Mine have come from a variety of sources including a three or five pack of just spoons from Wal Mart. I have some that were gifts of different wood -- as far as use and durability I don't see that much difference. (Plus I like a spoon that looks used!)

A have a. collection from everything hand carved from Italy to the 2.99 six-pack bamboo ones. I would not spend the money on the high end ones unless you are very familiar with the size and shape. (I have a fancy one I never use and a bamboo rice paddle I am always looking for...use it all day, so I have a few).

A nice favorite one , a gift , I've had for years , just split last year. So I replaced with this flat angled one and two different size spoons. (buy 2 get third free).

Good quality and priced somewhere between bamboo and olive.

I do take care and wash by hand. Bamboo goes in the dishwasher they are so durable.

I prefer bamboo. Extremely durable, dishwasher proof, economical and fully sustainable.

One of my favorite wood spoons starting splitting a few months ago and I don't recall where I got it. On a whim, I grabbed this one at Ikea last month and I love it. It's made of beech and Ikea claims it's from a sustainable source. Like others have noted, I can't really tell a difference among types of wood spoons. I have a few favorites, as well as some I never use.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10278460/

There's one labeled LeCruset that has a flat edge. It's my favorite. I read about it on Serious Eats, and tried it. (Altho I don't think it cost that much 4 years ago.)

https://www.seriouseats.com/2017/10/best-wooden-spoon.html

Honestly, I have so many wooden spoons! I think the ones I reach for most often are from World Market...long ago. They've all held up nicely.

My faves are the ones made of olive wood--they're so pretty and functional! They are often the workhorses of spoons in my kitchen.

I'm no connoisseur so to me a wooden spoon is a wooden spoon. I just buy the pack of cheapo crappo ones from the grocery store and use them till they get, well, used looking, and then I replace them with more cheapo crappo ones! Probably not what you were looking for in an answer, but I'm wondering, what makes a "good" wooden spoon better than a cheap one?

To me, a better wooden spoon is one that does not crack or discolor in water (or tomato sauce) which all the "cheapo crappo" ones seem to do and that lasts indefinitely :-) For me that is bamboo....and even the extremely inexpensive bamboo utensil sets sold at Walmart (about $5-6). Bamboo has exceptional durability, is stronger and longer lasting than wood. does not absorb water (or other liquids) and has natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal qualities.

Is there any truth to wooden spoons trapping food in the wood causing bacteria to grow...kinda same as wood cutting boards? I like the multipak of bamboo spoons from Walmart. I don't like the real cheapos as the handles are so skinny.

Hmm. I've never really thought about wooden spoons. We have 2 (3 if you count the one that is oval but not spoon shaped - never use that one) that DH may have brought into the relationship a looooong time ago. They're a light colored wood and look fine after all these years. They are hand washed. Oh, one may have been used to pry into a garbage disposal years ago. The handle is a bit mangled towards the end. ;-)

My favorite ones are old. As in weathered. :) I'm not completely sure but I think I have maple and birch as well as a number of softer ones. I think I did buy some a couple of decades ago, but many are hand-me-downs and freebies. I like freebies, and put them in the dishwasher. I'm more careful with my old treasures. :)

Like any wood or clay, a non-resined spoon will become seasoned if it's used with oils a lot.

I have bamboo cabinet fronts. Bamboo has its place. I do not like compound materials for cutting boards and tools. The resin bugs me. At that point I'd rather use silicone.

In general, however, I think the shape and heft is more important than the kind of wood, and that shape and heft is about what feels good in your hand and stirring a heavy lot of food. That, with the caveat that the whole point of a wooden spoon, in particular, is that it has a wide edge which is better for stirring and scraping the bottom. Plus, it should please you to look at and feel.

What I look for in a wider handle. So many wooden spoons have very small handles which make them hard to hold when stirring. I don't usually use a wooden spoon but I have a wooden spatula that I use often and it has a flat wide handle. I just looked at it and it's Oneida and I do believe that it is bamboo.

Mamapinky, wood is naturally antimicrobial (if you let it dry) and no, there's no truth to the bacteria legend for wooden spoons and not much for cutting boards. Bacteria can get caught in the knife cuts in any kind of cutting board. If you have knife scars on your wood cutting board, you should sand it smooth or replace it. If you have knife scars on any other material cutting board replace it. Unscarred plastic has been shown to retain more bacteria even after being in the dishwasher. Unscarred wood retains the least bacteria. Well, I'm not including glass, which some people do use, but you can get tiny glass chips in the food and it's hell on your knives' edges.

Wash your wooden spoons with hot water and dishsoap. Oil them once in awhile if they get dried out. They'll be clean. Because you washed them.

Annie, I can sure see how that maple spoon would be special.

Thanks for all the responses! I'm going thru my utensils to sort out items that I don't use much and decided it would be a good time to replace the spoons that were the wrong shape or the nasty looking ones. It sounds like bamboo, olive, maple, walnut and beech are durable. Thanks for the pictures and links.

Sleeve: those look like great shapes, as well as being a rich looking wood.

Feathers: I like the shape and wood of the Ikea one, as well as the price!

Sushipup: that is a great looking spoon, but the price is a shocker! I haven't shopped for these in a long while, so I may be out of touch. I would rather buy a quality piece and pay more than a lesser quality one and have to replace frequently.

Annie: That would be a really special spoon. I love the gifts I've been given that bring a special person to mind when I use them.

I KNOW that spoon didn't cost that much several years ago when I bought mine, or I'd never have purchased it!

I'm not kind to mine and I've had them forever and I do dishwasher them usually!

I have a lot but my favorites are Jonathan's Spoons. Beautiful and functional.

Perhaps I'm odd but for me, I like pairs of spoons. Easier to toss food with 2 and I have a thing for things that match lol The wood doesn't matter to me.

oooooo..... I love my wooden spoons and utensils. I pick them up wherever I see ones I like. The last one I bought came from Basketville in VT and was made in Poland. It's large/sturdy and comes to a point at the end of the handle. I've never had olive wood, but I'd love some because it looks so beautiful in photos.

Isn't there someone on this forum from Maine that makes and sells wooden spoons? I recall seeing photos posted years ago. Hoping they'll pop in!

I like my Pampered Chef spoons. They are not so thick that they are like a blunt object, clubbing my food. The edge is a bit thinner and gets underneath foods more easily. Mine have not stained.

I still mourn the loss of this one my mother gave me 30 yrs ago. it was a risotto that killed it.

I still have its partner but we find it is not an everyday grab. holes and forkish shapes do not clean easily so the go-to is still the bamboo ones especially the rice paddles. Now DH really wants this bamboo one...we have a SurLaT nearby so I'll pick one up.

it does seen to have the perfect shape. (he wants a go-to workhorse) and not a fancy one for fear of breaking. He is hesitant to touch the new ones.

I didn't pull them all out but the chubby one is from a Maine woodworker from a recent road trip. The Ikea ones are starting to split. MIL gave me her rolling pin (love)

And her 50's era walnut salad servers.

We use the bamboo with the red handle most often. and the rice paddles. (in the dishwasher at the moment)

Years ago I learned a great tip from Annie. Wooden spoon handles get rough; water raises the fibers. If you rub them with a paper bag, they get smooth again! The paper bag has enough fibers itself to rub away wooden spoon's roughness.

omg, that paper bag idea is brilliant! I just tried it on a newer wooden spoon set. Thank you for posting that tip, cloudy_christine, and thank you for sharing it, Annie! I'm gonna be busy rubbing my spoons later. lol!

sleeve, that paddle spoon is a beauty! So sad that it broke. I have one that's a similar shape and use it constantly. Would hate to lose it.

ETA: what the heck was in that risotto? lol!

That would be me. Lol. My sister and I make spoons and other wooden kitchen tools. We mostly use cherry, walnut and maple.

They are beautiful. Where do you sell them?

I love your spoons. They would make the best wedding presents.

Thank you.

We sell them at shows around Maine. We have an Etsy shop with some items - more production work. We make a limited number of spoons and sell out pretty quickly.

Wow. How do I find your Etsy shop?

agmss, I knew you had an Etsy store, and I used to be able to find it. The couple of times I looked, you were sold out, so I thought you were probably selling all you could make.

They are beautiful utensils, that's for sure.

Annie