Bamboo vs. Stainless Steel Cutlery | 4 Pros and Cons

If you’re looking at the many types of cutlery available, you’ll usually find cutlery made of wood, stainless steel, or bamboo. If you’ve never used bamboo before, you should know that this type of cutlery performs very well and lasts longer than you might think.

Bamboo is incredibly sturdy, long lasting and biodegradable.  Stainless steel cutlery is super common and offers a great comparison when looking at bamboo. This article will explore everything you need to know when deciding between bamboo and stainless steel cutlery including pros and cons of both.

What is Bamboo Cutlery and What are Its Advantages?

Bamboo cutlery is attractive and will lend some ambiance to your kitchen. Bamboo looks a little like wood and is smooth and easy to work with, but let’s take a look at its advantages and disadvantages so you can learn a bit more about it.

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1. Pros of using bamboo cutlery

1. They do not scratch as easily as stainless steel utensils do
2. They are eco-friendly products
3. They look great because they come in so many designs
4. They can be used on non-stick cooking surfaces
5. They are both stain- and odor-resistant
6. They tend to be very affordable

2. Cons

1. They are rarely dishwasher-safe
2. They aren’t always easy to find
3. They are breakable
4. They tend to get too hot when you’re cooking with them

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The Advantages of Stainless Steel Cutlery

Now let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of cutlery made out of stainless steel.

Pros

1. They are usually very easy to find.
2. They are often recyclable, depending on the metals used.
3. They are very simple to clean.
4. They do not get too hot when cooking with them.
5. They are extremely durable.
6. They are very easy to clean.

Cons

1. They tend to be less affordable.
2. They get scratches easily.
3. They can be more expensive than bamboo cultery

Bamboo Utensils: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can bamboo utensils be used more than once?

Bamboo utensils can be used more than once. It is a myth that bamboo cutlery can only be used one time. Not only that, but if you take good care of your bamboo utensils, you can expect to keep them for several years before you have to replace them with new cutlery.

Wash them well and allow them to dry thoroughly before storing them.

2. Can I wash my bamboo utensils in the dishwasher?

A: It’s recommended that you never put your bamboo cutlery in your dishwasher because it will wear out much faster. For the best results, always wash your bamboo utensils in the sink.

3. Are bamboo utensils eco-friendly?

A: Yes. Bamboo is sustainable and even biodegradable. Bamboo also grows much faster than regular trees, so it takes a much shorter time to replenish the supply of bamboo cutlery than it does to replace wooden utensils.

4. Do I have to oil my bamboo utensils?

A: Oiling your bamboo utensils is not a necessity but it is recommended. This is because if you oil them regularly, it allows them to last a lot longer. If you want to extend the life of your bamboo utensils, go ahead and oil them regularly.

Caring for Your Bamboo Kitchen Tools

Bamboo is a great alternative to wooden or stainless steel cutlery, but there are still some things you should know before you rush out and buy bamboo utensils. For one thing, caring for your utensils is a bit different than taking care of the other two types of utensils, but that doesn’t mean it’s a difficult thing to do.

The first rule of thumb when it comes to bamboo utensils is that as little water as possible should be used on them.

When you wash the utensils, never let them soak in the water. Instead, just wash them immediately after placing them in the dishwater, then rinse them off and lay them out to air dry.

Before you wash them, use a spatula or similar utensil to rub off the chunks of food, and if you find any food stuck to the utensils, you can rub that area with either baking soda or coarse salt until the food or stain is removed. After you do that, rinse the utensils well and lay them out to dry.

Oil your bamboo utensils every few months. Periodic oiling of the utensils is all you need, and this does three things: it helps provide a protective layer so the utensils last longer, it keeps the utensils nice and smooth, and it even helps minimize the chances of the utensils breaking or splitting.

If you notice the bamboo starting to look dull or feeling dry, it’s time to oil the utensils once again. Periodic oiling of the bamboo cutlery helps it last much longer than it would otherwise.

One more thing about oiling bamboo utensils: this is a good thing to do when you first bring your bamboo items home. In other words, oil them before you do anything else to them, then wait a full 24 hours before you use them for the first time.

Finally, if your bamboo utensils get dull and are no longer smooth, you can always use some fine sandpaper and sand them down until they are nice and smooth again. This shouldn’t be necessary very often, but it’s a good tip to keep in mind.

Conclusion

Both bamboo and stainless steel cutlery has its share of pros and cons. More and more people are using bamboo utensils at least part of the time, which is why you’re seeing more and more of them on the shelves.

Keep in mind that many other kitchen accessories are also made out of bamboo, including serving utensils, cutting boards, and others. Bamboo is not difficult to take care of but you still have to know just how to do that if you want it to last longer.

If you’re curious about bamboo cutlery, you can go online and look at the options, which are more plentiful than you might think. Bamboo cutlery certainly stands out because it is so beautiful, and it can make eating a lot more fun because it is fun to use as well.