Our Favorite
The ideal silicone spatula is more based on personal preference—what you’re most comfortable with, the material you like, and what it will be used for. For a variety of head shapes, comfortability, and heat resistance, we love the U-Taste Silicone Spatula Set. We also love the Oxo Good Grips 3 Piece Silicone Spatula Set for more versatility and covering all the basic needs when baking.
Factors to Consider
Comfort
Mixing batters and ingredients can be a workout for your arms and hands, so comfort is a must. Find a material that is most comfortable for your hands such as wood, bamboo, rubber, or silicone. Size also comes to play. For example, the longer the spatula is, the more area you can cover. If a spatula is too short, you may strain your arms and hands more than needed. How does the spatula feel in your hands? Can you find yourself mixing things for long periods of time with it? Ergonomics are just as important as the material itself.
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Heat Resistance
Depending on how you’re planning to use the spatula, you may not have to consider this. However, it is still good to know just in case you’re in a crunch and have to reach for it. Not all spatulas react well to heat and may even burn when exposed to extreme temperatures. Make sure to find one that works at high temperatures that won’t discolor, warp, or even melt.
Shape and Versatility
Spatulas have more uses than just mixing. They fold batter, scrape pans and bowls, and much more. Find a spatula with a certain head shape that can do more than just one task. For example, spatulas with a curved and tapered edge are more optimal for scraping and mixing whereas spatulas with a flatter head are more ideal for scooping.
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Another thing to keep in mind is the structure and size of the head. If it’s too big, it may be too clunky to use in small bowls or scraping small corners. The structure plays into the functionality—it has to have the right balance of firm and flexible to grab ingredients and mix things correctly.
Ease of Cleaning
A majority of silicone and rubber-based spatulas are dishwasher-safe, while wooden ones aren’t. Ingredients also have a tendency to stick onto spatulas so making sure that it comes off easily and does not leave any residue is very important. Some spatulas that have a silicone head and a wooden handle detach from one another for cleaning, which may not be suitable for some people as food can easily get stuck in the space between.
The Tests
After researching a variety of silicone spatulas in leading brands, we compiled a list of seven spatulas in different sizes, shapes, and construction to put them to the test. We tested them based on versatility, comfort, heat resistance, and if they were easy to clean.
For versatility and comfort, we used each spatula to mix brownie batter in a regular mixing bowl, then recorded how comfortable the spatula felt in our hands and how well it worked for mixing. We also transferred the batter into a square baking pan using the spatulas to test how well they scraped the batter out of the bowl. We also tested out their shape by also emptying the batter from a measuring cup to see how well it worked reaching into small corners and spaces.
To test out heat resistance, we made homemade caramel over the stove. We first looked at the manufacturer’s recommendations for how high of a temperature each spatula can handle and took it from there. We paid attention to whether or not the handle got hot and if the tool was warped or melted in any way afterward.
What Didn’t Make the List
Cuisinart Flex & Flip
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This bright red spatula from Cuisinart caught our eye with its transparent head, and the long handle would work well for mixing in a big bowl or stand-in mixer. Its soft non-slip ergonomic material also makes for a very comfortable grip. The sharp tapered edge is also very bendable but firm with the spatula’s stiff spine, making scraping easy.
Unfortunately, it did not take to the heat and came out discolored and even melted in some parts after the caramel test. Even though it was not best for long heat exposures, it would work well with quick jobs such as making omelets or crepes and mixing pancake batter.
Cuisinart Mini Spatulas
Cuisinart’s Mini Spatulas ($12) come in three head sizes and colors—a pink spatula, a blue scoop spatula, and a green jar spatula. Since this is a mini set, we wouldn’t recommend these for your everyday baking needs. However, they are useful for getting into the corners of a baking pan or scooping out extra coconut oil and cream cheese from a measuring cup or a small jar. Their special size and narrow handle make this a great set for baking with the kids.
These spatulas also hold up against the heat, so these would come in handy for melting chocolate in a small bowl or making caramel in a small saucepan. They’re just not as practical for everyday use since they’re a little too small for normal tasks.
Our Expertise
Lauren Musni is a Food & Wine fellow with an associate degree in culinary arts from The Culinary Institute of America. She wrote this piece based on our test results, her personal experience working in restaurants, and her love for baking and cooking. Maia MaGill is a former Michelin-star line cook working in restaurants such as Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles and Tail Up Goat in Washington, D.C. She currently works as a production assistant in our testing labs. For this piece, she researched a variety of silicone spatulas across the market and did hands-on testing using her five years of culinary experience and time at The Institute of Culinary Education in Los Angeles.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens
