6. Wooden Spoons
Ends in: Five Years
* Average Cost: $9.98
Wooden spoons are among the kitchen utensils with the most unexpected expiration dates, along with rubber spatulas, paring knives, nonstick cookware, plastic chopping boards, and countertop blenders. At most, wooden spoons should be replaced every five years. If you see any soft patches, discoloration, scratches, or cracks, you should replace them sooner.
Wooden Cutlery ©Shutterstock/SSvetlana Cherruty
It all boils down to bacteria once more. Food can become lodged in the cracks and fissures of wooden spoons. Bacterial growth results from this, and the bacteria are not always easily removed by washing or cleaning. Your dishwasher’s drying cycle is the main source of the gaps that allow food to become trapped.
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