To my surprise, a wooden utensil I purchased at WalMart, of all places, is just perfect. It is from the Pioneer Woman line of wooden utensils and is made of olive wood. What caught my eye in the first place was the beautiful wood grain of the utensil, and when I picked it up, it appeared to be of a very good quality, so I purchased it. I have been more pleased with it than any other wooden utensil I have ever purchased and that has been many, many, many.

Did a Google search and came up with an image for the utensil I purchased at WalMart, but the link is to Amazon. And I was wrong, the wood is acacia wood not olive wood. I will say the utensil is much pretty than the one in the link. I wanted a utensil with a flat edge to scrape up browned bits from my ceramic Instant Pot insert, and it works perfectly. On Amazon I see only the utensil I purchased, but when I was at Walmart there were many more wooden utensil types from Pioneer Woman Wooden Utensil

The best 'wooden' utensils I have used are made from bamboo. Wood tends to split and stain after repeated use but not so with the bamboo. I do nothing to them other than running them through the dishwasher as needed.

I too use the Pioneer Woman wooden spoons. Nicely made.

I bought this wooden spoon and fork in Jamaica thirty years ago and I'm still using them. They're made from Lignum vitae, one of the hardest woods known to man. I go to Jamaica two or three times a year. Anybody want a set?

My best wooden spoons were from the hardware store. They have a thick, rounded edge which is what makes them so much better. They're also heavy wood. No fear they're going to break in a heavy stew. :) Whip everything from cake batter to potatoes with ease. I love wooden spoons. :)

Doesn't one of the forum members make premium wooden spoons?

Most of the ones I just looked at on Amazon are too spoony, with thin lips. The ones labelled Jamie Oliver don't look too bad, but are fussied up.

These are raw beech (you have to season them yourself), which is good, and the shape is pretty good.

https://www.amazon.com/16-Inch-Handle-Wooden-Cooking-Beechwood/dp/B06X8ZHY2M/ref=sr_1_96?keywords=wooden%2Bspoon%2Bmade%2Bin%2Busa&qid=1575930653&sr=8-96&th=1

ETA: Ricky's are pretty. I'd use them for general purposes, but the bowl of the spoon is way too deep for baking, IMHO. But, yes, Ricky, I'd love a set next time you go...

[raising my hand over here] I wonder how much that set would cost today? It is beautiful!

Ricky, those are lovely, I like wood, Dad and I even made a couple of wooden spoons before he died. The local Amish community makes some that are beautiful and look sturdy but they are pricey.

Annie

I have olive wood spoons that I like, and I also have some Paula Deen wooden spoons that Annie sent me several years ago, but I believe they are no longer available, as I received them before the PD scandal. Anyway, I especially like the spoons that Annie sent because they have metal rings at the end of the handles, making them easy for me to hang on my pot rack.

I also have some bamboo spoons, but I've never put them in the dishwasher. I don't mind washing them by hand, and I always rinse wooden spoons off after using them.

Dare I admit....I don't know which wood mine are made of and I think most of them are Galloping Gourmet - and that should date them for a lot of you. I have had one spit in the dishwasher and was discarded. I have several and not all may have been from the same set - different sizes and weights depending on what I'm using it for...

I have one that was a gift from a newly retired woodworking hobbyist. It's pretty, but I'm using it decoratively propped against my backsplash. It appears to have a sealer on it, and its cascara wood (the pretty factor) which I wouldn't think would make a great food safe product ;0)

A number of years ago I bought a couple of spoons from Pampered Chef. I do like them.

Ricky, those are gorgeous!

My girlfriend bought a set while we were there last month. $30 and that's without bargaining. We'll be back in April and I'll buy as many sets as I can find. Stay tuned...

I have 2 BBFs purchased about this time last year. And a hundred or so 'secondary friends'. Some handmade beauties, lots of bamboo all prices, mostly inexpensive. old stained ones in a crock in the barn for bbq's.

Look for single material design. not a wood handle, silicone spoon/spatula top.

Wood/bamboo is recommended for pot au choux as the dough comes together in the sauce pan it kind of sticks to the wood and quickly comes together. You will know it when you see it.

Those are gorgeous Ricky. I have a few from travels and gifted but that is a wood I'm not familiar with.

Sleevendog, I love the DiOro Silicone utensils. Just purchased a few sets for several family members as stocking stuffers for Christmas

I also like the Di Oro Silicone utensils. I have gotten rid of almost all of my rubber spatulas that are not seamless. I've kept a few because they are unique sizes, and I have not replaced them yet.

I use silicone spatulas more than anything else these days, but I'm also fond of an Epicurean flat edged spoon. These things really are improvements on wood utensils. You can find them on Amazon and elsewhere, but here's a manufacturer link. https://www.epicureancs.com/product/kitchen-series-utensils/

The whole point of a wooden baking spoon, also for sauces, is the tangible width of the edges. For thin, you might as well use silicone.

Just checked out the Epicurean utensils and liked them until I saw they were only heat resistant to 350.