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Spatula

Utensils & kitchen tools · Spatula

Spatula

A flat or flexible blade on a handle for turning, lifting, spreading or scraping food.

Essential in most kitchens · Manual · 51 recipes

Photo: Dietmar Rabich, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

What it is

The word covers several tools: a turner or fish slice (wide, thin, often slotted blade) for flipping food in pans; a rubber or silicone spatula for scraping bowls and folding batters; an offset palette knife for spreading icing; and wok spatulas with a curved edge. Use silicone or wood on non-stick.

What it’s for: Moving food without breaking it, and getting every bit out of bowls and pans.

How to use it

  1. Use a thin metal turner under seared food, sliding it flat along the pan.
  2. Use a silicone spatula to scrape bowls and fold whisked egg whites into batters with a cutting-and-lifting motion.
  3. Use an offset spatula to spread icing or lift cookies.
  4. Choose heat-resistant silicone for stirring hot pans.

Good to know

Tasks
flipping pancakes and burgers, lifting fish, scraping bowls, folding batters, spreading icing, stirring scrambled eggs
Cooking methods
Pan-fried, Stir-fried, Sautéed, Shallow-fried
Materials
silicone, stainless steel, nylon, wood
Care and cleaning
Most are dishwasher-safe; dry wooden ones promptly. Replace melted or cracked silicone heads.
Limitations
Each type suits different jobs; one spatula cannot do them all well.

Safety

  • Nylon can melt if left resting on a hot pan.

If you don’t have one

Equipment guide

How it works: A thin, flat or flexible blade slides under food without breaking it, or scrapes the sides of a bowl. Flexible metal is thin enough to get under seared food; silicone flexes around a bowl without scratching.

MaterialGoodWatch out
Stainless steel (fish slice, turner)Thin edge slides under crusts.Scratches non-stick.
SiliconeHeat-resistant (often to about 230–260 °C), flexible, safe for non-stick.Thicker edge; can absorb smells.
Food-grade plastic (polypropylene, nylon)Light, cheap, gentle on non-stick surfaces.Melts or warps on contact with hot pans; scratches harbour residue; can stain and hold smells.
WoodDoes not scratch pans, stays cool to hold, feels warm and quiet in use.Absorbs water and smells if soaked; cracks if put in the dishwasher; needs occasional oiling.
Fish spatula (slotted turner)
Thin and flexible for fish and eggs.
Solid turner
Burgers and flatbreads.
Silicone spatula (scraper)
Folding and scraping bowls.
Offset palette knife
Spreading icing; lifting delicate items.

Buying guidance

Starting out: One silicone spatula and one thin metal fish spatula (plus a silicone turner if you use non-stick).

  • Thin, bevelled edge
  • Heat rating for silicone
  • One-piece construction with no joint for food to collect

No brands or prices — check current reviews before buying.

Techniques:BakingPan-fryingStir-fryingSautéingBhunaoPlating

Related tools

Recipes that use it

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