The only problem with those spoons is they will just turn a bland color after being used a while, and the 'GRAIN' will just basically become almost invisible. I'm really sorry to have to tell you this. Use them as decoration in your kitchen if you want to keep that "LOOK". Rubbing them down with a little boiled linseed oil will really bring out the grain contrast, but don't use them for "FOOD" utensils if you go this route.
I have been using the new (to me) bamboo wooden utensils such as spoons, etc,. and have found you can run through the dishwasher with no visible effect, awesome!

Oh, those are gorgeous! My husband turns wood and I've been asking for some spoons....I hope he gets around to it sometime soon! They will look "loved" after a while of using them in different foods that stain etc, but if you hand wash them and don't keep them soaking in any liquid and use tung oil on them regularly...they will still look wonderful forever! I'd say "Use them and love them!"

Absolutely beautiful Ann. I just love wooden spoons!

Shelley

Beautiful, enjoy them!

Those are beautiful and I know you will enjoy using them.

A little gift for yourself is nice, isn't it!

publickman - When you get them from Africa do you get a special kind of wood? I have a son living there and he always asks what I want him to bring back. So far, I have wood carvings and chunky jewelry. I like both.

I bought them to use. If I was gong to treat them with anything it would be with either food grade mineral oil or more than likely Clapman's Beeswax finish for salad bowls, cutting boards, etc. That is what I currently use on all my cutting boards. I'm not worried about the grain becoming invisible. I know from past experience that doesn't happen quickly. As Kickypants said, they will eventually look well loved. And as Kickypants also mentions they will get handwashed and not left to soak.

Shaun, for regular everyday inexpensive wooden spoons, which I seem to have a lot of, I just put them in the dishwasher. I just replace them every two or three years as needed. At least I know they are clean.

Shelley, I love wooden spoons too. Almost as much as I love all my cutting boards.

I've already broke one of them in. Moe suggested that I make some Maple Walnut fudge so I could put at least one of my new spoons to good use.

AS you wish, I was just explaining a fact. Maybe yours will be different.
Changeling

Oh wow! Those are beautiful! I'd use them until they fell apart. As for that fudge, well, thankyouverymuch, I'll have that piece on the corner to the left.

Those are gorgeous! I told my DH recently that for my birthday I might want a really cool-looking wooden bowl (to use for whatever, and then keep on my island in-between uses).

Your new spoons are lovely Ann! While they may be a pleasure to look at, they will certainly give you much more joy to use them, creating something delicious. Like that incredible maple walnut fudge that is taunting me on my monitor:-)

I have been looking around for a couple of new wooden spoons too, a large and small one, and I was considering bamboo since they seem to be well liked. Thanks for chiming in on the bamboo ones, Lars.

Ann, enjoy using those new spoons and creating gorgeous treats!
DONNA

SoonerGM, most of the African spoons I have are ebony, which is extremely strong and durable, but I have some that are made of light woods, although I don't know what they are. They tend to be brittle, and so the ebony ones are definitely preferable.

You can get nice bowls from Africa (wooden, ceramic, etc) and also some nice fabric. I bought {{gwi:1479848}} for my sister's birthday at the 2006 African Expo, and she loved it. It's fairly inexpensive at the festival, but very expensive at decorating shops here.

Lars

Here is a link that might be useful: African Expo in L.A.

Thanks Ann! Now enjoy those spoons AND that fudge!

They're really pretty! Use them and enjoy-- I'm sure you've probably eaten some of that fudge by now!;-)

Ann : You know me and my wood. Just use them and don't worry yourself.
I use vegtable oil on mine. Sometimes I spray a little Pam,
rub and let soak in.
Then rub with a paper towel.
What you are using now is good.

I have a 4 inch thick Maple Top on a worktable, that is 30 years old, or more.
It still looks new. All I use on it is Vegetable Oil.

Same with my 12 year old Maple Spoon. The wood is over 100 years old.

{{gwi:1479853}}

It's getting to that time, when I rub it down with 0000 Steel Wool and clean it good .
Then put on some more Veg. oil.
There are Pro's and Con's about using Steel Wool but !!!!!

Don't you hate it when someone like me, learns a little and
knows it all.
I'm terrible, aren't I ?????
Lou

Ann, they are beautiful! I saw a spalted maple bowl at a festival lately. It was very hard to walk away from it!

I have a few olivewood utensils and a maple spoon that are probably 20 years old and used very often. I hand wash them and use a little Tree Spirit oil on them once in a while. Like you said about yours, they look new. They're neither "bland" nore "yucky". Good tools are meant to be used, IMO. Enjoy!

My wooden spoons, which I use regularly, are at least 35 years old--some were old when I got them then. I don't own a dishwasher so everything is washed by hand. I've never rubbed oil on them, and they're still great.

A good read on the subject:

http://www.crafty-owl.com/wooden-kitchen-utensil-care.htm

Those are beautiful spoons! What a great suggestion Moe had for them! I don't know which looks better... the fudge or the spoons. I could never have anything that nice because I'd ruin it in the dishwasher. I have a santoku knife and an ice cream scoop that aren't supposed to go in the machine... that's too much already!

Thanks for sharing the spoons picture with us. I'll reserve my appreciation for the fudge picture... been considering making fudge (chocolate) for the past few days and convinced myself not to.... you just reminded me of my craving!

Another Vote for Wooden Spoons, here!!

Found a good article on the care of wooden kitchen utensils.......

Here is a link that might be useful: Care of Wooden Kitchen Tooks

Those are beauties! I love wooden spoons, too. You have some great local artists in your area.

Ann: That is a good article Lisbet put in here.

I'll have to start using Mineral oil. Although I never experienced ,
Veg. oil going rancid. Maybe they are used too often and cleaned regulary.
Lou

I have seen spalted Maple --- that is one beautiful spoon!

Oh Lou, I love your wooden spoon. And yes I do know you and your beautiful woodwork. I treat the board you gave me with the Beeswax finish. It is food safe. Before I found that I always used mineral oil. Maybe you haven't had a problem with veg oil going rancid because some of your woods are maple. Maple is suppose to have some natural bacteria killing properties. But to be on the safe side you should start using mineral oil.

Ann

Ann those are just gorgeous! Think I may have to treat myself to some new spoons!

Lou that's one gorgeous spoon too, I love the patina.

I don't know anything about their care, but those spoons are beautiful and I would use them just for the pleasure of it.

Oh those are lovely Ann!

If I had them I would keep them as serving spoons for salads or cold platters where they could be seen on the table rather than for kitchen duty stirring pots of hot soups or stews. I would be afraid that hot tomato based sauces would alter the colour too much so I'd use my inexpensive pine spoons for that. I guess I'd also use them as props for food photos LOL.

I have some large old teak spoons that I use only for serving salads at the table. The plainer spoons stay in the kitchen.

SharonCb

I love your new spoons, they are beautiful! So is the fudge.

Absolutely Beautiful.

Purty, Ann!

Gorgeous. I have a birds-eye maple cutting board that is so beautiful that I rarely use it, and then only as a serving board. Silly, really.

As for wooden spoons, I was given several bamboo spoons when I got married, and they are wonderful. Attractive, sturdy, and so far they seem impervious to mistreatment.

I have wondered in the past about wooden spoon quality. My mother had a wooden spoon that had been her mother's. She had it, and used it, right up until the day she died. On the other hand, I have purchased a fair number of wooden spoons over the years, and have broken a fair number or had them split as well. Did they just use better quality wood back then?

Ann, I absolutely love your new spoons. I too would use them every day!

Back about 20 years ago, DH was tearing out a humongous & very old knarled lilac to make room for new, smaller shubs more in keeping with the scale of the house. That lilac fought him all the way & he ended up pulling the stump out with a chain & our jeep. It almost burned out the engine in the jeep! Anyway, since he knows how much I love wooden spoons...DH spent the winter wittling me a spoon from the ancient lilac wood. I'm left-handed & he designed the spoon on a slant that fits my left hand perfectly for stirring. I still use that spoon today as one of my favorites. It goes through the d/w with only an occassional light sanding with steel wool & a good rubbing with the same oil I use on my wood cutting boards.

Wooden spoons seems to hold memories. My Mom & Grandma both had favorite spoons as well. I don't know what ever happened to them...wish I did.

May your spoons bring you & Moe many wonderful meals in the years to come!

/tricia

triciae wrote: DH spent the winter wittling me a spoon from the ancient lilac wood.

Oh my gosh, that has to be one of the most romantic gifts ever! :)

What rachelellen said! Your husband is too cool, Tricia!

Ann, I'm chiming in about how beautiful those spoons are, too. I admit I cringed when you said you're going to use them with pasta sauce and chile, but then again, why not use them as you see fit? The wax and oil should help prevent too much staining, shouldn't they?

Someone earlier said they use tung oil - is that a food grade product? I kinda cringed at that, too, thinking it might be toxic, but I don't know what it's made of.

Where do you get the beeswax you use?

Sally

Ann : I'll say again, the " link " that
Lisbet put in is good advice.
" Care of Wooden Kitchen Tools"
I'm going to get some mineral Oil, like you said.
Even though I never had a problem, with Vegetable Oil.

I don't think everyone is looking, reading ???

I could add this to the " Link ". Always sand with the Grain.
Especially, with a slightly rougher sandpaper,or you will leave scratches.
Like going across a Cutting Board with a Serrated Knife.

I did a great deal of Antique Furniture restoring, for resale.
And learned a few tricks, thru the years.

If you have a " dent " in any good Wooden Kitchen Tools or Collectible Furniture.
Put a piece of wet absorbing cotton on the spot. Hold it there with a pin.

Don't soak the whole Wooden Tool. It will raise the "ALL" the Grain.

If the spot has a lot of oil or a varnish, etc. finish.
Try to remove some of the Oil with, Rubbing Achohol.

Pinch thru the finish with the pin, all over the area of the dent.
This will allow the moisture to penetrate
Then put the wet cotton on the spot. Keep it wet. I use an Eye Dropper.
This may take 1 to 3 day's but it is worth while, if the piece is a collectible.
Most times it will swell the wood back out to normal.

Does any of this make sense ??? The reason I say to soak just the spot is,
If you have a Collectible Piece of furniture, you wouldn't
soak the whole thing.

If you try this tip on Antique Furniture. Do a test in an inconspicious spot.
They used Shellac for a finish, way back when. It will turn White !!!
It will have to be sanded restained and touched up, with a similar finish.

Save this in you minds Computer.
LOU
PS: If I helped someone, let me know, or send me an email.

I agree, Lou, I have some wooden spoons that I've made myself, and I like maple. When they look "dull", I just rub them with some food grade mineral oil and they are beautiful again.

Ann, those spoons are lovely, as you know, I like wood. I like the grain, the appearance, the feel of wood. I even like the smell of wood. Those utensils will last a lifetime.

Oh, and I'd love a piece of that fudge!

Annie

Thanks Annie: Did you know, I am made of wood ! and I have some fudge. Whoooeeeee!!!

I forgot to say; in my thread, when you put the wet cottonball on the dent.
You can touch a hot soldering iron to it and Repeat as neccessary.
This may steam the dent out in a few minutes.

Lou

Why, Lou, that sounded a lot like you just said "I have some candy, little girl". (grin)

Annie

I cannot tell you folks how psyched I am to find out that there are a lot of other people out there who go into raptures about a new, good quality cooking utensil!

Gee, maybe I'm not a weirdo! :D

The spalted maple (never heard of it before) is gorgeous; what beautiful spoons! I have some hand carved from antique cherry that I thought were the best looking I'd ever seen, but yours may be better! Mineral oil every so often works well on mine.
Hester

Ann the spoons are beautiful and so is the fudge. Enjoy!

Annie: I said something like that. After your dieting,
I guess you can be called a little girl !!! Did that make your day ?
Read your thread again.( 2 down )
And,You rub the Wood with Mineral Oil.

Think anyone has read the tips; in my thread, about
raising Dents in Wooden Kitchen tools and furniture.

LOU

I read them Lou. I read all of your posts.

Ann

I read them all too, Lou. And, that advice for raising dents in the spoons is exactly what Grandpa told me to do for a dent in a hardwood floor!

Oh, and thanks for the "little girl" compliment...

Annie

Those are lovely spoons, Ann. I always loved wooden spoons, but I've got to admit that I just don't reach for them much any more. Yup, I'm a card carrying member of the silicon spatula revolution. Best. Kitchen. Tool. Evah. I still have a soft spot for wooden spoons, but I'll probably never buy another one.

I have a "fuzzy" spoon, reluctant to toss ... thanks for the link Lisbet :)

Ann your spoons are lovely, I have a very old wooden bowl with chopper that I use to chop nuts ... I was a gift from an elderly man who used it for ???? years.

When we speak of 'food grade mineral oil', I am presuming it is the kind one gets in the drug store? I use that on my soapstone but since it can be ingested as a laxative, I'd say this is it? Not that I ever bought mineral oil anywhere else.

Ann, I too had never heard of spalted maple. It makes me think of birds' eye maple. (Is the latter ever used for furniture anymore? or has it all gone? I had a birds eye maple high chair for my sons, and wish I still had it.) I know how you love wood so that must be a welcome addition to your collection.

I am hoping to get some solid good wooden spoons in Spain. Not to hijack but anyone have any suggestions re olive wood? what to look for?

Maureen, I think that mineral oil would be fine, I just bought 8 ounces at the local "big box" home improvement place, I think it was about $3 for the bottle in the wood finishing section.

I regularly rub my wooden cutting boards with some very fine sandpaper and reoil, when I get those "cut marks" from knives.

Annie

I too have been using mineral oil for years to treat wooden spoons, knife handles, etc. MO can be used as a laxative but the small amount used on wood tools will not act that way especially since it will actually dry firm and excess can be buffed off.

Those are beautiful. I love wooden spoons! I sometimes coat my with olive oil and buff or foodsafe mineral oil beeswax to keep them beautiful.