How do I care for my wooden kitchen utensils?

Wooden utensils often get dry and cracked with lots of use. But with a little extra care and maintenance they will last a long time. Remember to always hand-wash wooden utensils. By putting wooden utensils in the dishwasher, they will cause the wood to eventually crack due to the heat. Washing wooden kitchen utensils with cool water, and mild dishwashing soap and a soft sponge will extend their life.

Wooden cutting boards should be washed and dried immediately after using it. Wood dries more quickly than plastic and therefore does not harbor as much bacteria on the surface.

Wooden salad bowls and serving spoons can be rinsed and washed using a mild soap. Never soak your wooden salad bowl or serving spoons they will absorb water and once dry will crack.

Every once in a while oil your wooden spoons, cutting boards, salad bowls or other wooden utensils. The best oil to use is "food grade" mineral oil which is tasteless and odorless. Simply rub your utensils with a generous amount of oil and allow the oil to soak in for a few hours then wipe off any excess. This process can be repeated as often as necessary and will preserve the life of your wooden utensils.