Prep Tools

Wooden Spoon

Gentle, heat-friendly spoon for stirring anything

The timeless stirring tool — won't scratch pans, won't conduct heat to your hand, and won't react with acidic sauces. Its flat edge scrapes up fond from the bottom of the pan. Keep it out of standing water and oil it occasionally.

The wooden spoon is the timeless stirring tool: it won't scratch your pans, won't conduct heat to your hand, and won't react with acidic sauces the way some metals can. Its flat-ish edge scrapes up the browned fond at the bottom of the pan, where so much flavor lives. Cared for simply, a good one lasts decades.

Types & varieties

Round-bowl spoon

Classic shape for stirring soups, sauces, and stews in deep pots.

Flat-edged / corner spoon

Straight or angled edge that reaches pan corners and scrapes fond — best for risotto and sauces.

Slotted wooden spoon

Perforated bowl for stirring while letting liquid drain through.

Olive wood

Dense, beautiful grain, low porosity — durable and resists odors and staining well.

How to care for it

Wood is porous, so the enemies are prolonged soaking and the dishwasher's heat, both of which crack and split it. Wash by hand, dry it standing up, and now and then rub in a food-safe mineral or fractionated coconut oil to keep it from drying out.

Never leave it soaking in the sink or a pot
Keep it out of the dishwasher
Re-oil with food-safe oil when it looks dry or pale
Replace it if it cracks, splinters, or smells off

Common uses

Stirring soups, stews, sauces, and risottoScraping fond from the bottom of the panSautéing without scratching nonstick coatingsFolding and combining ingredients in a bowlStirring acidic tomato and wine sauces without any metallic tasteResting across a pot to prevent boil-overs

Tips & pitfalls

Use the flat edge to scrape fond off the pan bottom — it's where deglazed flavor comes from.
Keep a dedicated spoon for sweet jobs; wood absorbs garlic and curry aromas.
Lay it across a pot to break surface tension and help stop pasta water boiling over.
Rub in a little food-safe oil a few times a year to stop the wood drying and cracking.
If it ever smells musty, you've let it soak too often — dry it standing up after every wash.

Good to know

Material: Hardwoods — beech, olive, maple, bamboo
Why wood: Won't scratch, won't conduct heat, won't react with acid
Care: Hand-wash, dry standing up, oil occasionally; never dishwasher
Price range: €4–20
Best for: Stirring everything; scraping fond; tomato and other acidic sauces

Also called

wood spoon