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Utensils & kitchen tools · Spoon

Wooden spoon

A long-handled spoon of wood for stirring sauces, stews and doughs without scratching pans.

Essential in most kitchens · Manual · 43 recipes

What it is

A spoon carved from hardwood such as beech, maple or olive. Wood does not conduct heat, so the handle stays cool, and it will not scratch non-stick or enamel. Flat-edged versions (spurtles and corner spoons) scrape the base of the pan better.

What it’s for: Everyday stirring and mixing, especially in hot pans.

How to use it

  1. Stir with a figure-of-eight motion across the base of the pan.
  2. Use the edge to scrape browned bits from the bottom after adding liquid.
  3. Beat thick doughs or butter with the bowl of the spoon.
  4. Test sauce thickness by drawing a finger across the coated back of the spoon.

Good to know

Tasks
stirring sauces, risotto and curries, deglazing pans, mixing doughs and batters, creaming butter by hand
Cooking methods
Simmered, Sautéed, Stewed, Braised, Boiled
Materials
beech, maple, olive wood, bamboo
Care and cleaning
Wash by hand and dry upright; do not soak or put in the dishwasher, which cracks the wood. Rub with food-safe oil occasionally. Replace if cracked.
Limitations
Absorbs strong smells and stains (turmeric); can scorch if left in the pan.

If you don’t have one

  • Spatula — A heatproof silicone spatula stirs and scrapes.

Equipment guide

How it works: Wood is a poor conductor, so the handle stays cool, and it is softer than metal so it does not scratch pans. The flat edge scrapes up browned bits from the base of a pan.

MaterialGoodWatch out
Hardwood (beech, maple, olive)Dense, durable and less absorbent.Needs drying and occasional oiling.
BambooHard and light; grows fast.Can splinter when worn.
TeakNaturally oily; resists water.Heavier.
Round spoon
Stirring.
Flat-edged spoon (spatula)
Scraping the pan, deglazing, stirring bhunao.
Corner spoon
Reaches into the angle of a pan.
Indian wooden ladle (karchi or dabbu-style)
Stirring heavy gravies.

Buying guidance

Starting out: One round spoon and one flat-edged spatula in close-grained hardwood.

  • Close-grained hardwood
  • Flat edge for scraping
  • Smooth finish with no varnish

No brands or prices — check current reviews before buying.

Techniques:SautéingSimmeringBraisingStewingTadka (tempering)BhunaoSlow-cooked gravyReductionDeglazingRoux thickening

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Recipes that use it

31 more