Originating in prehistoric times, chopsticks are one of the oldest utensils around. The simple, yet genius tool came to life with a decision to use two sticks, rather than one’s hands, for reaching into a pot of food. Since their humble origins more than six thousand years ago, chopsticks have become the choice utensil for 1.2 billion people worldwide.
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Why Choose Bamboo?
Many of the oldest recorded chopsticks were made of bamboo. Now, you can find these utensils made from many different materials– anything from ivory and silver to plastic. But bamboo still holds its place as the first and best chopstick material. Here’s why.
Fast-growing, durable, lightweight, and moisture-resistant bamboo is a natural choice for any utensil. When it comes to chopsticks, the natural qualities of bamboo are a perfect match for the tool. Chopsticks are sometimes used for cooking as well as eating. So the fact that bamboo does not conduct heat makes it superior to plastic or metal. And when it comes to durability and feel, bamboo outperforms wood chopsticks in several ways.
Bamboo vs Wood Chopsticks
If you didn’t know the difference, you might easily mistake a pair of wooden chopsticks for one made of bamboo. But, several key differences keep bamboo and wood chopsticks apart. Bamboo is resistant to water and bacteria, while wood is not. This makes bamboo chopsticks more durable for use with wet, soupy foods. And, it means that bamboo chopsticks are less likely to harbor bacteria than wooden ones.
While many wood chopsticks are heavily coated in glue and lacquer to ensure a smooth, splinter-free utensil, the superior strength and fine grain of bamboo mean that bamboo chopsticks can be made without glues and lacquers.
Disposable vs Reusable: Are Bamboo Chopsticks Reusable?
Wondering if those chopsticks you picked up at the sushi restaurant are reusable? The short answer is, probably, but not for long.
Most disposable chopsticks, even though they may look like bamboo, are made from soft wood like birch. This causes them to break and splinter easily. And therefore, disposable chopsticks are just that– disposable.
However, even disposable chopsticks can often be used for more than the one meal they’re set out for. If you find yourself with a pair that’s in good condition after your dinner, wash them by hand, let them air dry, and reuse them. Be sure not to overuse disposable chopsticks, though. Because they’re not intended for long-term usage, they may not be as resistant to bacteria. You should replace them after a month or so.
Although tossing a set of disposable chopsticks might seem small, over 80 billion pairs are thrown away each year. Sure, disposable chopsticks are often made of natural materials like wood (and even bamboo), which may appear to be a better option than plastic utensils. But when they’re not crafted with quality and for long-term use, chopsticks like these are causing deforestation. The issue is so bad that China even imposed a “chopstick tax” to dissuade diners from using disposables.
Your Guide To Chopstick Use and Care
So, you picked up a new pair of reusable bamboo chopsticks. Now, how do you use them? Follow these simple tips, and you’ll be a chopstick pro in no time.
How To Use Chopsticks Correctly
If you didn’t grow up using chopsticks, learning how to use them might take a bit of practice. But with a few tries under your belt, you’ll quickly find out how useful these utensils are.
Follow these steps to get started. And remember, practice makes perfect! Here’s how to use chopsticks correctly:
Start by placing one chopstick in your dominant hand and holding it like a pencil. It should rest on the groove between your thumb and pointer finger about ⅓ of the way down from the top of the chopstick. Then, rest of the lower portion of the chopstick on your middle finger.
Then, set the second chopstick below the first. Again, it should rest on the groove between your thumb and pointer finger. This time, rest the lower part of the chopstick on your ring finger.
Once you feel comfortable with the basic holding position, it’s time to try some movement. Grasp the upper chopstick firmly with your thumb, pointer, and middle fingers and practice moving it up and down. The bottom chopstick should be relatively still.
Feeling confident with the chopstick movement? Begin practicing with items of food, like small pieces of fruit or dried beans.
From ramen to pho, the delicious noodle-based dishes in Asian cuisine are too many to count. Learning how to use chopsticks to eat noodles might be intimidating, but it’s an essential part of enjoying these amazing foods. Here’s how to do it.
First, refrain from using your bamboo chopsticks to twirl noodles as you might twirl pasta around a fork. It’s not considered disrespectful, but it is a surefire sign that you’re not sure how to use your utensils. Instead, do this.
Using the technique of moving your upper chopstick only, place your chopsticks in your bowl and grasp a small amount of noodles between them. Trust us, the smaller amount, the better.
Continuing to grasp the noodles tightly, lift them up towards your mouth. If they’re short enough to do so, try to untangle the noodles on your chopsticks from surrounding pieces of food.
Now, the fun part! Place the noodles in your mouth, remove the chopsticks, and begin slurping up the noodles.
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Keep it simple– if your noodle dish has other ingredients such as meat or vegetables, eat them separately from the noodles.
How To Clean Reusable Bamboo Chopsticks
When your meal is done, make sure to properly clean and dry your bamboo chopsticks. This is essential to ensuring they have a long, splinter-free life.
Bamboo chopsticks, like other wood and bamboo utensils, should be hand washed with mild soap and warm water. Then, let them air dry until they’re completely moisture-free. Store your reusable bamboo chopsticks in a clean, dry, covered place.
To keep bamboo in its best condition, refrain from soaking it in water for extended periods of time or from placing it in the dishwasher. The intense heat and washing cycles of a dishwasher can overdry bamboo, which may lead to cracking or splintering.
So, how long will a pair of reusable bamboo chopsticks last? It depends on the pair you buy. Cheaply made chopsticks might only last a few months before chipping or splintering. Look for reusable bamboo chopsticks made with responsibly harvested, organically grown bamboo. And ensure that they are free from glues and lacquers, which contain harmful chemicals, and can chip and crack easier than plain bamboo. If you purchase a well-made pair of reusable bamboo chopsticks, you can enjoy them for years to come.
Enjoy your favorite Asian dishes they deserve. Shop USDA organic, 100% Biobased bamboo chopsticks.
The answer is yes, absolutely! However, washing and caring for them varies by how they are finished and from what material they are made. So let's take a look at some reusable chopsticks....
You can reuse all bamboo and wooden chop sticks. Save them! A lot of time and resources went into making them, even the disposable kind. Wash and care for them like other wooden utensils and they will last for many years.
Those marked or sold as "dishwasher safe" can be washed in home dishwashers just like silverware. Place them horizontal on the upper rack, crosswise to the rack wires to prevent them from falling down into the lower reaches of the dishwasher.
Painted pairs that aren't specified as dishwasher safe need to be hand washed with soap and water. Never leave painted sticks soaking for any length of time or the wood will expand and damage the paint finish. Natural or unfinished pairs should be treated in similar fashion, and from time to time wipe on a light coat of cooking oil. Wipe off any excess oil.
When you no longer want to reuse them, repurpose them. They make great plant stakes, hair sticks, drink stirrers, and can be used for a myriad of craft and art projects. If they are natural with no painted finish then they can be composted with other yard waste.
The best reusable styles in our opinion are dishwasher safe models. They are made of a most durable material such as metal or plastic, or have special extra tough finishes that can stand up to water and detergents. Stainless steel pairs are like silverware and will last for decades.
It can take a lot of labor and natural resources to make a pair of chop sticks. Virtually all pairs are made in Asia such as China or Japan. Disposable sticks are typically made of bamboo, which is a rapid growing, easily renewable resource. However some are made of wood, which in comparison is slow to regrow, and it is estimated China cuts down 3.8 million trees annually to manufacture over 5.7 billion pairs. They are then packaged in a paper wrapper to keep them sanitary. See our article on how disposable pairs are made.
Pairs protected with a finish such as paint or clear lacquer, are meant to be kept and reused, hopefully for many years. A typical “Japanese #1” quality painted finish is made of five layers of paint: two layers of primer sealer, two coats of the color, and one coat of clear protective finish. The entire process takes as long as 45 days. See our article on how everyday painted styles are made.
Plastic and stainless steel pairs have greater impact on our environment during manufacturing but will last far longer than most wood or bamboo pairs. These reusable models require petroleum, chemicals, ores and energy to produce, so while they may considered as an ecological choice because of their durability, they have a greater up-front impact on the environment.
By reusing a pair of chop sticks (and taking our own pair with us to restaurants) we can reduce the impact on our environment - one little stick at a time.
Here at EverythingChopsticks all of our models are reusable. All of our painted pairs are of the highest quality using at least 5 layers of paint and lacquer finish. We call these "everyday use" pairs because they will stand up to hand washing every day for years. We also have an excellent selection of durable dishwasher safe, metal and plastic sticks.
One group of 200 students in China, coordinating with Greenpeace and the advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather, set out to build awareness of disposable chop stick use by building sculptures in one of Beijing’s most popular shopping malls. The sculptures are of trees and are built entirely out of 80,000 pairs of used disposable chop sticks. You can read more in our article Turning Back Into Trees.
One man, Shuhei Ogawara, collected over 7,000 pairs of used disposable sticks and built a beautiful canoe. Check out our article on Canoe Made From Disposable Chop Sticks.
Sticks have been popular for use in holding up hair for perhaps as long as for cooking. Naturally you may not want to use ugly ones from your last takeout, but attractive painted pairs can make a nice fashion statement. And a new disposable pair - not yet separated - has the extra advantage of being able to grip like an extra large bobby pin. Check out our article on Hair Sticks.
Kenneth Z. created a fun crossbow out of chop sticks and a rubber band. You can read a little more about it in our article and find a link to his photographed instructions on how to make one yourself.
There are hundreds of great things to do with old sticks, from use as plant ID stakes and dowels for woodworking to drink stirrers and craft projects.
Amazing reusable styles from around the world.
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