Bamboo is great. the wood is very fine grained and dense. I toss mine in the dish washer. they last for years in spite of the abuse.

I like my wooden spoons but prefer another utensil. Not sure what it's called. It was my son's and when he moved in with me before going in the Air Force I inherited it. I don't want to give it back either. It's kind of like a spatula but isn't bent, one flat piece. I use it to sautee everything. Has a wider end than spoons so it scrapes the pan better. I wash everything in hot soapy water. No one has even gotten sick.

I have several pieces of Pampered Chef bamboo utensils that I've had for years. They still look great.

I have wooden spoons and spatulas similar to what kathsgarden describes that I have used since before I was married 36 years ago. I also handwash in hot soapy water (I've never had a dishwasher and don't want one) and there is no "ick factor".

Yeah, I also I have a wooden utensil like kathy's. I've used it for years too, great for sautee, for stirring soup, etc. I wash it in soapy water. I do sometimes wonder about the ick factor but I use it so much I don't want to get rid of it. I recently saw a pack of wooden utensils with one similar to mine in with them, but it didn't look as substantial as my old one. Didn't look as beat up as mine tho. : )

Schoolhouse, mind is perfectly straight and has slats in the wider end, but basically works the same.

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/684687949578197656/?lp=true

Like the third one over, the one that says FLIP

Chinese and other orientals have been using wooden (often bamboo) chopsticks, and other utensils, including bowls, for centuries and there've been almost no worries about such.

Wooden bowls are often used in our society to hold food and there have been almost no claims of bad results when appropriately cared for.

ole joyfuelled ... who often uses wooden chopsticks to deliver food

I collect vintage, stainless cooking utensils with plastic or bakelite handles. It is the one thing I still collect and I look for them all the time at flea markets and thrift shops. Most are made in USA but there are also some older, good quality, made in Japan. I love them and use almost nothing else.

Well I need new pans and thinking in additional to plastic cooking utensils, I'd add wood. My issue with plastic is they come in two piece and after you wash them water leaks out of them..yuck. I've had my eye out for solid one piece plastic but don't come many made like that.

What about the more silicone type utensils. I see those in one solid piece but I feel like plastic are more durable..?? Thoughts, you use silicone? pros, cons...

I love wooden utensils and have many types, including the one Kathsgrdn mentioned, but without slots. I like that they don't get hot and don't damage cookware like metal utensils do. I don't know what the "ick factor" is. They're very easy to clean ; scrub with hot, soapy water and rinse well. I prefer to let them air dry. I've stopped washing them in the dishwasher, because it's tough on wooden utensils (and anything with wooden handles) and can even damage them.

I have a number of wooden utensils, I love them! I have a couple just like the one Schoolhouse pictured. And one just like the one Kathsgrdn posted a link to. And several wooden spoons of various sizes. A wooden utensil is always the first one I reach for! I don't understand the "ick factor" comment at all. Why would anyone think that wood is automatically 'icky'? But if that (false) belief bothers you, then by all means, don't use wooden spoons.

Rusty

I understand (but don't personally share) the ick factor. I think a careful washing gets them clean enough.

We don't use wood anymore and have switched to silicone utensils.