Use wooden, rather than metal spoons & spatulas

...unless you want chromium in your diet

I know it may be obvious, but the number of people I see using metal spoons to stir food in metal pans is frighting - metal on metal with scratch, and those bits go into your food.

The exception would be cast iron on cast iron, as a bit of iron is actually beneficial (tho I still probably wouldn't recommend it - as you can never be sure if the iron used is pure or mixed).

Some wood actually has antiseptic properties, too.

I am not fussed on plastic or silicone - as some leach harmful toxins at high temperatures.

Re: Use wooden, rather than metal spoons & spatulas

Just reading about metal spoons in metal pans made my teeth go funny.

We use wooden for stirring - made by our children in woodwork class many years ago.
(our daughter was the only girl in class - tomboy) I digress.

The plastic or silicone, I thought was safe, so I'll watch out and make sure we don't use them at high temperatures.

Thanks Azz

Re: Use wooden, rather than metal spoons & spatulas

I always use wooden spatulas and have a container full some about 30 years old

Re: Use wooden, rather than metal spoons & spatulas

Conflicting ideas here because has a retired cook we where always made a where that the wood are porous an not has hygienic, has we think... I use the silicone ..an wouldn't use the metal spoons in the non stick pans anyway

Metal spoons best for creaming methods....unless you use a mixer lol

Re: Use wooden, rather than metal spoons & spatulas

I think the EU and UK outlawed wooden cutting surfaces for commercial kitchen units - I'm not sure why tbh.

In a study conducted at the University of Wisconsin (also by Dr. Cliver) they found wooden boards consistently outperformed the plastic:

Re: Use wooden, rather than metal spoons & spatulas

I must admit I have never thought of it before but I always use wooden spoons to stir the food in what ever pans I am using.

I am the same as you Meg some of the spoons I have had for a lot of years.

The thought of a metal spoon in a metal pan sets my teeth on edge as well Janela.

Re: Use wooden, rather than metal spoons & spatulas

Hear, hear. They are always telling us that plastic cutting boards have more germs than a toilet seat so I always chop food on my wooden toilet seat.

Re: Use wooden, rather than metal spoons & spatulas

Thats another topic Bruce lol....
At a friends house an she has one a them plastic coated foam toilet seats {YUK}.. fancy fishes on...omg worse for wear might i add.. an declined the seat for sure. Can you imagine what was lurking..in that seat.....Plastic toilet seats ladies an gents .....

Re: Use wooden, rather than metal spoons & spatulas

The gaol in Utrecht was known as 'The Wooden spoon hotel' because the prisoners used wooden spoons to eat all their meals. These could not easily be used as weapons!

Re: Use wooden, rather than metal spoons & spatulas

All my stirring utensils are wooden and I too have a wooden chopping board.