Alexandra Ramirez
We spent over 38 hours researching and testing 10 different styles of wooden spoons and found that durability, a wide handle, and a large recess were the most important factors consumers looked for when shopping for a wooden spoon. OXO Good Grips Large Wooden Spoon scored high marks in all categories compared to the competition and is our overall top pick. The thick handle, large recess, and solid construction of this spoon make it one of the most popular wooden spoons with professionals as well as the average kitchen cook. This solid spoon will last decades with the proper washing and care.
1. OXO Good Grips
Best Overall Wooden Spoon
5/5 Product Rating
OXO Good Grips is a widely known, popular company that specializes in kitchen products. This incredible wooden spoon is made to last decades with its single piece of solid beech wood that features a hole in the handle so you can hang it on a hook if you choose.
The wide handle fits comfortably in your hand and makes all types of stirring tasks much easier. The deep recess of the bowl makes it a great serving spoon as well for sauces, casseroles, and other foods that require a serving spoon of some kind.
This wooden spoon from OXO Good Grips is not your average grocery store wooden spoon. With the proper care you could have this solid stirring and serving spoon for years to come.
To keep the spoon in terrific shape for years, do not wash it in the dishwasher or leave it sitting in a pan of soapy water. Wash it by hand, dry it thoroughly and occasionally you can use a light mineral oil rub on it to keep the wood in excellent shape.
– Sarah Lytle
2. Scanwood
Best Overall Wooden Spoon – Runner Up
4.8/5 Product Rating
What would be better than one beautiful solid wood spoon made from gorgeous olive wood? How about a set of three?
Scanwood’s Olive wood spoon set features a classic, functional spoon style with a round, straight handle that is long with a shallow bowl that is perfect for stirring all kinds of sauces and foods. It is also great for tasting.
The durable Olive Wood is long lasting and visually appealing and is sustainably sourced as well making it a favorite choice with those who are looking for eco-friendly products.
The design of this spoon makes it look as if the handle is flimsy or spindly but the sturdy, thick, round handle is long lasting and very durable.
There are three different spoons in this set in 10”, 12”, and 14” lengths. Purchase the set or you can buy them individually as well. This beautiful wooden spoon set makes a perfect wedding present for a couple just starting out or a single person in their first apartment.
To keep these spoons in excellent condition and lasting for years to come you can oil the wood occasionally to prevent it from drying out. For best results wash by hand NOT in the dishwasher and do not let it sit in water.
– Sarah Lytle
3. Le Creuset
4.7/5 Product Rating
Le Creuset Wooden scraping spoon is the perfect addition to any kitchen. Le Creuset is famous for their cast iron enameled pots so you know this wooden spoon is made with quality and longevity in mind.
This scraping spoon has been recommended in cooking magazines and on cooking forums as the ultimate in wooden spoons.
The single piece of beech wood has a comfortable curved handle with a hole for hanging on a hook if you choose. The Le Creuset brand is on the handle as well. The corners and straight edges of the spoon you can easily scrape out pans.
The bowl is just deep enough for using the spoon as a taste tester but is not designed to be a serving spoon. Although the spoon is more expensive than some other models it is well worth it and will last for years to come with the proper maintenance and care. Do not wash this spoon in the dishwasher and make sure you oil it regularly to prevent the wood from getting rough.
– Sarah Lytle
Wooden Spoon Buying Guide
Most people respect the opinions of professional chefs since they are in the kitchen, hands-on with many different types of kitchen tools. Top chefs have preferred wooden spoons for a long time and we have listed the top reasons that they have given for this preference.
Insulated – There are many things that are cooked that a metal spoon can alter the properties of, effectively ruining the sauce or dish. Wooden spoons won’t change or cause any reactions with the ingredients such as crystalizing sugar when heating sugars, etc. If you make your own candy or any other kind of sauce or food that is subject to rapid temperature changes, using a quality wooden spoon will prevent instant crystallization.
Best for Scraping – A flat edge wooden spoon like our Le Creuset scraping spoon is favored by professional chefs because it is the perfect tool to scrape all the pieces of flavor that are on the bottom of the pot or pan. It is also terrific for keeping things from sticking to the bottom of a sauté pan such as onions, mushrooms, and even scrambled eggs. There have even been articles written in Bon Appetit Magazine that list NOT using a flat edged wooden spoon is one of the biggest scrambled egg mistakes.
Tolerates Heat Well – Have you ever melted a plastic serving spoon accidentally or melted the handle of a spatula? Wooden spoons are not heat conductors so there is no worry about the handle of the wooden spoon melting from lying against the pot. You can also grab the handle of a wooden spoon without fear of it burning your hand. The other common issue you won’t ever have with a quality wooden spoon is the edge of the spoon melting from making contact with the bottom of the pan while stirring a super-hot sauce or food the way rubber, plastic and silicone can.
Durable and Strong – Quality-made wooden spoons are extremely durable and long lasting and don’t bend or break the way metal and plastic can. (and frequently does) You can also scrape the bottom of the pans as hard as you need to without fear of scratching the surface of your pots and pans.
Versatile – Wooden spoons are a very versatile kitchen tool. Aside from the regular stirring, scraping, and serving that they are made for you can even use the back of the spoon to crush garlic as it is being sautéed. Many foods like scrambled eggs and risotto do much better when stirred with a wooden spoon.
Visual Appeal – Wooden spoons that are made from quality beech wood or another hearty wood are beautiful as much as they are functional. A quality set of wooden spoons makes a beautiful wedding or Christmas gift that will last for many years.
Longevity – A high quality wooden spoon that is taken care of properly can last forever and that is no exaggeration. They can last so long that you may be able to pass them down to your children to use for their kitchens. The care involved in preserving a quality wooden spoon is very minimal and just involves washing and drying by hand (no dishwashers), not letting it sit in water to soak, and oiling it regularly. A small price to pay for a superior kitchen utensil that can last decades.
Considerations when Purchasing a Wooden Spoon
There are several things you want to think about before you purchase you wooden spoon or a set of spoons. We have listed several things that you should take into consideration that will help you choose the perfect wooden spoon or spoons for your kitchen.
Type of Wood – the type of wood that a wooden spoon is made of has a lot to do with its durability, strength, beauty, and longevity. Look for spoons that are made from harder woods including maple, olive wood, bamboo, and beech. Pine is often seen in the cheap wooden spoons but they will not last very long and can even alter the taste of the food. Beech wood is one of the most common hard woods that are used for quality wooden spoons. With proper care and maintenance, a quality wooden spoon made from one of the listed hard woods can last a lifetime.
Design – A lot of wooden spoons, especially the cheaper ones you find in grocery stores, are fairly flat. A good quality wooden spoon has a large bowl that makes it work well for serving and stirring. The flatter, scraper style wooden spoons may not work well for serving but are excellent for cooking, stirring, and taste testing. There are all kinds of shapes and designs for wooden spoons so see what appeals to you and choose according to what you will be cooking.
Construction – The best construction for a wooden spoon that is good quality is made from one solid piece of wood rather than having a handle and separate head. This prevents food from settling into any crevices since there aren’t any, and makes it a lot stronger as well.
Materials – Most wooden spoons have wooden handles as well but there are some that have silicone or marble handles for added visual appeal. The different material on the handles is more for looks than functionality since wood is non-slip on its own and feels good in your hand. Quality wooden spoons can be so attractive with the solid wood and shapes that you may decide to display them on your counter rather than sticking them in drawer.
Wooden Spoons and Sanitation
One of the common questions that people have concerning wooden spoons is how sanitary they are. Wooden spoons have been used for cooking for centuries. In the 90s when the bacteria phobia era came out, silicone and plastic grew in popularity because many people felt that wooden spoons were not sanitary enough. Research has suggested otherwise.
Even though wooden spoons are porous and can draw in oils and liquids from the food you are cooking with them, does not wick back to the wood’s surface. Any bacterium that has gone into the wood does not multiply and dies eventually.
The best way to get rid of bacteria from the surface of a wooden spoon is to wash it after using it with hot water and soap and then drying it. That will rinse everything away and not give it time to soak into the spoon. Leaving a wooden spoon to soak in water is one of the quickest ways to ruin the wood and cause it to split and crack.
You can use a bleach solution (dilute the bleach) to disinfect your wooden spoons and use a high temperature wash to get rid of any bacteria on the surface of the spoon. Do not let the wooden spoons soak in the bleach water more than a few seconds.
Conclusion
Wooden spoons have been around forever it feels like and they are still just as popular now as they were before the invention of plastic and silicone utensils. There’s just something very appealing about a solid wooden spoon in your hand while you are cooking sauces or making soups, stews, and other delicious foods.
The three top-rated wooden spoons we have featured in this review and guide are top of the line products that are investments in your cooking. If you take care of them you will have them forever. All three of these wooden spoon selections are made from high quality hard woods that are used for their beauty, strength, durability, and longevity.
Choosing one of these top-rated wooden spoons will provide you with an excellent kitchen utensil that will quickly become your favorite whenever you are cooking. If you want to see what else is out there, use the information in the buying guide to sort through the numerous wooden spoons on the market so you can separate the quality selections from the ones that you will hate using and more than likely end up shoving in the back of your utensil drawer.
This information is designed to make the process of choosing the right wooden spoon easier and stress-free. There are some excellent quality wooden spoons on the market from reputable companies so finding one or more that you really love the looks of as well as how it feels to use it will not be difficult at all now that you understand what to look for.
