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The 6 Best Wooden Spoons

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by Kate Miller
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A great wooden spoon is like having a magic wand in the kitchen — it won’t scratch your pots or leach chemicals, and of course, wooden spoons are the tool for doing the old "coat the back of a spoon" test for sauces. The best wooden spoons are made from durable, high-quality woods that won’t crack, and have comfortable handles.

But with so many types of wooden spoons out there, from a flat-edged beech wood to a handcrafted olive wood, how do you know what's best? First off, it's helpful to decide whether you need a single spoon or a set of them, and also what your budget is. After all, a high-quality Le Creuset spoon can cost the same as an entire bamboo 6-piece set.

From there, it's time to talk wood. A cheap wooden spoon is likely to be made of pine, but the best quality wooden spoons are made of either olive wood, bamboo, beech or maple. Since they're harder woods, they're less likely to crack.

Last but not least, it's important to consider the kitchen task you're looking to accomplish. If you're getting an entire set, you'll have the spoon options you'll need to stir soup, fold batter, or scrape risotto. But if you're in the market for a single spoon, then you definitely need the right tool for the job. Will you primarily be using it to stir, sample, or scrape? A round-bottomed spoon will be great for stirring but not for scrapping off bits from the pan, and conversely, a spoon with a straight edge will be good for scraping but not necessarily tasting.

With that in mind, it's time to find the wooden spoon(s) of your dreams. The ones below are all highly rated on Amazon, with tons of glowing customer reviews.

The Best Wooden Spoon Sets

If you're just starting to build up your kitchen, investing in a high-quality wooden spoon set is the way to go. You'll get everything from the traditional slotted spoon to a "spatula" spoon for flipping. Some sets even come with a way to hang or organize the utensils to avoid clutter.

1. An Organic Bamboo 6-Piece Set with a Holder

This eco-friendly bamboo spoon set has it all going on. The spoons are handcrafted with 100 percent organic bamboo, which means they're durable, long-lasting and naturally anti-bacterial, not to mention stain and odor-resistant. They're heat resistant to over 700 degrees Fahrenheit, and feature one-piece construction (i.e. no glues or binders). With a 4.4-star Amazon rating, and more than 900 customer reviews, it's easy to see why those who love cooking love this versatile set.

The set includes five spoons — a spoon, spork, flat spatula spoon, slotted spoon, and a slotted spatula —plus a utensil organizer.

What reviewers are saying: “I bought this item as a I was seeking an addition to the kitchen, but wanted something sustainable and modern looking. I was impressed by the durability and non-staining quality, as any colors from cooking washed off right away.I LOVED the compact tube the utensils fit into, which saves space, and for me that was really important. Totally worth it and exactly as described.”

2. A 10-Piece Teakwood Set That’s Naturally Nonstick

This teakwood utensil set not only comes with five different wooden spoons, it also includes spatulas, serving tools, and a wood-handled whisk. They have a beautiful natural grain, and are polished to a smooth finish that won’t splinter or crack. The utensils are heat- and stain-resistant, and have holes in the handles so you can hang them on a hook or peg board. They’re also easy to clean by hand, though it’s not recommended to wash these in a dishwasher.

What reviewers are saying: "These are amazing. Aesthetically pleasing and sturdy. They’re lightweight but still feel like good quality material. I love how it’s sanded and smooth and has a bit of a gloss. I actually showed them to my mom and she may purchase as well!”

3. An Elegant Scandinavian-Designed Olive Wood Set

This gorgeous olive wood 3-piece spoon set, designed by Scanwood of Denmark, is as beautiful as it is functional. The spoons are handcrafted from durable and sustainably sourced Italian olive wood. They feature a beautiful natural grain pattern and one-piece construction. The set includes a spatula, spoon and ladle for scraping, stirring, tasting, and serving. With a 4.4-star rating and more than 240 Amazon reviews, this is an affordable utensil set that looks and feels much more expensive.

What reviewers are saying: "I have always used wooden utensils in my kitchen, and have had to continually replace them due to chips and splitting. I tried a couple of olive wood spoons and found them to be far better than non olive wood spoons. I bought this Scanwood 3 piece olive wood utensil set and they are beautiful! I know I will be using them for years to come. I have thrown out my non olive wood utensils and will only use olive wood from now on.”

The Best Wooden Spoons For Cooking

If you already have a well-appointed kitchen, you're probably only looking to add a single wooden spoon. The highly rated ones below are all made from high-quality hardwood and feature different shapes for your desired task.

4. A Wooden Corner Spoon With More Than 1,700 Amazon Reviews

Oxo, a trusted name in kitchen products, tends to turn customers into loyalists, and this wooden corner spoon will do just that. In fact, 71 percent of Amazon reviewers gave it 5 stars. It's made of solid one-piece beech wood and features a natural oil finish that protects the wood, and a large comfortable handle for easy stirring. The distinctive corner shape makes it ideal for reaching along walls and in corners of cookware, and also for juicing (many fans raved about its ability to get the most juice out of a lemon).

If you end up loving this spoon, you can add to your collection with one of Oxo's other wooden utensils, which include large, medium and small spoons, a slotted spoon, a sauté paddle, and a turner.

What reviewers are saying: "This is the ultimate cooking tool and I have been cooking for 60 yrs. It’s easy to hold and strong enough to stir resilient stews, etc [...] Today I was making a large batch of caramelized onions and a wimpy slotted wooden spatula just didn’t do the trick, partly due to its thin flat handle. I grabbed this spoon and magically I could scrape all of the good bits up off the bottom of the skillet and around the edges which the spatula couldn’t do.”

5. A Handcrafted Italian Olive Wood Rounded Spoon

If you're looking for a handmade wooden spoon, look no further than this stunning olive wood one from Eddington. Made in Europe, using only the finest southern Italian olive wood, the spoon is beautifully handcrafted, lightweight and strong. It features a 12-inch handle, and its rounded bottom shape makes it ideal for both cooking and baking.

What reviewers are saying: "This spoon is gorgeous. It feels very sturdy, the handle is nice and long, and the surfaces are so smooth. We are trying to move away from plastic and silicone cooking utensils and would absolutely consider getting more of these while making that switch.”

6. A Premium, Slip-Free Flat-Edged Spoon

This Le Creuset scraping spoon is a real chef's spoon. J. Kenji López-Alt, the chief culinary consultant of Serious Eats, called it "perfectly designed, top to bottom." Its elliptical-shaped handle provides a grippy hold and the blunt edge is perfect for scraping ingredients from the bottom of the pan, especially sautéed veggies and thicker sauces. It's made with durable beech wood and is resistant to odor and flavor absorption. Plus, it washes easily by hand and has a hanging eyelet for storage.

What reviewers are saying: "It is such a pleasure to use this spoon that I feel I must write a review. It is great for stirring, especially when you also need to scrape; and it looks good, feels wonderful in the hand, and is well-balanced and thoughtfully-elegant in its design. It clearly wasn't created as a server of big amounts of anything, but it will lift a couple of tablespoons of food per scoop. If you're looking for a gorgeous stirrer and scraper that won't scratch your pot, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more perfect design.”

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