A staple for most home cooks, wooden spoons, spatulas, and other utensils are extremely versatile, working equally as well with cast iron pans as they do with nonstick, enamel, copper, and other materials (via Southern Living). They don’t conduct heat like metal does, so you don’t have to worry about burning yourself, and when properly cared for, they are extremely durable. It makes sense that most people who like to cook have more than a few of them around.

And yet, wooden utensils have to be babied a bit. They can’t be washed in the dishwasher, lest their natural oils get stripped. They can’t be dried lying flat, lest they warp and crack. And since wood is porous, it can also hold onto food stains and smells, making it necessary to carefully clean and even occasionally disinfect. And that’s where good ol’ baking soda comes in yet again. MasterClass recommends making a simple paste of one tablespoon of baking soda mixed with one teaspoon of water, rubbing it on a stained or smelly wooden spoon, and then rinsing and drying the spoon. If you’re one of the only people on earth to not have a box of baking soda around, then simply soak the spoon in lemon juice, MasterClass advises. Either way, your utensil will emerge fresh — and ready for another few rounds of stirring and scraping.

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Originally Appeared Here