Spatulas

Have you ever been to a dentist? Remember that small flat metallic object the doctor used to hold your tongue while checking the teeth? Well, that is called a spatula. By construction a spatula is a broad, flexible, flat blade used for lifting, spreading or mixing material – and obviously holding down your tongue.

Today, when we hear about the word spatula, we think about those flat-faced spoons that are mainly used for cooking. As a kitchen accessory, this flat object is referred to as the flat, broad utensil. Most commonly it is used for turning or flipping delicate food items like fish, eggs or pancakes. The blades on these are generally made of plastic and metal and have a wooden or plastic handle to insulate them from heat. Besides cooking these blades are also used as frosting spatulas and palette knives.

A beginner’s guide to different types of mixing spatula

Till now you may not notice but this tool is one of the most common and mandatory kitchen utensils in any kitchen. Most of the modern kitchens have one of the different available types of spatulas. For bakers, they are a must-have item. Luckily there are different types of spatulas for cooking, baking or frosting purposes. With a wide collection of items available in the market, it becomes important to look at and understand the different types before you buy one. Today we are going to talk about these different available options in spatulas available online.

The turner spatulas

These are believed to be the most traditional type of spatulas. They have a simple structure that makes them an ideal option to use for cooking everyday food in a frying pan or for serving hot food items. Besides, they are used for stirring, scraping and mixing food while cooking. Due to its versatility, it is also known as a jack of all trade in the spatula family. You can find these spatulas made of silicone, wood or even plastic. The handles can be of wood or plastic and are generally long enough to offer better stirring and grip.

The scraper

They are a true depiction of their name and are the simplest and most commonly used type of spatula in both residential and commercial kitchens. These spatulas help in scraping even the tiniest food item from every nook and corner of the pan or pot. They are also multipurpose and can be used as a spoon, knife or whisk when it comes to taking the last bit of batter or sauce out of a jar or a bowl. Besides, the structure of a scraper made it easier for certain mixing applications. Most of the time they are made of flexible plastic or silicones that allow easy application to keep them stain resistant.

The frosting spatulas

Besides being a helpful option in the cooking, mixing and baking process these spatulas are ideal for icing and frosting purposes as well. These types of spatulas are also referred to as palette knives as they are identical in form and function to the tools used for mixing or applying paints. However, in the kitchen, they are used for mixing and applying frostings on baked items or different types of sauces. With nicely chosen spatulas you can add ease and efficiency to your baking ventures. The long blades on these spatulas help for evenly spreading creams or larger areas at once.

Silicone spatulas

Once again, they are versatile options and available in different sizes, shapes and colours. And they can be used for anything from baking to cooking and mixing of food while on fire. Despite they were mainly introduced as baking utensils they have impressively made their way to the cooking process. The design of these spatulas helps you scratch out everything from a cooking or serving pot, bowl or any vessel. Besides thorough cleaning, it also offers no harm or scratches to the pan or pot you are scraping. A high-quality silicone spatula is flexible, lightweight and can withstand heat without melting. Hence it is a better option than its plastic or wooden family members.