January 8, 2025, 4:44 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Wood instead of plastic? If you want to use kitchen utensils made of this natural material, you should pay attention to a few points when using and cleaning them—tips from experts.
Turning spatulas, wooden spoons, and boards simply belong in the kitchen. These utensils are often made of plastic – but that doesn’t have to be the case. There are now also many wooden versions. These are high-quality, durable, and robust, explains nutrition expert Judith Schryro from the Berlin Consumer Advice Center. Here, you can read about what you should look out for when caring for wooden kitchen utensils and helpful tips for buying them.
What to Look Out for When Buying and Using
Wooden boards are gentle on kitchen knives, but every cut leaves nicks in which germs can multiply. It is, therefore, important to pay attention to hygiene when using them, according to the Federal Center for Nutrition (BZfE).
This also means that raw meat, such as poultry, should not be used on the same board as salad. Otherwise, bacteria will be transferred from the meat to the salad – and there is a risk of ingesting them via the raw salad.
Unlike a wooden spoon or spatula, you should pay attention to the type of wood used when buying a chopping board. Domestic hardwoods, such as oak, beech, or walnut, release antimicrobial tannic acid with every cut, says Schryro. This makes it harder for germs to multiply.
Nevertheless, it is also important to clean the boards properly. And if it is too scratched, the BZfE advises replacing or sanding the board.
Tip: It is better to cut strongly colored or odorous foods on a plastic or glass board.
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Proper Care of Wooden Kitchen Utensils
Wooden boards should be thoroughly scrubbed and rinsed after use. Then, allow the board to dry thoroughly. It is also important to remember that all wooden kitchen utensils should not be put in the dishwasher. Bernd Glassl from the Industrieverband Körperpflege- und Waschmittel (IKW) points this out.
The high temperatures, especially during clear rinsing and drying, can cause the wood to warp and even discolor. So if you want to keep your wooden kitchen utensils for as long as possible, it is best to wash them by hand, Glassl advises.
For kitchen utensils that should also look decorative, it is particularly worth paying attention to the correct care of the wood. Cracks can be prevented by regular oiling, says Judith Schryro.
With material from dpa