The best wood for kitchen utensils is hardwoods, as they have the right density and are naturally durable. The best wood cooking utensils can be carved from various wood types like cherry, soft maple, black walnut, and poplar. You can also use other woods like the tallow tree, mesquite, Osage orange, or even pecan. The most common types of wood can be successfully made into wooden spoons, and they will be safe for use in the kitchen.
Hard maple and beech are great, but they are much harder, and they can be a pain to carve if you are not used to it. Also, if you start with wood carving, try to learn to work with pieces of wood with natural twists and bends as they are excellent for carving spoons and other similar implements for the kitchen. Eventually, you will be able to create spatulas and even turners if you so desire, all from wooden stock.
Wooden utensils all begin from a template. Templates are usually made on simple cardstock. Handles for wooden utensils for the kitchen are often ¾” in width or thinner, depending on the need of the person using it. Getting the hang of the proper thickness is important because the utensils have to be easy to wield.
If they’re too long, they will feel awkward in your hand, too. If you have no idea how they should look or feel, refer to your regular utensils or, better, buy some good ones from local artisans to see how they’re doing it. Stout handles are better for people with bigger hands and long fingers as they generally have more grip strength.
