Both plastic and wooden utensils have their own benefits and drawbacks. Either can be very affordable and can be easily found in the cooking department of most stores as well as on the Internet. The choice between them may come down to personal preference.
Scratching
Both wood and plastic utensils generally will not scratch the surfaces of pots and pans. This includes even the most delicate of cooking surfaces such as non-stick pans. Plastic utensils have commonly been made with this non-stick surface in mind.
Melting
Unlike plastic utensils, wooden utensils will not melt. They are usually safe to leave in a pan that is hot even if the pan goes some time without being monitored. On the other hand, plastic utensils do not have the same durability that their wooden counterparts do when exposed to the heat from pots and pans. Unfortunately, plastic utensils left unmonitored will eventually melt and make a sticky mess.
Cleaning
Some foods can seep below the surface of wooden utensils. Wooden utensils are also more difficult to clean and have a tendency to become a breeding ground for bacteria. A wooden utensil that becomes bacteria ridden commonly needs to thrown away and a new one purchased to replace it. When wooden utensils are purchased, the buyer should be certain that the utensil has been treated to prevent the growth of bacteria. However, plastic utensils do not have this bacteria problem and are easier to keep clean.
Flexiblility
Soft plastic utensils tend to be useful while cooking to move the food around or manipulate its position for better cooking results. Wooden utensils tend to be stiff and unyielding in pots with food.
Staining
When cooking some sauces, plastic utensils have a tendency to stain after being used to stir them. Wooden utensils, on the other hand, generally do not carry with them the color of what food or sauce they were just used to stir.
Splintering
Wooden utensils can sometimes crack or splinter in places if left in water to soak or wash for a long period of time. Plastic utensils do not have this problem. They are generally more durable than their wooden counterparts if left in water to soak.
Environmentally Conscious
Some wooden utensils are made from sustainable sources. This makes the wooden utensil a more environmentally conscious utensil to choose for use in the kitchen. Plastic utensils are manufactured from man-made chemicals and are thrown away after their useful life is finished.
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