Spoons

by Steve “The Spoon Guy” Schuler

I make wooden cooking spoons and spatulas from hardwoods. Each piece is individually shaped with traditional hand tools and hand-rubbed with a food-safe oil finish. I use many different species of hardwood, and my wood comes from local trees that have come down in storms—wood that would otherwise end up in a burn-pile. My utensils are made for regular kitchen use, and with a little care, each piece will last for many years.

Find out more about how I make wooden spoons here.

If you would like to purchase one of my spoons or spatulas, please contact me by e-mail at lastwordsmith AT gmail DOT com.  Most of my spoons and spatulas are between $15 and $20 apiece.

Woodenware Care Directions

Each time I sell or give away a spoon or spatula, I include the following instructions:

Care Directions: Wash your new spoon before using. Hand wash only—never put any wooden item in the dishwasher. Avoid letting wooden items soak in liquids for long periods of time. Cook the soup, not the spoon! The oil finish may dull over time, but the finish will last longer if you wash only in hot, clear water. You can let kitchen oils gradually replace the original finish, or you can restore it yourself by flooding the surface with a food-safe oil, wiping off the excess, and letting the item dry for a day. Direct sunlight speeds the drying. (The best oils are walnut oil and flax oil, which will dry on the wood. Other vegetable oils won’t dry.) Above all, enjoy cooking with your utensil.

Guarantee: Should this spoon ever break in the course of normal kitchen use, you may mail the remains back to me (at your expense), and I will make you a free replacement of approximately the same shape/size/color, subject to wood availability. This is my lifetime guarantee—my lifetime, not yours.

See my tutorial on spoon carving here, and my tutorial on spatula carving (with notes on finishes) here.  Notes on making a wooden cutting board are here.

Photo Gallery

One of my favorite photos of my spoons and spatulas, this shot captures the wide range of natural colors in different kinds of wood.

Despite being made to specific pattern, each utensil is shaped individually by hand, so each one is a little different in shape, size, and heft.

Spoons and spatulas come in many shapes and colors. Sometimes, when the grain is bland, my daughter adds a woodburned design.

Black walnut is one of my favorite woods to use. This set features a little bit of curly figure in the bowl of the larger spoon.

I occasionally make small eating spoons, which are ideal for ice cream.  (Unlike a metal spoon, the wood won’t freeze your tongue!)  I usually make these out of pieces that aren’t quite big enough for regular spoons and spatulas.

This large mixing spoon is made from spalted pecan. The spalting always creates a unique figure, and the pecan is very durable in everyday use.

A set of spoons made from wood I salvaged from my neighborhood. The two-toned spoons are cherry. I have no idea what wood the other ones are.

Wok spatulas are very popular items, and I make them in right-handed and left-handed versions.  These are made from spalted water oak.

A small spoon of soft maple, along with the shavings produced while making it.

I made this pair of spoons from a tree limb I found in the back yard of my house soon after I moved in. To this day I do not know what kind of wood it is, but I was delighted to split the limb open and find curly figure. I gave both away to friends.

A few years ago, I carved this miniature spoon out of cherry for my wife as a Christmas ornament.

I made this spoon for one of my daughters, who likes to play in the kitchen while we cook. It’s made from pecan, so it would be difficult for her to break it. In the background is a serving spoon I made for myself.

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