Handcrafted Wooden Wok Spatula Set

Handcrafted Wooden Wok Spatula Set

I find myself using these with my cast iron pans in the kitchen as much as I do with my outdoor propane-fired wok, which I reviewed in detail here. Wooden spoons are fine for many foods, but a nice wide spatula like these ones are superior for stir frying. The idea is to chase the food around a screaming hot pan. You need surface area – which you don’t have with a spoon – in order to do that.

Wooden cooking utensils are the best choice when they fit your cooking application. They’re light, easy to clean, will never rust – and most importantly – they won’t scratch or gouge your pots and pans. This is especially critical with Teflon or other similar non-stick coatings, whether synthetic or just natural seasoning that you have worked hard to build. Not only will you ruin an expensive piece, but these compounds are not something you want to be ingesting in any amount if you can avoid it.

These spatualas are handcrafted from wood from the Zelkova tree, which grows native in Japan, eastern China, and Korea. They look and feel like they would cost twice as much if they had a name brand on the handle. My favorite feature is their thin leading edge, which makes it really easy to get under delicate foods such as potstickers.

Despite their low cost, I haven’t noticed any splintering or splitting after almost two years of use with these spatulas. I like to apply a thin coat of mineral oil (available at any hardware store) over any new wooden cooking utensil before I start to use it. The oil is completely safe and helps prevent the wood from absorbing moisture, odor, and color from the food when you cook. It also extends the life of the cooking utensil and makes it easier to clean.