How to Care for an Olive Wood Cooking Spoon

Olive wood is dense and close-grained, which is what makes it hard-wearing and pleasant to cook with. A little routine care keeps it smooth and prevents the wood from drying out or cracking. Here is the simple routine we recommend.

Everyday cleaning

• Hand-wash with warm water and a little dish soap right after use.
• Rinse and wipe it down — don't leave it soaking in the sink.
• Skip the dishwasher. Prolonged heat and water swell and eventually split the grain.

Drying

• Towel-dry, then let it finish air-drying standing up so both sides dry evenly.
• Store it somewhere with airflow rather than sealed in a drawer while still damp.

Re-oiling (every few weeks, or when it looks dry)

• When the wood looks pale or feels dry, rub in a thin coat of a food-safe finishing oil.
• Let it sit for 15–20 minutes, then buff off the excess with a cloth.
• This restores the sheen and helps the wood shed water instead of absorbing it.

A few things to avoid

• Long soaks and the dishwasher (the two most common causes of cracking).
• Leaving it wet against a hot pan edge for long stretches.

Looking for one? See the Natural Olive Wood Cooking Spoon — or browse all kitchen tools.

This guide is general care advice for natural wood utensils and makes no health or environmental claims.