Bamboo Skewers

1.1 Characteristics:

Bamboo contains a certain amount of cellulose and lignin, which will become brittle over time.
The structure between bamboo nodes makes it easy for bamboo skewers to crack at the nodes.

1.2 Uses:

Cooking: Bamboo skewers are commonly used as skewers for grilling kebabs, satay, and other foods. They are also used for holding meat or vegetables together when roasting or grilling.
Gardening: In gardening, bamboo skewers are used as plant supports, stakes for young plants, or to create trellises for climbing plants.

1.3 Improper storage and use:

If stored in a dry environment for a long time, bamboo sticks will lose moisture and become more brittle.
If they are not soaked or processed before use, direct use can also easily cause cracking.

Reasons for soaking bamboo skewers before use

2.1 Preventing Burning:

Bamboo skewer are wooden tableware that easily burns at high temperatures. By soaking the bambooskewers, you can make them absorb water and plump, reducing the risk of burning. Wet bamboo skewers are more difficult to burn during the barbecue process, reducing the possibility of burning.

2.2 Preventing Deformation:

Bamboo skewers are easy to deform at high temperatures. By soaking the bamboo skewers, you can increase their moisture content, making them more sturdy and resistant to high temperatures. This can reduce the risk of bamboo skewers deforming or breaking, ensuring that they can firmly carry food.

2.3 Preventing Food Adhesion:

Soaking bamboo skewers helps prevent food from excessively adhering to the bamboo sticks during barbecue. The surface of wet bamboo  skewers is relatively smooth, and food is not easy to stick to it, reducing the trouble of cleaning.

3. What happens if you do not soak bamboo skewers?

3.1 Reduced durability

Easy to carbonize and burn: In barbecue or high temperature environment, bamboo skewers that have not been soaked in water have low water content and relatively low ignition point, and are more likely to be carbonized or even burn. This will not only affect the effect of barbecue, but may also cause safety hazards.
Easy to split and break: The structure of bamboo skewers that have not been soaked in water is relatively loose, and it is easier to split or break during use, especially when skewering heavy objects or subjected to bending force.

3.2 Hygiene issues

Residual substances affect health: Bamboo skewers may undergo bleaching, disinfection and other treatment processes during the production process, and the chemicals used in these processes may remain on the bamboo sticks. When bamboo sticks that have not been soaked in water are used directly, these residual substances may have potential effects on human health.

3.3 Reduced user experience

Food adhesion: The surface of bamboo skewers that have not been soaked in water may be rough, which may easily cause food to stick to the bamboo sticks, affecting the eating experience.
Increased risk of puncture: The ends of bamboo skewers that have not been soaked in water may be sharper, increasing the risk of punctures on the hands.

3.4 Specific impact examples

When grilling: bamboo skewers are easily carbonized at high temperatures, or even burned, causing food to fall or burn.
When grilling on skewers: bamboo skewers may split or break due to being unable to bear the weight, causing food to scatter.
When using bamboo sticks that have not been soaked in water to eat fruits or snacks, the rough surface of the bamboo sticks may also scratch your mouth or hands.

4.Conclusion

In order to avoid the above problems, it is recommended to soak the bamboo skewers in water before using them. The soaking time is generally recommended to be between 20 minutes and 1 hour, depending on the length and material of the bamboo sticks. In addition, if the bamboo sticks will be used in high-temperature environments such as barbecue, you can also consider using more high-temperature resistant alternatives.