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Types of Spatulas

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We all use spatulas regularly. Whether it’s for cooking, baking, or grilling, we cannot do without this utensil in our kitchen drawer.

Spatulas come in various sizes, materials, and shapes with each having its own function.

Before the birth of modern societies, spatulas were seen as ordinary kitchen tools meant to flip and turn the food. As time progressed, the variety of spatulas increased, and their applications increased accordingly.

There are many types of spatulas out on the market, and choosing one can get confusing.

In this article, we explore various types of spatulas and their common uses.

fish on a charcoal grill using a fish spatula

13 Types of Spatulas Found in the Kitchen

1. Fish Spatula

The fish spatula is a metal spatula that can be used to flip not only fish but also meat.

The spatula has a strong, rigid, flexible, and thin blade. The sharp edges and angled head of this spatula are quite useful for flipping in tricky situations.

2. Flat Frosting Spatula

The flat frosting spatula has a blade that extends outwards from the handle. In some cases, the blade is in line with the handle having no offset or bend.

The flat frosting spatula is used in baking to apply icing or frosting to flatter, less curved, and larger parts of a cake. 

Crop female confectioner decorating cake using offset spatula

3. Offset Spatula

An offset spatula is a vital tool for baking. The blade of this spatula is usually bent below the handle by half an inch. Thanks to this form, it is easy to manipulate and handle.

You can use it to apply frosting to the intricately shaped parts and areas of your cake. With this spatula, your fingers will not get in the way while you apply frosting.

You can use an offset spatula for much more than just applying icing to cakes. You can distribute cake batter evenly with the offset spatula.

You can also use this spatula to loosen the edges of cakes when they leave the oven.

An offset spatula is also useful for flipping pancakes and moving cookies to a cooling rack with ease. 

4. Multipurpose or Silicone Spatula

The silicone spatula can be used for mixing, baking, and cooking.

You can also use them alongside traditional utensils. These spatulas are made from silicone and are highly heat resistant.

If you love to bake, this spatula is quite useful for sticky bread dough. You can also use it when making stews and soups to ensure nothing sticks to your pot.

There are smaller versions of this spatula that you can use to dig out peanut butter, and because they are heat resistant, you can also use them to make stir fry. 

Woman hand holding rolling pipn and spatula  on yellow background

5. Scrapers or Rubber Spatula

Scrapers are similar to silicone spatulas, but they are made of plastic and are rigid. Do not use these spatulas on hot surfaces because they will melt.

The head of a rubber spatula, or scraper, is rectangular with one rounded edge. You can find them in different lengths and widths.

They also come in many colors, which make them look fun compared to other utensils.  

Rubber spatulas are useful for scraping ingredients into your storage bowl and serving dish from your cooking pan.

You should be able to reach the edges of bowls with this spatula. You can also use it to mix ingredients.

6. Perforated Spatula

Perforated spatulas have tiny holes for draining excess oil. This form makes them the best type of spatula for turning burgers.

BBQ spatulas, for example, are a type of perforated spatula.

Perforated spatulas are durable and long. They are made from alloys that are heat resistant and provide additional weight.

Closeup of silicone half spatula and brush on pink background

7. Half Spatula

The half spatula is a type of rubber spatula with a blade that is about half the shape of a usual spatula.

Due to its size, it has quite a number of uses. For one, a half spatula can be used to get jam out of small jars.

8. Giant Spatula

The giant spatula is a type of flipper spatula, which shares some similarities with the turner spatula.

The giant spatula is mainly used for large items you might be unable to flip with a regular flipper such as large cakes, bread, and even large-sized pizzas.

top view if woman holding slotted spatula tuner over pan with popcorns

9. Slotted Turner

A type of turning spatula, the slotted turner is highly versatile. It is one of the spatulas most commonly used for cooking in the kitchen.

The slotted turner is the go-to spatula when frying in a pan and moving food from the pan to the plate. It can perform several actions including serving, flipping, stirring, and draining grease.

Slotted turners are available in a variety of materials including silicone, plastic, and stainless steel.

10. Solid Turner

The solid turner is a turning spatula variant. Since this spatula is solid, with no holes or slots, it is perfect for flipping pancakes. 

11. Flat Silicone Spatula

The flat silicone spatula is a must-have for every kitchen especially if you do a lot of baking.

You can also use it for stovetop cooking because it is flexible enough to reach the bottom of pans.

Flat silicone spatulas are also used to reach corners to prevent burning and sticking.

12. Metal Spatula

The metal spatula is flat and wide, making it perfect for transferring and turning cake decorations and ingredients.

You can also use it to flip pancakes with ease. When making cakes, the metal spatula is useful for scraping, serving, and flipping. 

This spatula is made of mostly metal. However, you can find hard plastic varieties that perform the same functions.

wooden spatula on the brown table

13. Wooden Spatula                              

The wooden spatula is another frequently used kitchen utensil. It is different from the other spatulas because its flat head is not angled.

The reason for this is that this spatula is not used for flipping. It is used to toss or stir food in a pan.

Wooden spatulas are often used in a wok while tossing stir-fried food.

If you are looking to purchase this spatula, make sure to get the one made from identical wooden materials. This will ensure that food does not build up over time.

Common Materials for Spatulas

Rubber

Spatulas made from rubber are flexible, soft, and will not damage your pans.

They are pretty inexpensive and can be found in many stores. Rubber spatulas are not heat resistant, and they get dirty easily. 

Colorful easter cookies and spatulas on table

Silicone

Silicone spatulas are easy to clean, non-stick, and will also not damage your pans.

The drawback of this spatula is that it tends to retain some of the cooking odors. 

Metal

Metal spatulas are known for their durability and their long lifespan.

They are perfect for handling tough jobs and heavy food. Metal spatulas are relatively expensive, and they tend to transfer heat when cooking. 

Wood/Bamboo

Wooden spatulas are non-toxic, environment-friendly, and durable.

Since they are quite porous, the wood or bamboo may store food particles or bacteria. Hence, they should be cleaned regularly.

Plastic

Plastic spatulas are typically inexpensive and easy to maintain. These spatulas do not last very long, and they tend to leak out harmful chemicals.

Resources

lynn gerlis

Thursday 12th of May 2022

hello 5/12/22 i am trying to find the spatula for my pan teflon is 8" and 10" and 12" that can have it like pancake-type so that i can use spatula to turnover the eggs or pancake without struggles i want the spatula have the size like 6 1/2 " and 8" and 9" that comes with round following the size of each pans the top of end it should be like little curve the end but not the round ones and easy to put the end slide without falling the eggs or pancake size of each pans i am trying to describe this to you i am deaf lady and i couldn't find the right spatula that can fit each pan without the spill out from the end of eggs or pancake size

i have problem with this that when i cooked the eggs and i don't want to turnover without the breaking eggs and the pancake too and it is not the right size and why don't you try make a new idea of how to make the teflon or hard rubber to make it easy for the turnover spatula i have few spatula that comes with the front straight line and it is stupid design and not following the pan size