Wooden tools in the kitchen: yay or nay?

by Katie

Over the holidays, we spent several days at my inlaws', including a New Year's Eve celebration that had me cooking a pretty substantial meal. It's always a little hectic cooking in someone else's kitchen, figuring out where the bowls are, how hot the oven runs, etc. But I've really always felt a little off my game in my mother in law's kitchen, and on this trip, I finally placed it:

She doesn't have anything wood. No wooden spoons, no wooden cutting board, not even a wooden salad bowl. Nothing. All plastic.

Image: edwardsmithfinewoodworking.com

This is exactly the opposite of my kitchen, where I use a LOT of wooden tools. I love my wooden spoons (two of which I've had for over 10 years, which I bought in Paris during a study aproad trip,) and a wooden butcher-block style board lives on my counter for chopping. I love the feel of wooden spoons and cutting boards, and really, really do not like the feeling of plastic.

I asked my mother in law about it, once I figured out what it was that felt different about her kitchen. "Oh, I would NEVER use wood," she said, scandalized. "You can't put them in the dishwasher, and they end up all fuzzy. So unsanitary!"

Which: no. 

Research indicates that wood may be *more* sanitary than plastic, because its fibers draw bacteria away from the surface, where it dies, plus wood is somewhat self-healing, so you're less likely to end up with deep grooves where bacteria can hide.

But I'm curious: how do other people feel about wooden spoons and cutting boards? Do you use them, or do you prefer the dishwasher-safe plastic stuff?

Comments

[Elsha]

I love my wood stuff. In fact, at one point I had a set of plastic spoons in addition to my wooden ones and I got rid of them all because I didn't like using them.

[Julie]

My husband has a love for bamboo so we have a set of the Pampered Chef bamboo spoons and they are great. Plus nothing brings back memories of cooking in my grandmother's kitchen more than using a wooden spoon to mix with.

[Christy]

I love wood and I'm trying to add more and more to my kitchen. In my 20's I thought the same way as your MIL and had all plastic and I'm trying to slowly switch it all out.

One of the first wood spoon type things I bought I still have and it's been probably 8 years or so. I love them.

[J]

I don't like wood for the reasons your MIL gave. I use glass, silicone, metal and yes some plastic. I like to be able to just toss things in the dishwasher. Wood doesn't get clean enough to suit me, and it stains so easily. Just my preference not to use it. Plus I hate the splintery feel of wood in my hand. I always find myself slightly worried I will get a splinter. I have Scanpans so I do not need wood for even my nonstick.

[Kay]

I use wood spoons and I'm hoping to get a kitchen island with a butcher block top. I guess I never really thought about it, but I put my wooden spoons in the dishwasher and have had them for a few years now, use them constantly, and they are still in good shape.

[Sarah Lena]

Yeah, um, I throw all of my wooden spoons in the dishwasher. A lot. Does this make me an unclean person?

I actually love wood/bamboo, but my husband feels the same way your MIL does.

And until JUST now, I never really considered that I'm the one doing all the cooking, so why does he get a vote?

Thanks. You've empowered me.

[Erin]

I love wooden spoons and cutting boards! I do use plastic cutting boards too, but I like wooden ones because they can also be used as pretty serving options for things like fruit & cheese.

[Kate]

I have a mix of wood, silicone, and metal, but I use the silicone most often because I like being able to toss them in the dishwasher. I use plastic cutting boards for the same reason.

I do have a maple Boos block that I love in theory (so pretty!), but it sits unused, mostly because I'm kind of intimidated by caring for it. I don't know if I need to treat or oil it in any way, or if I can just start using it again, so it sits, collecting dust and mocking me.

[Sarah]

I love my wooden spoons and cook almost exclusively with them. I also throw them in the dishwasher. That being said, I use plastic cutting boards WAY more than my nice wood ones because I can put them in the dishwasher (especially if I used them to cut meat). I should use the wood ones for fruit and cheese, though...will work on that!

[Catherine]

I only have bamboo cutting boards. I mainly use these tiny ones that are about 8 x 6 since I have practically no counter space. I have one for meat only and the other for fruits/veggies. The normal size one usually only comes out for cutting large loaves of bread. It really works well for me since I don't buy red meat (love it but only love the expensive cuts so I never make it at home) and mostly buy chicken breast which can easily be cut on the tiny board. And they clean up quickly and easily since they are tiny.

As for utensils, I have a mix of wood, plastic, and metal and which one I use depends on what I'm cooking.