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When should you throw away your wooden spoon and other kitchen tools?

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When should you throw away your wooden spoon and other kitchen tools?

There’s more to food safety than groceries. Your kitchen tools need to be replaced regularly too.

By Tay Hui Zhen - 26 Feb 2016

when to replace wooden spoons

If that plastic chopping board has been your kitchen companion for more than three years, it’s time to look for a new one.

As for wooden chopping boards, they can last a lifetime, provided you maintain and care for them properly. Otherwise, if yours is cracked or distorted in shape, you should have it replaced. This is to prevent the growth of bacteria at the crevices, and to prevent accidents as a warped surface may make it unsafe for cutting.

These are the suggestions by lifestyle sites PopSugar and PureWow as they list the “expiration dates” of common kitchen tools.

It might seem alright to continue using these tools forever as they hardly really break apart. But sometimes, there are telltale signs that indicate it’s time to go kitchenware shopping. For other time’s when it’s not so obvious, PopSugar and PureWow have a rough gauge of how often you should be replacing certain utensils.

Click on the gallery to find out when to toss out your kitchen tools.

This story was first published on Soshiok.com

https://www.herworld.com/gallery/shopping/when-should-you-throw-away-your-wooden-spoon-and-other-kitchen-tools/

When should you throw away your wooden spoon and other kitchen tools?

1. WOODEN SPOONS

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Photo: Tanisorn Supunyarak

Wood absorbs moisture easily and this could foster bacteria. To be on the safe side, replace your wooden spoons every five years or when they start having cracks, discolouration or soft spots.

2. RUBBER SPATULAS

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Photo: David Smith

PureWow suggests replacing them every two years or when they’re deeply scratched, chipped, melted or heavily stained.

3. PARING KNIVES

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Photo: Charlotte Lake

Replace them every two years or when they rust, break or no longer responds to sharpening. Sharpen them once a week to extend their lifespan.

4. NON-STICK COOKWARE

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Photo: markstout

Both PureWow and PopSugar recommend replacing them every two to three years. Or when the surface chips or scratches. Or when it’s no longer that easy to scrub foods off them.

5. PLASTIC CHOPPING BOARDS

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Photo: Olga Kovalenko

Replace them every three years or when they have deep knifing marks. PureWow advises having separate boards for meat/poultry and fruits/vegetables to prevent Salmonella contamination.

6. WOODEN CHOPPING BOARDS

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Photo: taigi

The good news is that you can keep them forever – with proper care and maintenance. Otherwise, have them replaced when they’re cracked to prevent bacteria growth, or when they become distorted in shape, which may render cutting on the boards unsafe.

7. COUNTERTOP BLENDERS

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Photo: jeka81

Replace the blades when they become dull, or, as what manufacturers say, when you drop the whole thing or accidentally submerge the base in water.