Norpro 12-inch Wooden Oval Spoon

Twelve inches is an all-purpose length for a wooden spoon, long enough for a Dutch oven of chili and short enough to manage in a 3-quart saucepan. This Norpro oval spoon has a broad bowl for stirring and tasting, with an edge that scrapes the bottom of a pan clean when you deglaze.

Wood is gentle on enameled cast iron and nonstick coatings, and it stays cool in the hand as a sauce simmers. Use it to stir risotto, fold thick batters and cookie dough, or break up ground meat as it browns. A wooden spoon also tells you when a custard has thickened; draw a finger across the coated back, and the line should hold.

Norpro’s oval spoons come in three lengths. The 10-inch suits small saucepans, and the 14-inch reaches into a stockpot or a big bowl of dough. Keep the spoon looking new with an occasional coat of food-safe mineral oil, and pair it with the Krona Sauce Master whisk for sauces.