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A wooden spoon is about as basic as kitchen equipment gets — and that is exactly why a good one is worth having.
The best wooden spoons for cooking are comfortable in the hand, gentle on cookware and shaped for the jobs you actually do: stirring sauces, scraping pans, sautéing vegetables and reaching into a deep pot without burning your fingers.
This guide narrows the category down to eight useful picks, from an inexpensive everyday spoon to olive wood, premium options, a handmade gift and one unusually shaped spoon that does more than you would expect.
Quick Picks: Best Wooden Spoons for Cooking
- Best Overall: OXO Good Grips Wooden Spoon
- Best Premium: Earlywood Long Handle Wooden Spoon
- Best for Enameled Cookware: Le Creuset Revolution Wooden Spoon
- Best Budget Set: Zulay Kitchen Wooden Spoon Set
- Best Flat Edge: Staub Wooden Spoon / Spatula
- Best Olive Wood: Bérard Olive Wood Spoon
- Best Gift: Handcrafted Olive Wood Utensil Set
- Best Specialty Shape: Jonathan’s Spoons Spootle
Why Wooden Spoons Still Belong in Every Kitchen
Wooden spoons are gentle on nonstick and enameled cookware, do not conduct heat the way metal utensils do and feel comfortable during longer stirring jobs. They also work across a huge range of cooking tasks without adding another single-purpose gadget to the drawer.
The best shape depends on how you cook. Traditional rounded spoons are excellent for stirring, while flatter edges are better for scraping, sautéing and working around the bottom of a pan.
8 Best Wooden Spoons for Cooking
1. OXO Good Grips Wooden Spoon
Best OverallA simple, comfortable wooden spoon is still one of the most useful tools in the kitchen, and this OXO option is the kind of everyday utensil that works for sauces, soups, sautéing and stirring without scratching cookware.
2. Earlywood Long Handle Wooden Spoon
Best PremiumEarlywood makes the kind of wooden utensil that feels more like a long-term kitchen tool than a disposable spoon. The long handle is useful around deeper pots, and the simple shape makes it equally comfortable for stirring, tasting and serving.
3. Le Creuset Revolution Wooden Spoon
Best for Enameled CookwareIf you cook often in enameled cast iron or other delicate cookware, a smooth wooden spoon is an easy choice. Le Creuset’s Revolution spoon is designed for stirring and scraping without introducing metal edges that can be rough on cookware surfaces.
4. Zulay Kitchen Wooden Spoon Set
Best Budget SetA wooden spoon set makes sense if you cook often and want a few shapes available at once. This is the budget-friendly pick for stocking a utensil crock without spending premium-tool money.
5. Staub Wooden Spoon / Spatula
Best Flat-Edge OptionA flat-edged wooden spoon or spatula is especially useful when you want to scrape the bottom of a pan, break up ground meat or work around the corners of a skillet. This Staub option gives you that more functional edge while keeping the warmth and cookware-friendly feel of wood.
6. Bérard Olive Wood Spoon
Best Olive WoodOlive wood has a beautiful grain and a denser feel than many inexpensive wooden utensils. A Bérard spoon is a good choice when you want a utensil that is both functional and attractive enough to leave out on the counter.
7. Handcrafted Olive Wood Kitchen Utensil Set
Best GiftFor gifting, handmade wood has more personality than a standard mass-market utensil. The natural grain and handcrafted look make this the kind of kitchen gift that feels useful but still special.
8. Jonathan’s Spoons Spootle
Best Specialty ShapeThe Spootle is the odd-looking spoon that makes sense once you understand the shape. It combines spoon and spatula functions, giving you a long edge for scraping, stirring and reaching into corners while still working as a general-purpose wooden utensil.
What Type of Wooden Spoon Is Best?
There is no single shape that is best for every job.
- Rounded spoon: best for soups, sauces and general stirring.
- Flat-edge spoon: better for scraping browned bits, sautéing and breaking up food in a skillet.
- Long-handle spoon: useful with deep pots and Dutch ovens.
- Olive wood spoon: denser, attractive and especially nice for gifting or displaying.
- Spoon/spatula hybrid: useful when you want one utensil that can stir and scrape effectively.
Wooden vs. Silicone vs. Metal Spoons
Wood is comfortable, does not conduct heat quickly and is gentle on cookware. It does require hand-washing and a little care.
Silicone is easy to clean, heat-resistant and particularly useful for scraping bowls and flexible cooking tasks.
Metal is durable and useful in stainless steel or cast-iron cookware, but it can scratch nonstick and enameled surfaces.
Most kitchens benefit from having both wood and silicone rather than trying to make one material handle every task.
Is Bamboo the Same as Wood?
Bamboo utensils are often grouped with wooden spoons, but bamboo is technically a grass. It tends to be lightweight and affordable, and it can be a perfectly useful everyday option.
Traditional hardwoods such as maple, cherry and olive wood generally feel denser and can develop more character over time. The better choice comes down to budget, feel and how much care you want to put into the utensil.
How to Care for Wooden Spoons
- Hand-wash them rather than leaving them soaking in the sink.
- Dry them promptly after washing.
- Avoid prolonged dishwasher cycles unless the manufacturer specifically says otherwise.
- If the wood begins to look dry, use an appropriate food-safe conditioning oil.
- Replace a spoon if it develops deep cracks, splinters or damage that cannot be cleaned properly.
A good wooden spoon can last for years with very little maintenance. The main thing is keeping it from sitting wet for long periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best wood for a cooking spoon?
Hardwoods such as maple, cherry and olive wood are popular because they are durable and pleasant to use. Olive wood is especially attractive and dense, while maple and cherry are excellent practical choices for everyday utensils.
Are wooden spoons safe for nonstick pans?
Yes. Wooden utensils are generally a very good choice for nonstick cookware because they do not have hard metal edges that can scratch the cooking surface.
Can wooden spoons go in the dishwasher?
Hand-washing is the safer approach for most wooden utensils. Repeated heat, moisture and detergent exposure in a dishwasher can dry, warp or crack natural wood over time.
Do wooden spoons hold bacteria?
Wooden utensils can be used safely when they are washed properly, allowed to dry thoroughly and replaced if they become deeply cracked or damaged. Avoid leaving them soaking in dirty water.
Why do chefs use wooden spoons?
They are comfortable, heat-resistant in the hand, quiet against cookware and useful for stirring and scraping without damaging many cooking surfaces.
Is olive wood good for cooking utensils?
Yes. Olive wood is dense, attractive and well suited to kitchen utensils. It does benefit from hand-washing and occasional conditioning to keep the wood from drying out.
How often should you replace wooden spoons?
There is no fixed schedule. Replace them when they develop deep cracks, splinters, persistent odors or other damage that makes them difficult to clean properly.
Final Thoughts
You do not need a drawer full of wooden utensils. One good general-purpose spoon and, if you cook often, one flatter scraping shape will cover most jobs.
For a straightforward everyday choice, the OXO wooden spoon is the easiest starting point. If you want something more special, Earlywood or Bérard are stronger premium options. And if you like clever tools, Jonathan’s Spootle earns its place because the unusual shape actually serves a purpose.
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