Candy-Making Basics: Do You Use Wood or Metal Spoons? (2024)

FAQs

Candy-Making Basics: Do You Use Wood or Metal Spoons? ›

In his book On Food and Cooking, food scientist Harold McGee writes, “A metal spoon can induce crystallization by conducting heat away from local areas of the syrup, cooling them and so leaving them supersaturated [causing crystallization].” He recommends using a wooden spoon, which doesn't conduct heat.

Preferably it would not conduct heat – such as a stainless spoon with a wooden handle (as seen below), but even a long handle teaspoon will do. Bamboo spoons work well – assuming they fit your pot. The scale is not critical – so if you are on low budget and can't afford one don't buy it just for candy making.

Wood is Gentle

When blending ingredients, a wooden spoon tends to push the ingredients together. Contrast this with a metal spoon that cuts through the mixture and can ultimately have an affect on the end result.

Because wooden utensils don't conduct heat, they're a great choice for dishes like risotto and polenta, which need constant stirring. Unlike plastic (which will melt) or metal (which will get hot in boiling water), you can easily rest your wooden spoon on the side of a hot spot when you need a stir break.

Wood is not only kinder to your pots and pans, but also to our planet. Wooden utensils have natural qualities that mean they handle heat better, do not become too hot in use and have antibacterial properties that help trap and eliminate germs and bacteria, making it safer to use and more sanitary.

In his book On Food and Cooking, food scientist Harold McGee writes, “A metal spoon can induce crystallization by conducting heat away from local areas of the syrup, cooling them and so leaving them supersaturated [causing crystallization].” He recommends using a wooden spoon, which doesn't conduct heat.

A Sturdy Pot

You can't get anywhere in the candy making world without a dependable, thick-bottomed, super sturdy saucepan. You already have saucepans in your kitchen, but you might not have the proper pan for making candy. Make sure the pan you use to cook candy is at least 3 quarts and is on the heavy side.

Seasoning is the process of treating a wooden spoon with oil to create a protective layer . Even though many consumers wouldn't even know their spoons needed it, it is absolutely vital in preserving the life of the spoon.

Why are wooden spoons bad? ›

When used in sauces and soups, wooden spoons tend to retain stains. That's why many people worry about these spoons harboring bacteria and contaminating food. But as with all other types of spoons, wooden ones will be a breeding ground for bacteria when they aren't thoroughly cleaned.

We can put stainless steel spoons, but should not leave the stainless steel spoons in the pickle jars, as pickles contain brine / vinegar. These substances react with the stainless steel and corrode it, and also form unhealthy salts during the reaction.

As it turns out, it has a major purpose. A recent Imgur post is blowing minds across the Internet by alerting us to the fact that the nifty hole in your spoon is actually meant for measuring out recommended serving sizes of spaghetti—so you know exactly how much to make.

Hygiene & sanitation – Since wood is a porous material, it can quickly absorb moisture and bacteria from wood and water. It's not advisable to be reused, especially in a restaurant setting. Additionally, some wooden cutleries retain strong odors from food which is undesirable in most cases.

By using wooden spoons to serve mustard, you can avoid the metallic taste that is caused by the reaction between metal utensils and mustard.

From Gordon Ramsay to David Gaus to Michael Ruhlman, there is a reason wooden spoons are the overwhelming choice of top chefs and everyday kitchens alike, and are praised by the likes of Fine Cooking, Slate.com, Men's Health magazine and more.

A wooden spoon or heat-proof silicone spatula to mix the butter and heavy cream into the hot sugar. Don't use something plastic that can melt, or something metal that might burn your hand! A whisk. A jar or airtight container for storing leftover caramel sauce.

If the candy cools too quickly, set it on a saucepan over hot water to soften it, but if it gets sticky, return at once to the work counter. Toss in a small amount of powdered sugar to keep from sticking together. Repeat with the second pan of candy.

Enter the metal spoon—stainless steel preferably—because you want a tough, dense metal to break up chunks of ground beef, stir through thick pots of ragu, and crisp cubes of sweet potato for a nice hash.

A dessert spoon is a spoon designed specifically for eating dessert and sometimes used for soup or cereals. Similar in size to a soup spoon (intermediate between a teaspoon and a tablespoon) but with an oval rather than round bowl, it typically has a capacity around twice that of a teaspoon.