Wooden spoons: features and care

Spoon - this is one of the most ancient cutlery, without which in our day can not do in any home. The origin of the wooden spoon dates back to the Paleolithic era - around this time people first began to use pieces of wooden fragments to scoop up food. For many years, these spoons have been undeservedly forgotten, but recently the eco-food has again become fashionable.

Cutlery made of wood, were widespread for several centuries, but today, despite the abundance of metal and disposable plastic utensils, they have not lost their relevance. Wooden ladles are very convenient for filling the first courses, and scoops from this material are indispensable when stirring hot food in a frying pan with non-stick coating.

Interesting fact: The very first mention of wood spoons is found in the famous "Tale of Bygone Years", dated 966. On the pages of this work, a banquet is described in the palace of Prince Vladimir, who became known for the fact that the warriors were extremely indignant when at the table they were offered to try the prepared dishes not with silver but with wooden spoons. Since then, such dishes have been in use in Russia for a long time and even in those years when the rapid development of the metallurgical industry led to the widespread ousting of wooden items from everyday life.

Among the main advantages of wooden spoons are the following.

• Antibacterial properties - with proper processing, the material does not accumulate pathogens.
• Specific aroma, which tends to be transmitted to food and give them a more intense and vivid flavor.
• Environmental Safety - It is well known that wood does not contain harmful and toxic substances, therefore it does not harm the body. Moreover, it has the property of beneficial effects on the digestive process. Such features make it possible to use wooden cutlery for feeding even the smallest children.
• Low thermal conductivity - you can safely collect even the hottest soup with a spoon and do not burn your lips, as it happens when using metal appliances.
• Strength - products cut out of wood are not deformed, and with proper care they do not crack, crack or scratch, even if they are subjected to frequent mechanical stress.
• Ease - cutlery has a low weight, so even weak people easily hold it in their palms.
• Nice non-slip surface - such spoons do not slip out of the hands, are not cold, they are quite pleasant to the touch.
• Possibility of use for nonstick cookware - in the process of cooking in a pan with a teflon coating spoons of wood do not heat up and do not scratch the surface.

However, wooden spoons have their drawbacks.

• They require special storage conditions and careful maintenance., otherwise the products will not be able to maintain a decorative appearance for a long time.One of these requirements is humidity - it should be about 40-60%.
• Wooden cutlery can only be washed by hand, the dishwasher is not suitable here, the use of abrasives and aggressive compounds is not allowed. After each rinse, wipe the spoons dry with a soft cloth.
• If the spoons are in water for a long time, they are covered with mold, which is impossible to get rid of - such cutlery should be thrown out, their use dangerous for health
• The tree has a porous structure, therefore, it has the ability to absorb odors - this means that spoons should not be stored in the vicinity of spicy products.
• Wooden spoons are more expensive than their metal counterparts.

It is important that wooden spoons are perfectly combined with glass and ceramic dishes, the main thing is to adhere to a single style in design. So, for example, plates painted using the Gzhel or Khokhloma technique look very impressive with wooden spoons.

Such cutlery creates a unique atmosphere around fill the dining room with the national Russian flavor and bring comfort - it is no coincidence that wood has been associated for centuries with the warmth of the home, hospitality and family values.

It should be noted that wooden spoons are widely used as a good musical instrument - all lovers of folk music know that in contact with each other, two spoons make a very sonorous, clean and extremely melodic sound. In many countries of the world, even schools with wooden spoons have been set up.

The history of these amazing devices in our country originates in several small villages spread on the banks of the Uzola and Kerzhenets rivers. In these parts of the world there were infertile, and the locals could not grow a good harvest, which is why woodworking industries became an important source of income.

If you wish, you can make a handmade wooden spoon at home. To do this, you need the following tools and materials:

• ax;
• hand saw;
• file for woodworking;
• chisel rounded;
• rasp;
• sandpaper;
• pencil;
• tree.

Step-by-step instructions for making cutlery includes several steps.

• You must choose a strong piece of wood without rot and cracks, after which it should be cut with an ax or sawed with a saw.
• On a flat surface it is necessary to draw a pencil with the outline of the future instrument.
• Using a saw gently cleaned all excess areas, and the ax attaches to the rounded shape of the outer part of the workpiece.
• It is very important to cut a thin layer of wood. in order to form an optimal angle between the bread and the handle, it is advisable to go over the file through the area of ​​their connection.
• At the next stage of work, polishing is carried out. In order to get rid of the most coarse elements, use sandpaper with a large grain. At the final stage, it is better to take a “nulevka” - this will make the product more pleasant to the touch.
• Next, you can proceed to the manufacture of grooves in the scoop - for this, the chisel gently scratches the wood in small pieces. It is very important to monitor the thickness of the spoon - it should not be too thin.
• When the required form is received, You can trim the wood - for this strip of sandpaper is fixed to a stick with a round tip and process the surface.
• After the spoon is ready, It needs to be saturated with heated vegetable oil.

Today, eco-materials are becoming fashionable again, therefore, products made of natural wood, including tableware, relive a surge of popularity. That is why the manufacture of wooden spoons acquired a serial character.

Nowadays you can find whole sets of wooden utensils, turned on a lathe. For their manufacture use special equipment: cutters, chisels, brushes with a pile of steel, as well as spoon knives and other tools. The technology itself is similar to the home one, but the finished product turns out to be more qualitative, practical and durable.

The art of creating a wooden spoon in Russia has always been well developed. Craftsmen made a variety of products that differed in purpose, shape, depth and decoration. The total number of varieties is large and it is not possible to give their exact figure.

The most popular samples are presented in the Semenov Museum, among them are the following types.

• Spoon for the distribution of Holy Communion - in ancient times it was called a “liar”, at the end of the grip Old Believers usually cut out a two-feathers.

• Mezheumok - This is the most common medium-sized spoon, which was used during the lunch meal, it was poured soup and ate porridge. By the way, the name of the spoon means "something in between, neither this nor that which does not belong to any species, nor to any other." In ancient times, this concept meant not only cutlery, but in principle everything “average”.

• Butyrka - long burlache spoon, its name comes from the old Russian "butyrit" - turn over, stir. The spoon of this species was as wide as the mezheumok, but slightly rougher and thicker. These spoons were kept behind the headdress ribbon; they were their peculiar insignia, "signboard".

• Boskaya (or Baska) spoon - this cutlery had an oblong and obtuse shape, a similar structure had a half-stick, slightly more rounded utensils. In translation, the name means "beautiful, decorated."

• Nosy - so denoted in Russia spoons with sharp noses. There is an opinion that the proverb is about it: “The spoon is narrow, but carries around three pieces, it would be necessary to quickly dissolve it, so that it can carry six.”

• Folding spoons - These are the most expensive devices of all that were produced in the Nizhny Novgorod province.

The use of tablespoons of wood is allowed for a wide variety of processes.

• Stirring soups and second hot dishes, as well as gravies, sauces and cereals. In contrast to the currently popular metal products, these spoons do not heat up, so the risk of getting burned is minimized.
• When cooking some dishes Recipes often require the addition of vinegar - it is best to use wood for this, since the interaction of vinegar with metal often results in a characteristic unpleasant taste, which significantly worsens the finished dish. In some cases, there is also a darkening of the surface of the spoon.
• For kneading yeast dough and some other liquid mixtures, for example, compositions for making pancakes, fritters, pies and casseroles.

In order for wooden spoons to serve their masters as long as possible, need to follow some rules of operation.

• Immediately after purchase The cutlery surface should be treated with a small amount of vegetable oil - if used frequently, this measure will prevent the occurrence of cracks. Oil can be used any - sunflower, linseed, pumpkin or corn, it is desirable to preheat it, blot the napkin and thoroughly rub in a spoon. The device can be used several hours after processing, as the oil must be completely absorbed. It is advisable to repeat the procedure every 10–14 days.
• Wooden spoons should be washed immediately. after their application, since pieces of dried food are rather difficult to remove from the surface of the wood. Clean the spoons with warm water, a weakly concentrated cleaning solution and a regular sponge.
• Wooden dishes should be stored separately, For example, in a glass container or jar, try to avoid contact with wood and metal objects.

How to make wooden spoons with your own hands, see the next video.