Food may not be the first thing that comes to mind in a discussion of wooden dowels; however, there are actually many culinary applications for food-safe dowels. They can be used to secure food items together, provide structure for cakes, or serve as holders or “handles” for confections.
Learn more about what food-safe wooden dowels are and the many ways they can be used in home and commercial food applications.
What Makes Wooden Dowels Food-Safe?
While dowels can be made from almost any type of wood, not all woods are food-safe. It’s important to verify that any wooden item used in the preparation or serving of food is made from a type of wood that is considered safe for food and cooking applications.
Common food-safe woods include white birch, maple, beech, walnut, cherry, and teak. These are all durable, close-grained woods that are unlikely to splinter. They are also moisture resistant and not prone to supporting bacteria thanks to their fine grain. These dowels are sanded smooth, cut to length, and machined with a chamfered head. These features make it easy to insert the dowels into a variety of foods without causing damage to delicate items or transferring splinters into the food.
Wooden Dowels for Cake Support
More structurally complex than a traditional sheet cake, multi-layer cakes for weddings and other large celebrations often require extra structural support to retain their shape. Rather than relying on the holding power of frosting, filling, or fondant alone, bakers often secure the layers of a cake with strategically placed wooden dowels. The dowels disappear into the layers, where they align each section and help distribute weight. As a result, the design is not compromised but the cake can still be stored and transported without damage.
Wooden Dowels as Grilling Skewers
Another food-grade application for wooden dowels is skewering bite-sized pieces of food, like vegetables, meat, fruit, or cheese. This is a simple way to portion food for marinating, cooking, and serving. Food-grade wooden dowels are also available in different lengths and diameters to be used with different sizes and shapes of food.
Because they are non-reactive and do not conduct heat, they do not affect the food’s flavors and prevent burns when handling. It’s commonly recommended to soak wooden dowels and skewers in water prior to grilling, broiling, or roasting. This helps prevent any charring to the wood.
More Food Applications for Wooden Dowels
In addition to the above applications, wooden dowels can be used for food applications like these:
- Skewered hors d’oeuvres
- Corn dogs or cheese on a stick
- Frozen bananas
- Rock candy
- Honey dippers
- Candied or caramel apple sticks
- Lollipops
- Roasted marshmallows
- Vertically arranged fruit or cake pop “bouquets”
- Stir sticks or miniature decorations for baked goods
- Storage rungs for drying or curing food items
And because they are food-safe, these dowels can be safely used for some health and personal care applications, such as applicators for medicine or cosmetics and manicure tools.
Advantages of Wooden Dowels for Food Applications
There are a number of reasons to choose food-grade wooden dowels for culinary applications, such as:
- Non-conductive. Wooden dowels don’t conduct heat which is why they’re more popular than metal and other thermally conductive materials like metal for high-heat applications, including grilling and baking.
- Durability and Strength. Sturdy wooden dowels can pierce large or dense food items like cakes, meat, or cheese without breaking. This provides reliable support and keeps small items together.
- Non-Toxic. Beech, birch, maple, and other close-grain hardwoods keep food items safe from potential contamination and splinters.
- Versatility. Wooden dowels can be manufactured in a range of lengths and diameters to suit many applications.
- Visual Appeal. Dowels have a natural aesthetic that makes for a pleasing presentation of edible products.
Explore Food-Grade Wooden Dowels From E.W. Hannas
For four generations E.W. Hannas has been a leading manufacturer of wooden products for the food, carpentry, furniture, packaging, craft, and other industries. We provide high-quality customized wooden dowels, sticks, skewers, ornamental picks, stirrers, and kitchen tools for us in applications from baking and grilling to food displays and more.
Our food-grade products are great for home cooking and commercial kitchens and bakeries, and our team is always here to help meet your product requirements. Request a quote for custom dowels or other food-safe wooden products today!