Dr. Karl reveals whether wooden spoons are safe to use – and the ‘truth’ behind bacteria lurking beneath the surface
- Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki has revealed whether wooden utensils are safe to use
- Home cooks used to find it disgusting that oil was ‘trapped’ in the spoons
Foodies have been skeptical of their wooden spoons ever since home cooks started putting the utensils in boiling water only to find cooking oil seeping out of the wood.
Australian doctor Karl Kruszelnicki has now revealed whether the absorbent utensils are safe to use on a regular basis – and whether they actually “soak” disease-causing bacteria.
Chefs were ‘concerned’ about bacteria entering the porous surface of wood in the 1990s, and other materials such as steel, plastic, nylon and silicon have since been used instead.
But Dr. Karl pointed out that wooden spoons were “safe to use” because of their natural germicidal properties – and there’s an easy way to clean them.
The famous scientist offered home cooks a detailed explanation in a video.
“Is it safe to use wooden spoons from an infectious disease point of view?” he asked.
“Wooden spoons are so beautiful,” he mused.
“They have an advantage because they can’t break down your porcelain cookware, they don’t add flavor, and when you have it in a pan they don’t overheat.”
Dr. Karl said that although bacteria exist, it is not a real medical threat.
“The bacteria will invade the porous surface and they’ll go under the wood, and then, without nutrition, they just die,” he explains.
“It’s just not in the medical record that (wooden utensils) pose a hazard.”
The best way to clean wooden utensils is to regularly soak them in boiling water to remove cooking oil and food residue.
A home cook has been left ‘disgusted’ after trying a viral wooden spoon cleaning hack that involves placing the utensil in boiling water to see what cooking oil seeps out of the wood (water pictured next)
Popular Australian physician Karl Kruszelnicki has finally revealed whether the absorbent utensils are safe to use on a regular basis
Many shared the simple ways they thoroughly clean their kitchen utensils – and the reasons why they will never part with their wooden spoons.
“I douse mine with white vinegar after dipping it in hot water. I let the vinegar sit for 20 minutes, rinse it well or soak it in clean water,” said one woman.
Another wrote: ‘Just clean it! Warm soapy water, spray with vinegar and air dry.’
“I only cook my wooden and bamboo utensils once a week, it gets the most out of it,” said a third.
“All you have to do is have a pot of boiling water and put the spoon in there for a minute or two, it will clean and sterilize the spoons,” another suggested.
“I love my wooden spoons and chopping boards – it’s much better for your knives and there are no microplastics,” said one home cook.