I have a lot of wooden utensils in my kitchen drawers, but the one thing I possibly have far too many of is wooden spoons. I use them for cooking and baking on a daily basis because they’re softer on my pots and pans, antimicrobial, and don’t get incredibly hot to touch.
But with an abundance of spoons in my life, I also know it’s important to clean them properly to ensure they’re as long-lasting as they should be — and to stop any hidden nasties getting into my food. While I thought a hot, soapy wash was more than enough, my TikTok algorithm has started to show me videos of people boiling their wooden spoons.
Why people are boiling their wooden spoons
Wood is a porous material, meaning there’s tiny holes and gaps that your food and cooking oils can easily become absorbed within.
So, when you’ve got a wooden spoon that you’ve used it a lot, there’s a high chance it’ll have soaked up food and grease particles into the wood, harboring it there and even giving off a bit of a smell.
That’s why, when you watch a video of someone boiling a wooden spoon, the water they dunk the spoon into usually turns from a lovely, clear color to a dirt,y grimy color. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to do at home.
How to deep-clean your wooden spoons
As demonstrated in a TikTok video by @coastalflip, to clean your wooden spoons you follow these three simple steps:
- Place the wooden spoons in boiling water, letting them soak briefly
- Remove and dry thoroughly with a paper towel or dishcloth
- Apply a layer of coconut oil sparingly over all parts of the wood before washing off
Coconut oil is a great way to add moisture back into your wooden spoons, as well as adding a layer of protection. This will reduce the chances of the wooden spoons drying out, cracking or staining.
For the best results, it’s advised that you let the coconut oil soak on the wooden spoons for a few hours or preferably overnight before washing it off (with warm water, not boiling).
I also use this re-conditioning method on any bamboo serving plates I have in my home, using it once a month to breathe new life into my kitchenware.
The downsides
While people are boiling their wooden spoons (and now, so am I), it’s very important to make it clear that this is a deep clean method that should be carried out infrequently, and not something that should be part of your regular routine.
If you do this too often, you’ll end up ruining your spoons for good, as the boiling water will crack, warp, and strip away the lovely antimicrobial properties and natural oils from the wood.
So, while it’s a great method for giving your wooden spoons an intensive clean and rejuvenation, you’ll want to opt for warm water and dish soap for your day-to-day cleaning and leave the boiling water for every month or so.