FOOD NEWS
When You Should Be Throwing Away Your Wooden Cooking Tools
By Andrea Francese
Wooden cooking tools are aesthetically pleasing, gentle on pots and pans, and easy to find, but they do have a limited shelf life. While there are methods you can use to help your wooden spoons last longer, there comes a point when your old ones need to be thrown out.
Wooden utensils are safe to use while cooking; however, they are no longer considered as such when cracks start forming on the surface. Although they are common since the wood expands and shrinks due to ambient temperature and humidity, cracks, even small ones, can harbor bacteria.
To extend the shelf life of your wooden cooking tools, avoid using a dishwasher or soaking them in water; instead, hand wash them with mild dish soap and hand dry with a towel. To make them last even longer, rub a food-safe mineral oil on your wooden spoons and cutting board once every 30 days.