The Blog

Stories from the workshop.

Care & How-To

Can You Boil or Dishwasher Wooden Spoons?

Do not put wooden spoons in the dishwasher — the combination of heat, detergent, and standing water warps and cracks them, sometimes in a single cycle. Boiling will not poison you, but it saturates and roughens the wood, so treat it as a last resort rather than a cleaning routine. A hand wash with mild soap, an immediate dry, and regular conditioning does everything either method is meant to do, without the damage.

Care & How-To

How to Fix Dry, Grey, or Fuzzy Wooden Utensils

A grey, chalky, rough-feeling wooden spoon is dry, not dirty — the oils have washed out of the grain. Let it dry completely, sand very lightly with the grain if the surface has raised, then work in a food-safe oil or a beeswax balm, leave it several hours, and wipe off the excess. Avoid plain olive oil and other cooking oils, which go rancid in the wood. Repeat monthly with regular use. A piece that has split through or warped out of shape is past saving.

Care & How-To

How to Clean Wooden Spoons Without Ruining Them

Clean wooden spoons by hand with warm water and a little mild soap, then dry them immediately with a towel. Never leave them soaking. For stuck-on food, use a coarse salt paste instead of an abrasive pad. For stains and odours, baking soda or a cut lemon does the work without stripping the wood. If the spoon still looks pale and rough after cleaning, it does not need more scrubbing — it needs conditioning.

Care & How-To

How to Care for Olive Wood Kitchen Utensils

Wash olive wood utensils by hand, dry them right away, and condition them every few weeks with a natural oil or wax — never let them soak, and never put them in the dishwasher. The biggest mistake is soaking or leaving them wet, since that's what causes cracking over time. A beeswax-and-linseed-oil balm holds up noticeably longer between treatments than oil alone.

Care & How-To

Olive Wood Utensils: The Complete Guide

Olive wood is one of the hardest, densest woods used for kitchen utensils — naturally stain- and odor-resistant, safe on every cookware surface, and able to last for decades. It isn't maintenance-free: it needs hand-washing, prompt drying, and occasional conditioning, and it should never go in the dishwasher. This guide covers what olive wood is, how it compares to bamboo and plastic, whether it's sanitary, how to care for it, and how ours is made on Lesvos.

Care & How-To

Are Wooden Cooking Utensils Sanitary? What Science Says

Yes — properly maintained wooden utensils are sanitary, and research has found wood often harbors fewer surviving bacteria than plastic. Wood's capillary action pulls moisture (and the bacteria in it) below the surface, where the bacteria die off instead of multiplying. The real risks are cracks, soaking, and the dishwasher — a wooden spoon that's washed, dried upright, and oiled now and then is one of the safest tools in your kitchen.

Care & How-To

What Is a Spurtle? The Scottish Spurdle, Explained

A spurtle (also spelled spurdle) is a slim, rod-shaped Scottish wooden tool designed to stir porridge without lumps. Unlike a spoon, it has no bowl, so it glides through thick mixtures — porridge, risotto, sauces — without clumping. Olive wood makes an exceptional spurtle: hard, food-safe, and built to last a lifetime.

Stories & Craft

Olive Wood from Lesvos: What the Wood Carries

Our olive wood comes from wild, reclaimed trees on the Greek island of Lesvos, where it is hand-carved by three refugee artisans in our workshop. Each utensil, board, and scoop is a product of this unique partnership, aimed at restoring dignity through the quiet work of hands.

Stories & Craft

Olive Wood Heritage: A Story in Every Spoon

Olive wood's heritage is rooted in millennia of Mediterranean tradition, where the gnarled, slow-growing trees are revered for their dense, durable, and beautifully grained wood. This long history is carried into every handcrafted olive wood utensil, making each piece a functional link to the past. At Lesvos Woodcraft, that story continues with refugee artisans in our Lesvos workshop.

Mission

Why was Lesvos Woodcraft started…..You can find the whole story here.

[Link to full story](https://writinghome.blog/2026/02/24/creative-conversations-with-randall-graber-from-lesvos-woodcraft/)

Recipes & Pairings

Ethiopian Doro Wat

Ethiopian doro wat — a bold, spicy chicken stew paired with injera.

Recipes & Pairings

Ethiopian Injera

Traditional Ethiopian injera flatbread — the base for stews and shared meals.

Recipes & Pairings

Pakistani Matar Pulao

A light Pakistani peas-and-rice pulao, perfect as a side or a stand-alone dish.

Recipes & Pairings

Pakistani Chicken Biryani

A one-pot Pakistani chicken biryani that's easy to serve to larger groups.

Stories & Craft

Lesvos Woodcraft Product Review – Deliciously Savvy

This review showcases the beauty and functionality of handmade olive wood spoons from Lesvos Woodcraft while highlighting their mission to support displaced artisans in Greece.

Stories & Craft

Exploring the Artistry of Handmade Olive Wood Utensils: How Supporting Refugee Artisans Creates Positive Social Impact

Handmade olive wood utensils are durable, naturally hygienic, and one-of-a-kind. When carved by refugee artisans under fair-trade practices, each spoon also provides stable income, dignity, and community — so buying one supports both your kitchen and a person rebuilding their life.