In any provincial museum of local history, the exhibitions must include a section with kitchen utensils, where wooden utensils occupy a special place. Bowls, spoons, bowls, tubs, troughs - without these and other items it is difficult to imagine the life of people of past centuries. But even today, wooden utensils, although not in such variety, are in demand and can be seen in the kitchens of many housewives.
Traditions of making and using wooden utensils
Not many ancient dishes have survived to this day, which is explained by the fragility of the material. But it is known for certain that already in the 8th century in Rus' craftsmen made various utensils by hand, and from the 12th century they began to use the simplest machines for this.
Birch bark bodies (pesteri), tues, egg capsules, and boxes were common everywhere.
Protective covering
Insufficient resistance to chemical and temperature influences is the weak point of wood and a factor due to which it is rarely used by large manufacturers of kitchen utensils. For this reason, wooden utensils must be processed and covered with protective layers immediately after production. In addition to directly imparting strength and creating a durable coating, special compositions provide the product with antiseptic properties. These can be varnishes, oils, impregnations, fats and specialized preparations
But it is important to note that most branded wood preservatives are chemically harmful, so it is not recommended to use them for cookware. One of the most affordable and harmless options for such processing is linseed oil.
The workpiece must be immersed in boiling liquid and removed after 1-2 minutes, leaving until completely dry.
Types of cookware
The wooden utensils used by our ancestors were extremely diverse. There were several ways of making objects, which is why the types of ancient Russian dishes are different:
- chopped;
- dugout;
- chiseled;
- Cooper's
Turned ware
Chiseled utensils
They used hoops to assemble tubs and barrels, cut spoons, and turned dishes, ladles and bowls. In the workshops, artisans made stavtsy (dining vessels of various sizes with lids), carved bratins, bowls, goblets, and cups.
How to care for wooden mugs
Wooden products are considered impractical, but perhaps it is simply necessary to properly care for this type of utensil.
Rules of care:
- To remove the pungent odor, you need to wipe the wooden mugs with gauze soaked in alcohol or vinegar. Then be sure to rinse with sufficient water.
- To remove the tanning properties of mugs, soak them in water for several hours, alternating the water solution, then wipe dry with a waffle towel.
- The wooden cups are stained - no problem, just heat them in a chlorine solution for 15 minutes and the color will go away. If there is an unpleasant smell, soak in ice water for a couple of hours.
- If your wooden beer mug has darkened, rinse it in a solution of onion skins.
- After all procedures, be sure to wipe the wooden cups dry and store them in a ventilated area.
After all procedures, be sure to wipe the wooden cups dry and store them in a ventilated area.
By following simple rules, you can preserve the aesthetically attractive appearance of wooden products for many years and increase their service life.
What kind of wood are utensils made from?
The list of rocks from which dishes are made is long. This is due to regional characteristics. If, for example, in the north they made spoons, dishes and ladles from larch and birch, then in the middle zone - from oak, linden, ash, in Siberia - from cedar, in the south - from acacia and walnut.
Among the exotic breeds:
- teak;
- elm;
- rosewood;
- mango;
- Hevea
In Pomorie, craftsmen with their own hands carved magnificent ladles, valleys and brasses from tree roots, and dishes made from burls (growths on tree trunks) were also famous for their unique texture.
Nowadays, stores offer utensils made of strong and durable oak, acacia and ash, linden and bamboo. On trading platforms on the Internet there is a huge assortment of dishes for Asian cuisine made from suar, mango, and bamboo.
Tree selection
An ordinary wooden spoon can be given an exclusive look.
First of all, it is worth deciding on the material for the future workpiece. When choosing a type of wood, you should pay attention to such characteristics as strength and resistance to temperature changes, as well as medicinal properties, because many species are capable of providing a slight healing effect with prolonged contact with the human body. Of course, such utensils cannot be a full-fledged medicine, but they still have a positive effect on a person.
The most commonly used breeds are:
- Linden;
- bamboo;
- oak;
- juniper.
Proper care and operating features
After the dominance of plastic and other “synthetics” in kitchens, many are again turning their attention to natural materials. Of course, wood is not suitable for making pots and pans.
But dishes, trays, cutting boards, containers for storing, pickling, preserving and serving cold dishes made of oak, juniper, teak, and bamboo turn out great.
Such utensils are not only safe and hygienic. It pleases the eye, attracts with positive energy, and significantly improves (if used correctly) the taste of dishes.
But in order for the utensils to serve for a long time, you need to know and follow simple rules:
- It is advisable to purchase products from trusted sellers who have certificates of product quality and safety;
- use utensils taking into account the manufacturing methods. Painted and varnished items are only suitable for interior decoration;
- prevent prolonged contact of products with water;
- store in dry, ventilated cabinets, away from heating radiators and household appliances;
- Wash only by hand, in warm water and then wipe the products thoroughly.
Flour, salt, sugar, honey, and baked goods are perfectly stored in wooden dishes. Barrels, tubs made of juniper and larch are suitable for pickles and preservation.
When cooking, you cannot do without wooden mortars, spatulas, and boards, and sliced meats and cheeses look incomparable on massive board trays made of oak, acacia or teak.
Only cold dishes are served in bowls and wooden dishes: various salads, appetizers, marinades, pickles, soups (okroshka, beetroot soup).
On a note! Do not use a dishwasher to wash wooden utensils.
To remove extraneous odors, it is recommended to occasionally wipe the surfaces of objects with a cloth soaked in a vinegar solution.
What drinks can be poured?
Wooden utensils are a unique product into which you can pour both hot and cold liquid. Despite its impracticality, it easily withstands temperature changes and retains its original qualities. A wooden mug is also suitable for cold kvass and beer, while you can be in the bathhouse, as well as drink hot tea in the fresh air in winter.
Wooden utensils are a unique product into which you can pour both hot and cold liquid.
Decoration
The finished equipment can be decorated with traditional carvings, but painting can also be done. The simplest methods, accessible even to beginners, are painting with gouache and acrylic.
To perform such a design, no special preparation is required. But beautiful and effective Khokhloma painting requires a certain experience and level of skill; this process takes a long time.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=EOwZGYVt39o
To summarize, we can say that wooden utensils are still a rather rare guest in the ordinary kitchen. At one time, it was successfully replaced by products made of ceramics, metal and glass. However, the fashion for eco-products and handmade products is returning popularity to wood products. In addition, even a person who does not have special professional training is quite capable, guided by videos from the Internet, of learning how to make a plate from wood. This product will be an excellent gift or an original decoration for your own home.
What equipment will you need?
In the case of serial or mass production of wooden utensils, you will need a carpentry workshop with a large number of machines that will help in performing procurement operations.
- But for the process of wood carving and other manual operations, you can get by with a small set of tools. Here is the required minimum:
- A set of saws - hacksaws should be of different sizes and with distinguishable tooth sizes;
- Chisels – it is desirable to have several chisels, both with a flat working part and with a figured one, there are 12 types in total;
- Cutters – for high-quality wood carving you need to have several cutters that differ in size and shape of the cutting element;
- Planer – ideally there should also be several of them;
- Jigsaw.
Although simpler wood products such as an olive wood cutting board can be made using half of the tools listed.
That's all that can be useful, because in ancient times there were masters who carved dishes from wood, having 1-2 tools, but their works were considered masterpieces. Today such craftsmen can also be found.
Equipment and tools
Household appliances will fit seamlessly into both a country house and a modern city apartment
In order to start making tableware, regardless of the volume of its production, you will need a number of tools for working with wood. The basic set includes a plane and a chisel. All kinds of cutters, jigsaws and saws will vary depending on the skill of the manufacturer and how he sees the future creation.
If we are talking about producing large volumes of dishes for sale, then a lathe and grinding machine will be required. To make a piece, you can also use a machine, or you can rely only on your hands.
So, someone who wants to make utensils with their own hands will need:
- plane;
- chisel;
- set of cutters;
- jigsaw;
- saws of various calibers;
- sandpaper.
Perhaps you will find useful information about what crafts you can make with your own hands from plastic bottles.
Finished product coating
The relative unpopularity of wood as a material for kitchen utensils is due to the fact that it does not withstand extreme temperatures and chemical influences quite well. In order for it to last as long as possible, it should be covered with a protective coating.
After creating the product on a special steel machine, it is coated with a special varnish
There are many industrial varnishes and impregnations that will perfectly protect against environmental influences, but they are absolutely not suitable for utensils that will be used for cooking. However, for a decorative plate on the wall, this treatment is perfect.
For dishes that will come into contact with food, the safest option is to coat them with linseed oil. For processing, the oil is heated in a water bath to approximately 70 degrees, then the finished product is immersed in it. After a couple of minutes, remove the dishes and leave them to cool and dry.
Manufacturing technology
The standard technique for creating wooden utensils involves the initial formation of a blank from solid wood. Next, markings begin on the surface of the wood, according to which recesses will be formed in the future. Again, a lot depends on what tool is used to make wooden utensils, since for convenience it is also possible to use the reverse sequence. In this case, a recess is initially created, and then the workpiece is trimmed to give it a shape as close as possible to the final product. Specialists usually use well-sharpened cutters, with the help of which any type of recess is formed. But you can limit yourself to using an ordinary semicircular chisel. As you work, the recess will increase. For beginners, it is recommended to fix the workpiece in a vice. Professionals refuse this solution due to its impracticality - an experienced craftsman, while working, twirls the product in his hands in every possible way, quickly processing it from different sides
This is important for the speed of the work process, which it is better for the student at the first stage not to chase
Khokhloma painting
This technique requires careful priming of the dishes. It is carried out in two stages with intervals of 6-7 hours. First, the wooden blank is primed with wax and then coated with linseed oil. The next step involves rubbing in aluminum powder. This is the so-called tinning procedure, after which they begin to directly apply patterns with oil paints. When finished, painted wooden utensils are distinguished by unusual patterns and a unique combination of shades. In Khokhloma processing, red and black colors are predominantly used, but greenish and yellow tones are often included for variety.
