What Spoons are Best for Making Jam? And Why Are Some Better than Others? Basic  Spoons.  

When I first started I didn’t realise you needed special jam making spoons so I just used normal metal ones.

After all, a spoon is a spoon, right?  Oh dear so naive! lol.  I soon decided that I needed to invest in a proper spoon, though.  But which one?

Some research came up with some great options of spoons that would be better suited to the task of jam making than others.

The Wooden Spoon

Wood is better because it doesn’t cool the mixture like metal and doesn’t melt like plastic. One great thing about wooden spoons is that they are quite cheap to buy. For instance, these standard type spoons are very popular.

They only cost a couple of pounds and are quite good value.  They are good in grip and size and they can be put in a dishwasher.  Drying takes a while, though.

They fade slightly but nothing too dire.  And the surface doesn’t splinter or crack.  They are ideal if your pan is non-stick as well. However, on the downside, they are not so great with stopping things sticking to the pan.

Kitchen Craft Beech Wood 3 Wooden Spoons

A Beautiful  Beech Preserving Spoon: Much For Better Jam Making

To the right is a proper preserving spoon.  Note the different shape of the head, which is nice and flat.   This helps keep the mixture moving and stops it sticking to the bottom of the pan, this is vital for saving pans and not having burnt tastes in your jams.

The handle is longer too (42cm long) which is needed if you are stirring preserves.  It is vital if using a maslin pan as they are larger and deeper than normal pans and you need to get to the bottom.

It helps keep your hands away from getting scolded by hot jam (which really hurts).  Also, it has a handy hook so you can rest it on the pan if you need to. The spoon is sanded well and quite sturdy which is important.  Long handled wooden Preserving Spoon.  

The beech spoon is made from managed forests FSC, so it not damaging the environment either.

For Something Different: A Silicone Spoon

Now I admit anything silicone completely freaks me out.  I have silicone cooking containers and I can feel my stomach churn every time I put them in the oven.   Somehow it seems unnatural to put something that looks like it is going to melt into a hot space! However, having said that the cooking pans are great and this spoon is made by Kilner and they make fantastic quality products.

However, having said that the cooking pans are great and this spoon is made by Kilner and they make fantastic quality products.
This spoon is resistant to heat with a long handle that is needed for jam and again has a hook for resting it down on the pan.   The head is ideal for scraping and mixing as well. Surprisingly, this spoon is about the same price as the preserving spoon, so it is just a matter of preference really.

Kilner Silicone Wooden Jam Spoon

The Thermometer Spoon

Now, this little beauty is on my wish list.  This is something that I have only heard of recently.  I had to include it as it looks fantastic.  My sister told me about it and I think it is a great idea.

Sometimes juggling a thermometer and spoon is a pain. Also, the thermometers can hit the bottom of the pan, especially if you are just starting out and are using a saucepan. This solves both those problems in one go.  Very clever.  The thermometer is in the spoon so it is part of the mixing process and will give a more accurate reading than something resting on the bottom.

It costs about two and a half times that of the preserving and silicone spoons but then you don’t have to buy a thermometer.  (Note:  a good thermometer can set you back about £8 anyway, so this reduces the cost gap).

If like me, you already have a thermometer you might be grating your teeth right now and planning your next Christmas list, sigh. Never mind, the purpose of this site is to save my readers the issues I have come up with, so it’s all good.

Home Made Jam Spoon Silicone Thermometer

In Conclusion

I hope you are sat like I was suddenly realizing there is much more to the preserving spoon than meets the eye.  And that this helps. Really, it boils down to (no pun intended) your budget and what you prefer.

Wood is lovely, it feels traditional and I love the texture of it.  I like the simplicity of the silicone spatula.  Yet, I also feel the call of that last spoon.