Do you love spending time in the kitchen but hate how you never seem to have the right spatula for the job? Read more on how to choose the best spatula for every job and see which ones I can't live without.
Jump to:
- What Are The Best Spatulas? Why You Should Trust My Opinion
- What Are Spatulas Used For?
- Different Type Of Spatulas
- Different Materials For Spatulas
- Best Spatulas For Nonstick Pans
- Best Spatulas For Vitamix
- Best Spatula For Grilling
- Best Spatula For Turning Eggs
- Do You Need A Spatula Set?
- What Are The Best Spatula Sets?
What Are The Best Spatulas? Why You Should Trust My Opinion
- Cookbook Author: I've written 5 Instant Pot Cookbooks and 2 Air Fryer Cookbooks so I've spent more than my fair share of time in the kitchen.
- Efficient: That's the only way I know how to do things in the kitchen. Who has time to waste when you're trying to get food on the table? I'm known for my ruthless efficiency with everything I cook.
- Gadget geek!: I'm a self-proclaimed food tech enthusiast and have been known to purchase (and review) just about any kitchen appliance I can get my hands on.
What Are Spatulas Used For?
Spatulas are used when you are cooking to stir, flip, and turn food without scratching your favorite pans and to ensure your food turns out the best it possibly can.
What Is The Difference Between A Spatula And A Turner?
Depending on who you ask this question to, you may bet a different response. Many home cooks will use the two words interchangably when they're referencing two different types of kitchen utensils.
Traditonally when you think of a spatula, you think of the long handled kitchen utensil that has flexible sides to mix and scrape ingredients in a bowl or inside of a pot or pan.
A turner is more often thought of as the long handled kitchen utensil that has a flat, stiff end that is good for turning food in a frying pan as it cooks.
That being said, do not be caught off guard if you're in someone else's kitchen and they pass you a turner instead of a spatula or a spatula instead of a turner. Even many listings on your favorite online shop will list these two kitchen utensils interchangably at times.
Different Type Of Spatulas
If you're an inexperienced cook or someone that doesn't spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you may think there are only two different types of spatulas. Let me tell you that you will be shocked to know how many different types there are to choose from. Here are the most common varieties:
- Flippers (Turners)
- Spreaders
- Scrapers
1. Flippers
Flippers are the long handled option with a large flat bottom that are best used to get under wide food in a skillet, such as pancakes, omeletes, or hamburgers. They tend to have a sturdy wide surface to help turn your food without compromising the shape.
2. Spreaders
Spreaders are long, narrow spatulas that do exactly what you would expect considering their name. You will most likely use one of these for spreading softer items on to another food surface. Think spreading icing on a cake or your favorite sandwich spread on a soft piece of bread.
3. Scrapers
Scrapers are long handled utensils that have a flexible silicone or rubber end. They are used for getting the last bit of batter out of a bowl, the tiny drop of mayo left in a jar, or making the perfect scrambled eggs without leaving burnt bits inside of your pan.
Different Materials For Spatulas
It gets even more complicated than just choosing a design. You can also choose from different materials. Some of the most popular choices are:
- Silicone
- Metal
- Wood
- Plastic
1. Silicone
Silicone spatulas are great for your kitchen because of their overall versatility. Theyre heat resistant which makes them great for cooking in your favorite frying pan on high heat. Plus, they are great for scraping the sides of a mixing bowl or a condiment jar.
2. Metal
Metal spatulas are great for the heavy duty work you need done in your kitchen. They're great for turning burgers and steaks or flipping your cast iron pancakes. One thing to be wary of is using a metal spatula on your nonstick pans. This can lead to removal of the nonstick coating.
Are you the type that prefers to cook on the grill 12 months a year? Metal spatulas are perfect for this because they are heat resistant and very durable. Also a majority of metal spatulas have serrated or sharp edge to check your meat while cooking.
Another popular type of metal spatula is a fish spatula. These are long, flexible metal spatulas that are great for turning fish without damaging the delicate flesh.
3. Wood
Wooden spatulas are great for cooks that are concerned about using unknown plastics or silicone materials at high heat while they're preparing food for their families. They're ultra safe for nonstick pans and are heat resistant.
Another bonus to wooden spatulas is how beautiful they are. Many have etched designs amd beautiful colors to make it not only a useful utensil but also a visual delight in your kitchen.
4. Plastic
Plastic spatulas will be the most affordable of all of the spatula options. They can be great for cooking delicate things because of how sturdy they are and how thin the edges are to slide under whatever you're cooking. Use caution when using plastic spatulas as they are not heat resistant and my burn or melt inside of your pan if you're cooking at high temperatures.
Best Spatulas For Nonstick Pans
Finding the perfect spatula for nonstick pans is essential for a positive cooking experience and extending the life of your favorite nonstick pan. The best spatulas for nonstick pans are usually silicone or wood.
Plastic is another good option for cooking in nonstick pans, but if you have a tendency to cook at very high temperatures, or allow your spatula to rest in your pan while grabbing more ingredients, this could be a poor solution. Plastic is not heat resistant and could ruin your meal if not monitored carefully.
Why Are These The Best For Nonstick Pans?
Silicone spatulas are the best for nonstick pans because of their high heat resistant tendencies. They're delicate on any nonstick surface, and they're easy to clean when you're done cooking your meal.
Pros
- Versatile
- Heat resistant
- Affordable
- Many colors available
Cons
- Can be more flimsy than wood or metal
Best Spatulas For Vitamix
The Vitamix 11.5 inch spatulas are the perfect way to get all of your favorite foods out of your Vitamix 5200 or Vitamix 7500 without sacrificing one of your other favorite spatulas to the the sharp blades of your blender. They're the perfect length to get all of the way to the bottom to retrieve every last delicious bite.
These come in a set of three so you have replacements as one starts to show wear and tear. They're flat and compact so it's easy to store these in any kitchen drawer without a fuss.
Don't have a Vitamix blender? No problem. These are still great for use in extrememly tall bowls, deep jars, and canisters.
Why Are These The Best For Vitamix?
These are best for use with your Vitamix blender because of their custom length. They can reach the very bottom of your blender without sticking your hand in the blender canister and contiminating any food or dirtying your hands. They're also more durable than other plastic or silicone spatulas, which makes these a more long lasting option.
Pros
- Durable
- Great length
- Comes in a set of three for quick replacement
Cons
- They aren't the most eye appealing
Best Spatula For Grilling
The Oxo Good Grips Grilling Spatula with tongs is a duo you'll absolutely love for all of your grilling needs. They are made of durable stainless steel that is incredibly easy to clean and dish washer safe. They have long grip handles to keep your hands away from the heat and open flame, and are strong and sturdy enough to pick up the biggest cuts of meat without worrying about sacrificing it to the flame or the floor.
Why Are These The Best For Grilling?
The Oxo Spatula and Tong set are the best for grilling because of their durability, ease of cleaning, and versatility for cooking all of your favorite cuts of meat or grilled veggies.
If you have ever used an Oxo Good Grips kitchen utensil before you shouldn't be surprised by this pick. They are known for their great quality and affordability.
Pros
- Nice long length to keep hands away from the flame
- Durable enough for heavy cuts of meat
- Serrated edge to check meat doneness while cooking
- Affordable
Cons
- The heat resistant cover doesn't cover the entire handle
- Tongs lock in place, which could be a hinderance for some users
Best Spatula For Turning Eggs
When it comes to turning eggs, you want something with a thin edge that can easily get under the egg without breaking the yolk. This Oxo Good Grips flexible silicone turner has a thin edge while still being quite wide and sturdy. No more broken yolks when you grab the right spatula.
Why Are These The Best For Turning Eggs?
Made out of silicone, the Oxo Good Grips silicone turner is safe to withstand high heat. It has a thin edge and is sturdy enough to flip enough eggs for the whole family without any frustration of a broken yolk.
Pros
- Affordable
- Durable
- Sturdy
- Thin Edge
Cons
- Good for fried eggs, but a silicone scraper may work better for scrambled eggs
Do You Need A Spatula Set?
From a cook's perspective, I often don't purchase kitchen items in sets. This is because finding replacements for sets that match is often difficult. That being said, with spatulas, I don't mind buying sets if I find a brand or style that I love.
This often makes it easier to cook or meal prep. Have the perfect spatula but it's just a little too large to fit in that small space? Chances are that set has the perfect one for the job. Need the perfect turner for your pancakes after you scrape the last of the batter off of your mixing bowl? Yet another good reason to purchase spatula sets.
What Are The Best Spatula Sets?
While the type of set you choose to purchase heavily depends on what kind of cooking you do some most, here are a few of my favorite spatula sets in a variety of spatula types.
This Startech silicone spatula set has a variety of different sizes and lengths of spatulas for any job that you might find in the kitchen. It comes in black, teal, and blue to match your favorite dishes or pans. They offer a full customer satisfaction warranty so there is no worrying about the quality or durability of these silicone spatulas.
This stainless steel Professional Spatula set is great for any cooking you may need to do on your grill or flat top griddle. It comes with three different spatulas with a variety of shapes and sizes. Do anything from flipping pancakes, to pressing burgers, to scraping your flat top grill clean between cooking different varieties of food.
They have a sturdy heat safe wooden grip so you don't need to be concerned about the safety of these metal spatulas while you're cooking your favorite meal on the grill.
If you're concerned about the environment, you'll love these wooden spatulas. They're made out of 100% organic bamboo. This natural bamboo is very gentle on your favorite pots and pans without being abrasive.
The beautiful designs on these bamboo utensils make them the perfect gift for any foodie or home chef in your life.
This three piece Di Oro Spatula Set is great for all of your turning and flipping needs. They are heat resistant up to 600 degrees. They're safe for use in any of your favorite nonstick pans or on baking dishes, and are completely dishwasher safe.
Use these to your heart's desire in the kitchen knowing they have a lifetime warranty and the manufacturer will replace them if you have any issues.
Other Useful Buying Guides
- An Essential Guide To Copper Cookware
- Best Rice Cookers Of 2020
- How To Choose A Blender
- The Best Baking Pans of 2020
- How To Choose A Slow Cooker
- How To Choose An Air Fryer
- Food Processor Vs. Blender - Which Should You Choose?
- How To Choose A Food Processor
- Kitchen Gadgets For Foodies
- How To Choose A Waffle Iron
- The Best Spatulas For Every Job
- Which Mandoline Slicer Should You Choose
- The Best Dash Kitchen Appliances
If you found this article on how to choose the best spatulas helpful, make sure you share it with your friends on Facebook and Pinterest so they can pick up a few too.
Originally Published November 7, 2020
MC says
The OXO silicone spatula is awesome! I have three of them and have used them everyday for years!