The best wooden cooking utensils of 2026, after testing 40

If you want to start making nontoxic swaps in the kitchen, wooden spoons and spatulas are a great place to start. The best wooden cooking utensils can handle nearly any task, have a charming look and are safe to use with all kinds of cookware (i.e., they won't scratch your nonstick pans ). That makes it easy to phase out plastic, but tons of cookware companies produce these tools, so how do you know which ones to buy?

To find the most durable wooden utensils, I started with well-known brands like Chef Craft, Williams Sonoma and Oxo, alongside Amazon favorites like Woodenhouse. I ended up with 40 top-rated options, then I made soups, stir-fries, and pastas to see how well they could stir, flip, and scoop, and how comfortable they felt in my hands. As much as I didn't want to ruin them, I even tried to crack and stain them in my quest for durability. My top picks are classic, durable and, dare I say, beautiful, adding warmth and style to any countertop. Some are sold in sets, handy if your utensil drawer needs a total overhaul, while others are available solo, perfect if you need to replace a stained wooden spoon or spatula stat.

Best wooden cooking utensils for 2026

What to consider when shopping for wooden cooking utensils

There are a lot of different types of wooden cooking utensils to choose from! Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping:

✓ Material:Most of the utensils we tested are made of olive wood or bamboo, but they're not the only options out there. Generally, look for hardwoods, which are dense and durable, making them less prone to cracking or splintering.

• Teak:This durable hardwood is water-resistant — just think of all the patio furniture made from it. Our top pick, from Woodenhouse, is made of teak.

• Olive wood:Another hardwood, olive wood is popular for many reasons. It has beautiful graining, is durable and is naturally antibacterial. You can occasionally coat olive wood with a little olive oil to keep it from drying out.

• Bamboo:Another durable choice, bamboo tends to be lighter-weight and more affordable than many hardwoods. It's often marketed as eco-friendly, but although bamboo grows quickly, it may be processed with chemicals and is often shipped over long distances, so it's not always the most sustainable option.

• Acacia:Like olive wood, acacia has distinctive graining. It's one of the more affordable hardwoods, so you'll see a lot of furniture made from it. It's scratch-resistant and comes in a variety of warm colors.

• Maple, cherry and walnut:These high-quality hardwoods lend themselves to durable utensils that can last decades. Many specialty companies and woodworkers use these materials, and as a result, they can be quite expensive.

✓ Finish:Unfinished woods tend to feel a bit rougher and stain more easily. Look for wood utensils coated in a food-safe oil as a finish, as they'll rinse clean and dry more quickly.

✓ Design:If you're buying a utensil set, look for a range of spoons, spatulas and turners, both solid and slotted. Many sets also come with a salad fork for serving and/or a spaghetti spoon for gripping long noodles. 

✓ Size/depth:Spoons with deeper bowls allow you to stir, scoop and transfer larger quantities of food at once, whereas long handles offer more reach for getting into taller pots (and keeping a safe distance from bubbling liquids and steam).

✓ Care:Hot water and heated dry cycles can ruin wooden utensils, so avoid the dishwasher. Wash all pieces by hand, following the instructions toward the bottom of this story.

How we test wooden cooking utensils

I assessed each wooden utensil upon arrival for quality of craftsmanship, noting whether the wood appeared to be coated, as well as any design flaws, such as unnatural discoloration or splintering. I then spent several days putting the utensils through a variety of tests:

• Cooking test:I used the utensils to whip up a variety of dishes, including chicken orzo soup, stir-fries, saucy penne pastas and mac and cheese.

• Drop test:I pushed a spoon from each brand off the edge of my kitchen counter to help gauge its durability.

• Stain test:I let each wooden utensil rest in a pot of red sauce for two hours to assess its stain-resistance.

• Wash test:I hand-washed each utensil to see how easy I was able to get it clean. I put anything labeled dishwasher-safe through a cycle. 

Finally, I took into consideration things like price, versatility and aesthetics. This helped me determine which utensils offered the best performance and value.

Other wooden cooking utensils we tested

Mooues Natural Teak Spoons, 9 pieces :Like our top pick from Woodenhouse, the utensils in this set are made of teak, with a similarly smooth feel and dark graining. I ultimately chose the Woodenhouse set as the best overall because I appreciated the depth of the soup ladles and liked that the set comes with a spaghetti spoon. But the Mooues utensils appeared just as durable and stain-resistant, despite being a slightly lighter color. The brand sells its ladles separately.

Williams Sonoma Olive Wood Spoons, 4 pieces: Out of all the wooden spoons I tested, I found these to be the most striking — the light and dark wood grains swirl together for a beautiful contrast, and the natural wood is rustic and inviting. The large spoon was deeper than any similar utensil. But this set is expensive at $100, and though I didn't see any staining in everyday cooking, I found faint tomato sauce marks on one of the spoons after testing.

Sur La Table Olive Wood Cook's Spoon :This single spoon has a rustic look, with the Sur La Table logo carved into the handle. It has a long, sturdy handle, but didn't fare as well as other wooden spoons in the tomato sauce test. And at $40 for one, it's a splurge. 

Made In Cookware Wooden Spoon :The bowl of Made In's spoon is wider than the others I tested — it reminded me of a shovel! It's lightweight and comfortable to hold and has decent depth: I was able to scoop hearty portions of penne and mac and cheese. Unfortunately, it showed the most discoloration from my stain testing. And I wish that the hole for hanging was a bit larger.

Faay 13.5" Teak Cooking Spoon :At nearly 14 inches long, the handle on this wooden spoon kept me a safe distance from hot food, and the bowl offered a good amount of depth for scooping pastas and even soups. It survived the drop test, and I like that it has a hole for hanging, but it did show some light staining. 

Oxo Good Grips Wooden Corner Spoon & Scraper :As its name would suggest, this hybrid utensil can be used as both a spoon and a scraper. I was amazed by how lightweight it was and how easy it was to maneuver, and at under $10, it's a real bargain. The only reason it didn't make my top picks is that it showed faint traces of sauce from my stain test post-handwashing.

Epicurean Kitchen Series Medium Spoon :Made of wood pulp, like its popular cutting boards, this spoon is incredibly lightweight, so it's easy to hold and maneuver. If my tests are any indication, it's stain-resistant and shatter-proof. It's also the only spoon I tried that's dishwasher-safe, and it comes with a lifetime warranty. But it's shallow, so you may not be able to use it for certain tasks.

How to clean and care for wooden cooking utensils

Most of the brands I tested called for hand-washing wooden cooking utensils with dish soap and warm water, and laying them out to air-dry. We recommend treating even wooden utensils labeled dishwasher-safe this way, as the high heat from a machine can dry out wood over time. 

To prevent staining, wash wooden cooking utensils immediately after cooking, and store them in a dry area. If you do find marks on the wood, you can tackle it the same way you would clean a wooden cutting board with a paste of baking soda and water. Gently scrub the discolored areas, then rinse and air dry. 

Wooden cooking utensil FAQs

Do professional chefs use wooden cooking utensils?

Chefs use all kinds of cooking utensils, including ones made from wood. It's generally recommended that cooks use stainless steel utensils for meat and fish, as they can go in the dishwasher for a deeper cleaning. Similarly, stainless steel is typically recommended for high-heat cooking, such as deep-frying.

What is the best wood for cooking utensils?

When wood cookware or utensils are properly finished with food-safe oils or sealants — such as mineral oil or beeswax — they're generally considered suitable for kitchen use. Some hardwoods, including teak, are often cited for their ability to naturally resist moisture and odor buildup. As with any wood item, proper cleaning and regular maintenance are key.

Are wood cooking utensils nontoxic?

Wood and bamboo utensils are often popular with shoppers looking to avoid plastic because they're made from solid or plant-based materials rather than synthetic polymers. That said, "nontoxic" isn't a regulated term, and safety depends on how the utensil is made and finished. 

Wooden cooking utensils specs comparison chart

Update, Oct. 13, 2026: We checked prices and availability for all products. Our No. 1 pick for the best wooden cooking utensil remains unchanged, but we updated our top budget pick. We also added more detail on the types of wood used to make these utensils.

We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.