The Best Chopsticks

Buying Guide

A longtime staple of Asian cuisine, chopsticks have only grown in popularity over the years as Western diners have grown to embrace Eastern foods like sushi and dumplings. If you’ve ever eaten using chopsticks, you know they differ dramatically from eating with a fork and knife. But the techniques required to use chopsticks aren’t the only ways in which chopsticks differ from silverware. There actually can be some dangers hidden in some chopsticks.

Chopstick hygiene drew plenty of attention during COVID, as consumers in Asia were warned about the enduring habit of sharing one pair of chopsticks among family members. But wooden chopsticks have long drawn concerns from health experts. Bacteria can seep into the wood, it seems, and make it hard to thoroughly clean them.

Your local takeout restaurants will likely issue single-use wooden chopsticks that you can simply toss in the garbage after your meal. But, for sustainability’s sake, you might want to purchase a pair of chopsticks that can be washed and reused.

There are several types of chopsticks that can be tossed in the dishwasher and used again and again. One popular material that’s great for reuse is fiberglass. This material is attractive and easy to keep clean, but you do lose some of the flair that comes from eating with wooden chopsticks. For that, there’s bamboo, which is a non-absorbent type of wood that can handle the excessive temperatures necessary to fully sanitize your eating utensils.

You may not realize that there’s a regional difference between chopsticks. Japanese chopsticks tend to be pointier on the ends, while Chinese chopsticks have more of a blunt end. Both Chinese and Vietnamese chopsticks are longer than those typically used with Korean and Japanese foods. Of course, on top of that is personal preference. If you’re comfortable with one type of chopstick over another, you might opt to have your favorite pair on hand no matter which cuisine you’re enjoying.

• The best thing about fiberglass is their odorless and tasteless properties. This means you won’t have to worry about your chopsticks getting in the way of enjoying the taste and aroma of your meal.
• Not all chopsticks are dishwasher safe. Unless you’re okay with hand-washing your eating utensils between meals, look for a pair of chopsticks that can handle the rigors of a dishwasher.
• Heat resistance is another consideration. You likely won’t be sliding your chopsticks into the oven, but you’ll still want a pair that can hold up when you dip into a piping-hot plate of food.
• It can be tempting to toss the disposable chopsticks you get with your takeout meal into the dishwasher and reuse them. This can be dangerous, though, as the wood used to make disposable chopsticks can harbor bacteria. Use wooden chopsticks only once and if Asian takeout is a weekly occurrence in your household, buy a pair that is designed for washing and reusing.
• Most chopsticks are sold in multiples. This means you’ll have chopsticks for everyone in your family, as well as the occasional guest.
• Traditional chopsticks can be tough to grip. Look for a pair with a nonslip grip in the area where you hold it. This can make a big difference when you’re trying to learn to eat with chopsticks.
• Chopsticks can make a great gift. If you choose this option, look for a set that comes with a gift box that makes them visually appealing. You can also find fun sets that have designs on them, each with its own unique meaning.
• Chopsticks with a squared end serve a very important purpose. If you’re eating noodles, the pointed ends can make it tougher to grip your food. Those squared ends give you a little more traction.
• If you’re trying to teach your youngest to use chopsticks, you can find special training chopsticks that limit the range of motion and are much easier to hold without dropping.