@abasket noted in the stocking stuffer thread that there is evidence that black utensils can be HARMFUL.
So now every time I use mine, it’s in the back of my head that I should replace them.
I like my current utensils because they all look similar in black, despite being from different manufacturers. And I can throw them in the dishwasher.
I have a couple of nice wooden items I picked up at the farmers market. I have not seen a spaghetti “claw” spoon or slotted spoon made out of wood. Or ladle. I suppose I will end up with some wooden items and some metal ones.
I went through mine. Needed to anyway as the utensil crock was exploding . I got rid of a few black ones but kept a couple that I didn’t have replacements for. Using my wood ones more.
We still have ours hanging on a hooked rack by the stove. Not sure that we cook enough to be a concern. But there is are two stainless spoons (one slotted) in the mix - I’ll start prioritizing use of them.
The study that recommended getting rid of them was from a bogus organization and had a math error to boot. Results were wrong and there’s little reason for getting rid of utensils unless you want new ones. I don’t let any utensils sit in hot pans on the stove; I actively stir and then it goes on a spoon rest.
From Ars Technica:
“However, the authors made a math error in their analysis that put their estimate of exposure to toxins from kitchen utensils off by an order of magnitude. Corrected, the article notes that the exposure potential from kitchen utensils is actually less than a tenth of the limit considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency. Further, the study found flame retardant contamination in less than 10 percent of the 203 household products it examined—and only about 8 percent of 109 kitchen utensils.”
There was a study analyzing the black plastic (not silicone, that’s a different material) which can contain recycled plastic from electronics. That study found harmful levels of fire retardants used in said electronics in the plastic utensils and takeout containers. However, the calculations were quite a bit off. I still think it is best not to reuse plastic takeout containers to reheat leftovers etc.
I throw out all carry out containers. No matter what color they are. But I have a set of OXO kitchen utensils that are just the right size and do what I need them to do. As others have mentioned, they never sit in a heated pot.
We have a metal one that works great…and a silicone one that is white and doesn’t work so great. We just tossed the light blue plastic one we had for years.
I cook a lot. And sometimes the utensil sits in the pot/pan. I won’t be perfect in using a spoon rest.
I encourage you to go through your utensils anyway! You’d be surprised how many duplicates you may have or ones that just don’t get used. You can toss or donate them.
This article sheds a little more light on the topic.
Personally I don’t worry about black plastic any more than any other plastic. Which is to say, I tend to avoid the use of plastic where possible on general principles but I don’t go overboard.
I have a Cutco stainless ladle that I bought in 1976 for $15 (which was a LOT of money back then and especially for me as a grad school student). I still have it, and it looks brand new.
All my kitchen utensils are either wood or metal. I have two mini-spatulas that are made of some plastic-type material. One is red and the other is green.
We have metal and wooden mostly with a few light-colored silicone. I have been pretty careful about using plastic and silicone less when possible and especially not letting it sit in the pot or pan while cooling.
I’m donating or tossing out 2 black plastic spatulas.
I found a nice large stainless steel ladle at Ross for under $10. It’s sturdy and attractive and larger than the dainty ones for the table use.
but no reason to continue using them. I got a white plastic utensil set.