals.  

5. Wooden utensils are sustainable and made from renewable sources 

With climate change, maybe you want to adopt a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Wood is a renewable material, that is, it would never be exhausted if properly managed. By using certified utensils or utensils of local artisans, you insure a wise use of renewable natural resources. 

It is not because you buy a wooden spoon that you will deforest the Amazon rainforest (the main causes of the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest are agriculture and livestock)! However, do not hesitate to look or to ask where the wood of your utensils is coming from before buying them.  

In Europa, most forests are sustainably managed. So, if we cut down a tree to make it wooden spoons, it will later be replanted. 

Moreover, wood is a biodegradable (and recyclable) material, so once the utensil cannot be used anymore, it can easily get back to nature.