13 Best Tried and True Japanese Rubber Spatulas in 2022 (Muji, Yamazaki, and More)
Spatulas are indispensable tools even for the most casual of home cooks. The kind we call rubber spatulas are in fact usually made with silicone nowadays. They vary greatly in performance and temperature resistance, so how do you choose the right one for your kitchen?
Our editors searched Japanese e-commerce sites such as Amazon, Rakuten, and Yahoo! Shopping for the best rubber and silicone spatulas available online. We then picked out the most popular products and tested them.
In our tests, we focused on 2 things:
- How easy it is to use?
- How easy is it to wash?
We then ranked the products and put what we learned into a buying guide to help you choose the best Japanese spatulas available online.
Quick List - Top Japanese Rubber Spatula
Kaijirushi
mybest's Top Choice! The More We Used It, the More We Loved It!
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How to Choose Japanese Rubber Spatula
We recommend considering the following points when choosing a rubber or silicone spatula.
① Choose a Size and Shape That Matches the Vessel
Depending how you want to use the spatula, you'll need a different shape or size. If you're mixing something like cookie batter, you want something large and easy to hold. We recommend a spatula 10 or 11 inches long for mixing and scraping jobs.
But if you're doing home canning of jam or sauce, it's easier to have a short handle to help you pour the food into the jars. A 6-inch handle can be turned easily for delicate jobs like this. One with a spoon-shaped head is useful for scooping batter or mashed potatoes, while flat, small ones are best for getting the last bit of mayo out of the jar.
② Check Whether or Not it's Heat-resistant
Spatulas are great because they don't scratch coated pans, but not all of them can be used for all cooking methods. Unless you like the taste of melted spatula, read the manufacturer's instructions carefully!
So-called rubber spatulas are either made with polypropelyne/polyester or silicone. The silicone ones can resist heat of 400 degrees Fahrenheit or more, while the others (usually cheaper) can only handle 150-180 degrees. The surface of a frying pan can get to about 180 degrees, so you'd better use silicone when cooking When working with melted chocolate or hot jam, please confirm that the one you're using is safe.
③ Consider How Sanitary You Can Keep it
It's important to use appliances and tools that you can not only use safely, but also clean safely.
Integrated Heads and Handles are Easy to Keep Clean
Some spatulas are made from one seamless piece, while others have a separate head and handle. The area where they join can allow bacteria in from food getting stuck. The same is true for the area around the hook or hole, or any grooves or seams.
The easiest type to keep clean is a seamless one that can go in the dishwasher. The high-temperature wash helps sanitize it, and no joins ensures that all soap, food and water are gone. We especially recommend this type for families with small children or those worried about kitchen hygiene.
We Like Utensils With Hooks Or Holes For Hanging!
We think it's great to be able to hang spatulas after washing them. Not only will they dry quickly, but they will be less prone to mold from sitting in a drawer. And, they'll be within easy reach right when you need them. So we recommend looking for one that has a hole or hook for hanging- in fact, all of the ones we tested this time did.
7 Best Japanese Rubber Spatula Ranking
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kaijirushi Silicone Crescent Curve Turner | | mybest's Top Choice! The More We Used It, the More We Loved It! | |
2 | Muji Silicone Spatula | | The Rubber Spatula with the Best Heat Resistance | |
3 | Yamazaki Tower Silicone Spatula | | Recommended for the Built-in Spoon Rest | |
4 | Kaijirushi Select 100 Silicone Spatula | | The Best Spatula with an Easy-to-grip Handle | |
5 | Kaijirushi Pastry and Cake Batter Cleaner｜DL6290 | | Recommended for Home Pastry Chefs | |
6 | Seria Rubber Spatula | | The Best Budget Spatula | |
7 | Nitori Silicone Spatula | | A Clean and Simple Design, but Hard to Hold |
KaijirushiSilicone Crescent Curve Turner
mybest's Top Choice! The More We Used It, the More We Loved It!
This silicone spatula from Kaijirushi is SO easy to use! With a shape like a butter knife, it fits into the curve of a bowl perfectly. It's very easy to handle and you can wipe the contents of a bowl with a single shot.
The tip is soft, and when you apply a little force it flexes to fit in various different-shaped areas. It has a really good design for a not-too-high price tag. If you're looking to buy a new spatula, we can definitely recommend this one!
MujiSilicone Spatula
The Rubber Spatula with the Best Heat Resistance
This spatula is heat-resistant up to 570℉, so it can be used in a wide range of kitchen applications. The head is a straight, paddle shape with rounded corners that won't poke your fingers. The handle is thinner towards the head, which makes it easy to grip firmly.
The silicone is stiff enough without being too inflexible. The simple shape and black color make it easy to wash, and the vertical hole is perfect for hanging.
Recommended for the Built-in Spoon Rest
If you need to put your spatula down during cooking, you have two choices: use a spoon rest or dish, or get your counter covered with food.
Well, if you own this spatula, there's a third choice! It has a little tab on the underside which keeps the head raised off the counter, or can be used to hook it on the edge of a bowl. We thought this was really convenient.
The slightly thick non-slip handle was easy to work with. The spatula's curve fit just right, and felt good to mix with and scrape batter. It's also easy to wash, because it's one seamless piece.
KaijirushiSelect 100 Silicone Spatula
The Best Spatula with an Easy-to-grip Handle
The "Select 100" series tries to achieve ease of use of everyday cooking utensils, and we liked how the handle on this spatula was designed with purpose- it has three grooves which fit your fingers snugly. If you're a messy cook who gets slippery hands, this could be a great help!
The spatula head bends to meet the bowl, but the shape on either side doesn't quite fit and the function is a bit lost. However, we were able to get to the batter at the bottom of the bowl easily.
KaijirushiPastry and Cake Batter Cleaner ｜ DL6290
Recommended for Home Pastry Chefs
This is designed for cake bakers and dessert chefs to use for batter, whipped cream, and sauces. The curve fits the bowl sides perfectly, and we could scoop away batter with one go.
It would be great for mixing or blending, but it is not very heat-resistant, so you can't use it for stovetop cooking. The handle is thin and a little hard to hold, and it's two pieces, so the small gap where they join will require careful cleaning.
The Best Budget Spatula
Available at Seria 100 yen shops, this is easy to use and fits the curve of a bowl well. It's lightweight and a moderate size. The sharp angle of the tip is very thin, but the spatula head overall is soft and worked fine.
There were some things we didn't like, though. It doesn't handle heat, so its uses are limited. The flat, grooved handle is a bit difficult to hold, and since it's two pieces, food can get into the gap where they join, so you need to wash it carefully (by hand- it's also not dishwasher-safe.)
NitoriSilicone Spatula
A Clean and Simple Design, but Hard to Hold
The tip is moderately soft, and it fits into the bowl's curve tightly, so we had no trouble wiping batter away. It's one piece, which makes it easy to wash. But, even though the handle has a non-slip texture, we found it hard to grip because of the shape. It's too square and straight, and not ergonomic.
How We Tested the Spatulas
We tested each product for how easily we could use it and how easy it was to wash.
Test ① How Easy Was it to Use?
We put a pre-mixed batter of egg, butter, and pancake mix in a bowl and used the spatulas to scoop it out. We paid special attention to not only how well it performed, but how it felt to grip and how much (or little) it bent. We also checked how closely it fit with the contour of the bowl.
A Delicate Balance is Needed to Fit to the Curve of the Bowl, and Rounded Handles are King
We found that the best spatulas are moderately hard and can adjust to fit the curves of the bowl. A round handle was the easiest type to grasp.
Mixing and folding the batter was no problem for any of the products. Our results were divided on how well they could scoop up the batter. If the tip was too soft, it bent too much and couldn't make a good seal with the bowl wall. But if it was too stiff, it didn't conform to that shape and left a gap. Our first-place winner had a unique curve that worked perfectly.
In addition, we found that handle shape made a big difference in comfort and getting a secure grip. Round handles were the most versatile and could be used at any angle.
Test ② Was it Easy to Wash?
Food hygiene is important, but we don't have all day! We wanted to be able to wash these spatulas which were covered in sticky batter in less than 30 seconds! Challenge, GO!
Integrated Spatulas are Easiest to Clean
In fact, all products received a passing score regardless of their shape or material. But the clear winners were the seamless ones with the handle and spatula head integrated.
Those with a groove or notch at the base of the head took longer to wash. Some could be disassembled to wash, which can help to ensure you get all the parts clean, but of course taking them apart and putting them back together takes time, and we worry about stuff getting stuck in the gaps.
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Top 5 Japanese Rubber Spatula
No. 1: Kaijirushi｜Silicone Crescent Curve Turner
No. 2: Muji｜Silicone Spatula
No. 3: Yamazaki｜Tower Silicone Spatula
No. 4: Kaijirushi｜Select 100 Silicone Spatula
No. 5: Kaijirushi｜Pastry and Cake Batter Cleaner｜DL6290
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.