How to remove stains and smells from wooden spoons … kitchen helper
It is an essential piece of kitchen kit, used by generations of home cooks to stir, mix, fold and combine. And while there have undoubtedly been challengers in the form of plastic, synthetic and silicone spoons, the humble wooden spoon has stood the test of time. While they’re a fantastic kitchen tool, wooden spoons can be prone to staining and taking on the smells and flavours of food. So, what can you do when your wooden spoons don’t exactly look or smell like they used to?
Here’s our top tips to get those wooden spoons looking and smelling fresh again.
1. Handwash – never put wooden spoons (or any wooden utensils) in the dishwasher as this can cause them to crack and break. Instead, wash them by hand in soapy water and allow them to air dry.
2. Oil – over time wooden spoons can dry out. Take care of them by rubbing them with food-grade mineral oil about once per month.
3. Banish odours – by their very nature wooden spoons are porous and can become stained and take on odours and flavours. To eliminate these, cut a lemon in half and sprinkle it with bicarbonate of soda. Use the lemon to scrub the surface of the wooden spoons, then wash with soapy water and leave to air dry.
4. Get rid of gunk – if your wooden spoons have a build up of stains or crusted on food, soak them in a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. Leave them overnight and then wash in soapy water and air dry.
