# Best Cooking Utensil Sets in Egypt: Silicone, Wood, or Nylon? > The bottom line: If your pots are Teflon or granite, get silicone, nylon, or wood, and avoid stainless steel. An 11-piece silicone set with a holder will cover most cooking needs. If you want fewer pieces from a well-known brand, Tramontina Ability 4-piece nylon. If you want a better look, silicone with wooden handles. And if you are stirring large pots, the Tramontina wooden set. **4 min read** ## Silicone, wood, nylon, or stainless steel? - **Silicone:** Gentle on Teflon and granite coatings, and sales pages state it withstands about 230 degrees, and it washes easily. Its downside is that cheap versions can be too floppy to stir heavy food, and some absorb garlic smells or sauce colors.- **Wood:** The oldest tool in the Egyptian kitchen, it doesn't melt or scratch, and is comfortable for stirring rice, stuffed vegetables, and sauce in large pots. Its downside is that it absorbs water and odors, cannot go in the dishwasher, and if it cracks, it must be replaced.- **Nylon:** Lightweight, cheap, and safe for Teflon, but withstands lower heat (Tramontina states 180 degrees), so if left on the edge of a hot pan, it can melt or warp.- **Stainless steel:** Strong and doesn't melt, suitable for stainless steel and aluminum pots and grilling, but it scratches Teflon and granite coatings, so it should never go in those pans. ## Choose according to the pots you have - **Teflon pans and granite or ceramic pots:** Silicone, wood, or nylon only.- **Stainless steel and aluminum pots:** Any material works, and wood and stainless steel last longer.- **Sheet pans, grills, and cast iron skillets:** Stainless steel for scraping and stirring, because soft silicone won't remove stuck food.- **You have both:** Keep the silicone set for coated pans only, with two wooden spoons and a stainless steel turner for the rest, and don't mix them up. ## What does the temperature written on the page mean? This number is the maximum heat the tool can withstand without melting or warping, not the food temperature. Frying oil is about 180 degrees, and the bottom of an empty pan on high heat can be much hotter than that. - Don't leave the spoon inside the pan or resting on its edge while it is on the heat.- If you fry often, silicone labeled 230 degrees is safer than nylon labeled 180.- If the spoon melts, peels, or its edge becomes jagged, replace it. ## What pieces do you actually need? - **Ladle:** For soup, Molokhia, and lentil soup.- **Solid large spoon:** For stirring, rice, and sauce.- **Slotted spoon or strainer:** For pasta, Foul, fish, and French fries.- **Wide turner:** For eggs, Omelet, Taameya, and breaded cutlets.- **Tongs:** For chicken, grilled items, and flipping food in oil.- **Silicone spatula:** For scraping bowls and blenders. Anything extra, like a pasta spoon or a basting brush, is nice if you use it. Read the list, not the piece count, because the holder and spoon rest are counted as pieces. ## Handles and holders - Handles with a metal core inside are stronger for heavy stirring than fully soft silicone handles.- Wooden handles are comfortable and don't heat up quickly, but should not be left soaking.- Longer handles are more comfortable in deep pots and keep you further away from steam and oil.- A hanging hole at the end of the handle is useful if you will hang it on a rack.- The holder should be heavy at the bottom so it doesn't tip over, and its base should be easy to clean so water doesn't collect in it. ## Washing and care - Wash the utensils right after cooking, before food dries on them.- If silicone absorbs an odor or color, wash it with hot water and baking soda.- Wood by hand only, dry it standing up, and oil it periodically.- Dry the utensils before putting them back in the holder. ## Check before you buy - The material in the details: some sets have silicone heads and ABS plastic handles.- The temperature written for each material, and if not written, ask the seller.- The piece list, and whether it includes a ladle and tongs.- Count the pieces as soon as the order arrives. ## FAQ ### Are silicone spoons safe for Teflon and granite? Yes, and this is why they are popular: the soft head doesn't scratch the coating. Avoid any tool with an exposed metal edge, and don't scrape the bottom of the pan forcefully even with silicone. ### Wood or silicone for a large pot? Wood is stiffer and stirs rice, stuffed vegetables, and heavy sauce easily. Silicone is better in pans, for eggs, and scraping bowls. Many households buy both: two wooden spoons and a silicone set. ### The silicone spoon melted a bit, should I keep using it? No, replace it. The melted part becomes rough and can tear and fall into the food. To prevent it from happening again, don't leave the spoons on the edge of the pan while it's on the heat. ### Should I wash wooden spoons in the dishwasher? No. Heat and lots of water crack the wood and make it absorb odors. Wash it by hand with water and soap, dry it immediately, and oil it periodically. --- Source: https://hanakoleah.com/en/article/best-cooking-utensil-sets-egypt Edited by: Marwa Mohamed Last updated: 2026-10-31