10 Best Tried and True Japanese Kitchen Scrapers in 2022 (Nitori, Muji, and More)
Professional chefs have been using various scrapers in the kitchen for years, and now home cooks are finding out how useful they are. Today we're presenting you the short, handle-less, soft plastic kind. They're useful for scraping every last bit of food from a bowl or pot. They also save time and resources if used for removing food waste before washing dishes. You'll need less water and won't have to replace sponges as often. Some of the products we reviewed also double as pastry scrapers or dough cutters.
Our editors searched Japanese e-commerce sites such as Amazon, Rakuten, and Yahoo! Shopping for the best kitchen scrapers available online. We then picked out the most popular products and tested them.
We had only one test this time:
- How well does it scrape food away?
Quick List - Top Japanese Kitchen Scrapers
Kaijirushi
Recommended for Both Cleaning and Culinary Uses
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How to Choose Japanese Kitchen Scrapers
We recommend considering the following when choosing your new kitchen gadget.
① Choose the Right Material For Your Purpose
There are two main choices for this type of scraper. Depending on your needs, one may be better than the other.
Silicone or Rubber Works Well for Curves
These are soft and bend to fit into curves easily. If your main purpose is as a food scraper, this is the best kind. They won't damage delicate surfaces on pots and dishes. Small products with pointy parts can get into any tiny spot.
One drawback, however, is that they attract dust. If this is a concern, store them in a dust-free area and simply rinse them before using.
Plastic is Versatile and Easy to Clean
These don't mold themselves as easily into any spot as the silicone or rubber ones, but they have sharper edges which remove tough dirt well. They also tend to be larger and can clean a wide, flat area in one go.
If you want a multitasker that can be used for cleaning as well as cutting dough, mixing, folding batter or blending, these are a better choice.
② Check the Care and Cleaning Requirements
Your scraper should be easy to take care of as well as easy to use.
White is the Standard Color, but Darker or Brighter Colors Won't Show Stains as Much
Most of these are white or light colors, which show residue easily so you can make sure you haven't left any food particles on them. However, silicone in particular tends to leach colors from foods such as curry with turmeric and tomato sauce, leaving them permanently discolored. You can try to clean them with bleach, but this often doesn't work, and some people would prefer not to use it anyway. In that case, we recommend black or a darker color.
If You Have a Dishwasher, Make Sure it's Dishwasher-safe
Scrapers help save time when cleaning up after dinner, but if they require a lot of washing themselves, what's the point? It's best to wash these immediately after using to avoid having to try and scrub them. Dishwasher-safe ones make your job even easier, and the high-temperature water helps kill bacteria. Check the packaging, or refer to our notes in the product reviews.
6 Best Japanese Kitchen Scrapers Ranking
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Marna Fioria Penguin Scraper | | mybest's Top Choice! Easy to Hold, Versatile, and Cute! | |
2 | Kaijirushi Kai House Select Non-Stick Embossed Scraper | | Recommended for Both Cleaning and Culinary Uses | |
3 | Fujisaki All-Purpose Scraper | | Recommended For Those Who Value Function and Price | |
4 | Nitori Silicone Scraper | | The Best Dishwasher-safe Scraper | |
5 | Muji Silicone Scraper | | The Most Flexible Kitchen Scraper | |
6 | Lec Kitchen Scraper | | The Most Compact Kitchen Scraper |
mybest's Top Choice! Easy to Hold, Versatile, and Cute!
Our favorite kitchen scraper's adorable design is also totally utilitarian. The handle section is thicker than the scraper blade, making it comfortable to hold and allowing force to be transmitted. It creates stability and removes dirt in one stroke.
The tail of the penguin makes close contact with the pot edge when scraping, while the belly side can be used to clear large areas easily. The beak can fit into small corners and hard-to-reach spots.
The overall size is compact but efficient, making it appropriate for any kitchen. We think every home should have one of these!
KaijirushiKai House Select Non-Stick Embossed Scraper
Recommended for Both Cleaning and Culinary Uses
This is a great choice if you want something that can double as a tool for making desserts in addition to being good at cleaning tasks.
It has an embossed texture that prevents material from sticking to it. This makes it useful for removing dirt from pots and pans as well as being good for baking tasks like kneading or cutting dough or mixing chocolate.
It is stable and has a non-slip hold. The large size means it can scrape a pot clean in no time. We definitely recommend this for dessert chefs as a cooking and cleaning tool.
Recommended For Those Who Value Function and Price
Available at Japanese "dollar stores" like Daiso and Seria, this scraper is ideal for cleaning big pans quickly. It's flexible below the handle and is the largest scraper we tested.
It does require a bit of force to keep it tight to a curved section of a pan, but we still recommend it for cleaning, squeegeeing, or cutting soft foods like tofu.
NitoriSilicone Scraper
The Best Dishwasher-safe Scraper
This scraper has a steel core which makes it transmit power efficiently and easily. It's not big enough to clean a pot with one stroke, but the flexible silicone tip gets into tight corners and the curve of the blade scrapes cleanly. It's also highly heat-resistant and can be washed in the dishwasher.
The Most Flexible Kitchen Scraper
This scraper looks a lot like our number 4 choice, but doesn't have a steel core. So even though it fits perfectly into the curve of a pot, it doesn't work well if you try to apply pressure to scrape tough dirt. The shape of the grip and the hole are nice features. We think it's a bit too flexible, though.
The Most Compact Kitchen Scraper
This was the smallest one we tested, but it worked very well to scrape away dirt. If you apply a bit of force, it will bend to get into tight spots with ease. The only thing we didn't like was the hook-shaped handle. We thought some of our muscle power was wasted by this part, and a bit of food was left behind.
How We Tested the Kitchen Scrapers
We used instant Japanese curry, which is notoriously difficult to wash away, as our test food.
In our first attempt, we tried to scrape food from plates, and we found all of the products worked well. So we made it a little more challenging and used a pot.
We warmed the curry in the pot and left it for 10 minutes. Then we used only three passes: one stroke down the middle, and one on each side, and measured how much food was removed.
Size is the Most Important Factor in Determining Ease of Use
We found that products which have a stiff handle one-third of the length transmitted power efficiently. Scrapers which were too soft and flexible left food behind.
Some Precautions for Using Kitchen Scrapers
It's easier to remove burnt or caked-on food while the pot or pan is still hot from cooking. Be very careful if you try this, though! Not only can you burn your hand (duh) but some of these scrapers are not able to handle such temperatures. Products safe up to 400℉ are generally okay. Even so, be sure to read the manufacturer's guidelines first.
Looking for More Cooking and Cleaning Items? Check Out These Related Links!
Make everything in your kitchen the best it can possibly be.
Top 5 Japanese Kitchen Scrapers
No. 1: Marna｜Fioria Penguin Scraper
No. 2: Kaijirushi｜Kai House Select Non-Stick Embossed Scraper
No. 3: Fujisaki｜All-Purpose Scraper
No. 4: Nitori｜Silicone Scraper
No. 5: Muji｜Silicone Scraper
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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