How to Protect Wooden Utensils

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By Barker Brown
eHow Contributing Writer

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The versatility and durability of wooden utensils make them ideal tools for cooking. They are gentle to the pan and non-reactive with food. Wooden handles provide natural insulation from the heat of the pan, and, conveniently, they are available in a variety of forms and sizes. Though extremely hard-wearing, wooden utensils do require an extra bit of care. Knowing how to protect wooden utensils will help them last even longer.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Hot water
Mild dish soap
Towel
Bleach
Lemon
Sandpaper or brown paper bag
Mineral oil
Soft cloth

Step 1

Hand wash wooden utensils with hot water and a mild dish soap. Gently towel or air-dry. Clean wooden cutting boards that have been used to prepare raw meat with a solution of 2 tsp. bleach per quart of water.
Step 2

Rub half a lemon onto wooden utensils and cutting boards to kill bacteria and remove odors.
Step 3

Sand utensils with a fine grit sandpaper when they develop a fuzzy feeling, a result of moisture pushing the wood grain outward. If sandpaper is unavailable, rub a brown paper bag across the utensils to smooth and remove any "grain-raise" type fuzziness. Minor burn marks may also be sanded away. Wash and dry the utensil afterward.
Step 4

Oil utensils monthly or more often if needed. Frequent use and washing will wear out the finish. Rub warm mineral oil over the entire wood surface with a soft cloth and allow it to soak in for a few minutes; then wipe the utensil clean. For maximum protection, leave the utensil unused for at least six hours to allow the oil to oxidize.

Tips & Warnings

Tight-grained hardwoods, like maple, beech, olive or cherry, work best for wooden utensils. Softer, more porous wood, like pine, may absorb smells and damage more easily. Expensive specialty "cutting board oil" or "spoon oil" is typically a mixture of mineral oil and beeswax. Plain mineral oil is less expensive and equally effective.
Never put wooden utensils into the dishwasher or allow them to soak. The excess heat and moisture can cause them to expand and crack. Mineral oil is generally the oil of choice to protect wooden utensils. Food-based oils, like olive and walnut, may turn rancid. Walnut oil may present an additional danger to individuals with nut allergies.