Whether you like to make stews and soups or batters and sauces, you know that a ladle is one of the most useful tools to have to help pour and skim your food. But what makes a good ladle? You'll need to consider its material, size, functionality, and most of all, whether it suits your particular cooking needs.
Below, we've crafted a versatile list of the 10 best ladles available online. Our top pick was Rösle's Stainless Steel Hooked Handle Ladle for its anti-drip pouring rim, stain-resistant stainless steel material, anti-slip handle hook, and versatile scoop capacity of 5.4 ounces. If you'd like to know how to choose the right ladle for you, feel free to scroll down to our trusty Buying Guide reviewed by a professional chef.
Quick List - Top Ladles
Chef Craft
Best Ladle With a Flattened Bowl for More Efficient Scooping
Jim Quast (JQ) is a lifelong professional restaurant and corporate R&D chef who loves everything food-related and the tools, both big and small, to make those great food memories. He's a super huge BBQ, grill, and kitchen gadget fanatic. JQ has spent the last 30+ years trying to figure out what works to make your kitchen life easier and fun. If you can use it to slice it, dice it, cook it, smoke it, or store it, he's been there checking it out. Food = Life!
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When choosing a ladle, it's important to factor in crucial points such as its material, size, and extra features.
Ladles are often made with stainless steel, plastic, silicone, or wood. Each material has its own strong and weak points, so make sure you consider which one is the right material for your particular cooking needs.
Stainless steel ladles are very durable and won't break easily. On top of that, stainless steel has strong corrosion- and oxidation-resistant properties, so products made with this material tend to look new and last for a long time.
Additionally, stainless steel can withstand high temperatures, which makes it good for cooking hotter foods. However, take note that this also means it can transfer heat easily as well. If you're using a one-piece stainless steel ladle, you need to make sure that you don't keep it sitting in hot vats of soup or stews since the transferred heat might burn your hand.
Also, try not to use stainless steel on nonstick cookware or enameled cast-iron pots, because this can cause scratches. Instead, use it with copper or stainless steel cookware.
Silicone ladles are soft, so they won't scratch your cookware, including nonstick surfaces. Foods tend to not stick to silicone, so it's easy to clean with a simple rinse of water and some dish soap. You can also pop it in the dishwasher since silicone is highly heat-resistant and can tolerate up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the product.
Silicone ladles are more flexible than their metal cousins and can scrape foods from the sides of your pot without any issues. However, note that it may be harder to handle when scooping heavier soups, stews, and foods, and it doesn't work as well for mashing stews if you want to use your ladle in the texturizing process, too.
Another thing to note is that silicone may hold cooking odor for a long time, so cleaning these ladles may be a bit more time-consuming or important. Some baking soda or lemon juice can help get rid of odor effectively.
Wooden ladles are popular since they are aesthetically pleasing, eco-friendly, and also highly sturdy. However, wood is a tricky material and needs regular care. First, wood can warp in the dishwasher, so always hand-wash your wood ladle.
On top of that, it can splinter or mold easily. The best way to prevent this is to wash your wood ladle right after you finish using it with water and soap. When it comes to mold prevention, you might want to oil it at least once a month.
Even with some downsides, wood is still highly recommended for nonstick cookware since it doesn't scratch.
Plastic ladles are a lightweight and affordable option. However, make sure that your plastic utensil is free from BPA, a chemical that has been linked to health issues and is frequently found in plastic.
There is a variety of plastic materials used to make ladles, and each is quite different. Polystyrene is a common plastic material, but it cannot tolerate high heat and these ladles often intended for punch bowls and pouring cold beverages instead of cooking heated foods.
If you're looking for a plastic ladle that works for cooking, go for a nylon product. Nylon is a plastic that has gone through an intense chemical process to make it durable against higher heat compared to other common plastics.
While it depends on the product, most nylon ladles can tolerate heat of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything more, and it will melt and warp. Nylon ladles are preferred by some because they soft and won't damage the surface of your cookware. They also tend to be dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean.
Your ladle's handle length influences how easy your ladle will be to use. To prevent your ladle from sliding into the dish you're cooking, make sure your ladle is long enough to reach the bottom of your pot, pan, or serving bowl. Typically, ladle handles that are 9.5 to 10 inches satisfy this requirement.
Note that if you're cooking with particularly large or small pots, you should adjust your ladle length accordingly. For example, if you intend to use your ladle for a 24-quart stockpot, you might need a ladle that's about 12 to 13 inches long instead. But for a shallow 2.5-quart crock, a ladle that's nine inches or shorter could do the job.
To prevent a ladle from sliding down into your pot, you should look for one with a hook at the end of the handle that will hang over the pot rim. Ladles with a hole at the top of the handle are convenient, too, since you can hang them on utensil racks or hooks in your kitchen.
Ladles also tend to come in one- or two-piece constructions. One-piece ladles are sturdier as they're made with one continuous piece of material. However, if they're made with metal, recall that heat can travel easily and you'll have to be careful of burns.
Two-piece ladles are made by combining the ladle's scoop with a heat-safe handle. Ones with textured handles are popular, as they allow for better grip. However, two-piece ladles are more prone to falling apart as the handles can loosen over time, and can be harder to clean due to the crevices between pieces.
Generally, one-piece ladles are slightly preferred amongst avid cooks, as they're more long-lasting and offer more flexibility in terms of how to maneuver your ladle. Handles with two-piece construction are comfortable to hold, but some cooks have noticed they can limit movements when stirring, pouring, and mashing.
Ladles typically range between four and seven ounces in scoop capacity. However, as a rule of thumb, a scoop capacity of five ounces tends to be the most versatile and efficient in transferring stews and soups from pot to bowl. This amount is also good for stews that have chunky vegetables or meat in them.
Anything fewer than five ounces, and it may take a while to transfer all of your soup from one place to another. Anything more and the ladle can be uncomfortably heavy or difficult to handle.
To make serving food completely mess-free, look for ladles with either a pouring rim or pouring spout. Pouring rims are ladles that have a rim that's curved outward to facilitate easier and more precise pouring. Pouring spouts are spouts on the side of ladles that allow liquid to flow down through its canal. Some products are even equipped with dual spouts, allowing you to pour from either side.
Though pouring spouts are convenient for those who cook puréed soups and sauces, ladles with pouring rims are more versatile as they are also useful for soups and stews with cut vegetables, meats, and other solid foods. Overall, they also offer more precision as they tend not to let food trail down the side of the ladle.
You should also pay attention to the shape of a ladle's bowl. If your ladle is designed with a round bowl, you might not be able to scoop out everything from your pot. On the other hand, a ladle with a flat front edge will help you scrape the bottom of the pot easily.
Lastly, if you're looking for a ladle to either scoop out fried foods from frying oil, skim fat or grease, or lift bones from a broth, consider ladles with holes. Otherwise known as strainer or skimmer ladles, these will allow you to take the solids out of your liquid. Some are constructed with just half of the scoop holed so that you can scoop and skim at the same time.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rösle Stainless Steel Hooked Handle Ladle | ![]() | Best Drip-Free Ladle With a Pouring Rim | |
2 | Chef Craft Nessie Ladle Turquoise|12560 | ![]() | Best Ladle With a Flattened Bowl for More Efficient Scooping | |
3 | Amco Nylon Ladle | ![]() | Best Large Skimming and Scooping Ladle | |
4 | OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Ladle|11283400 | ![]() | Best Stainless Steel Ladle With Dual Spouts | |
5 | Le Creuset Bi-Material Ladle|VE300-59 | ![]() | Best 2-Material Ladle With Flexible Silicone Bowl | |
6 | Cooler Kitchen Silicone and Stainless steel Ladle | ![]() | Best Silicone and Stainless Steel Ladle for Nonstick Cookware | |
7 | Zulay Kitchen Ladle | ![]() | Best Nylon Ladle With Wider Bowl for Shallow Scooping | |
8 | Renawe Wooden Ladle | ![]() | Best Wooden Ladles | |
9 | Chef Craft Premium Silicone Ladle | ![]() | Best Colorful, High-Heat Resistant Silicone Ladle | |
10 | Party Essentials Hard Plastic Ladle|N512 | ![]() | Best Plastic Ladle for Punch Bowls |
Pros:
Cons:
This highly-rated ladle from Rösle is crafted with convenience and durability in mind, with rust-resistant stainless steel and a pouring rim that ensures drip- and trail-free pouring. It also has a hooked handle so you can easily rest it on your pot or hang it above your stovetop for storage.
Some reviewers noted that the sharper rim could cause some scratches. However, the majority of customers loved that its wider mouth and pour rim made it easy for them to pour liquids without dripping. They also noted that the angle of the handle was just right and gave them full control.
Pros:
Cons:
This stainless steel ladle has a flattened head to make scooping the last bit of your soups, stews, and batters easier. It can also double as a masher while cooking. The comfortable non-slip grip makes maneuvering the ladle easy, and the dishwasher-safe, anti-rust steel makes cleaning a breeze as well.
A few customers were disappointed that the bowl was a bit flimsier than expected and wished it were sturdier. However, the majority of customers were incredibly impressed by how useful the flat bottom was in scooping every last drop of their soups or sauces. Many of them said they couldn't go back to a normal round ladle after using this.
Pros:
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This versatile stainless steel ladle is both a scooping and skimming ladle in one. With straining holes on just one side of the bowl, this ladle can be used for skimming stock or picking up vegetables or meat from stews and soups. It can also be used to help mash foods while cooking.
Some reviewers, both left- and right-handed, said it was tricky to use. But the majority of customers were extremely impressed by how durable and efficient this ladle was. They noted it made picking up solids from soups a breeze and said it was their go-to tool for most scooping and skimming needs.
Pros:
Cons:
This stainless steel ladle has two spouts that help you pour soups, sauces, or pancake batter neatly from both sides. The ladle was designed with both right-handed and left-handed cooks in mind, and the non-slip, soft handle also allows for a secure grip and reduces heat transfer to prevent burned hands.
The majority of customers were pleased with the size and high-quality materials of this product, saying it was sturdy and didn't rust. Plus, it is dishwasher-safe, so cleaning wasn't a big deal. They further commented that the ladle was perfectly angled and able to hold liquid well.
Pros:
Cons:
This ladle from Le Creuset is constructed with glass-filled nylon, so it's more durable than other nylon products. The flexible silicone rim on the bowl allows for the ladle to conform to the edges of your pot and won't scratch enameled cast iron or nonstick surfaces.
A couple of customers reported that the silicone portion of their bowl fell off after long-term use. But the majority of reviewers didn't have this problem and said this ladle was highly heat-resistant and sturdy. They particularly loved that the flexible silicone allowed them to scoop up every last drop of their soups, stocks, and sauces.
Pros:
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Cooler Kitchen's soup ladle has a round handle that won't get hot even if you leave it in a pot of boiling soup. The steel handle ensures strength where it's most needed, and the silicone allows for scratch-free cooking with nonstick cookware. Underneath the silicone, the bowl is reinforced so it only bends at the edges.
A few buyers noted that the handle is actually nine inches, which is shorter than the advertised length. On the other hand, most reviewers were happy with the ladle's functionality, saying this ladle has a soft edge and was safe and hassle-free to use with nonstick cookware.
Pros:
Cons:
This nylon ladle can withstand up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and can be used safely with nonstick cookware. Its wider bowl allows for scooping shallower stocks and soups, and the unique shape makes for easier pouring. Plus, it comes with a lifetime money-back guarantee.
Those who were left-handed noted that the ladle didn't work well for them. Nevertheless, many reviewers liked that it's well-built and has slightly flat edges that allow them to get into the bottom of the pot and scoop up food. They also appreciated how its wide mouth prevented spills.
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This set includes one ladle that is 11 inches long and another that is 14 inches long. Both are crafted from solid, one-piece acacia wood, so they won't crack easily. They're also coated to prevent mold from growing. However, make sure to handwash them since they can warp inside the dishwasher.
Some reviewers were concerned that the food-grade coating on their ladles wore off. But most other reviewers praised both the aesthetic and sturdiness of these ladles. They say they don't scratch nonstick cookware, either.
Pros:
Cons:
This ladle comes in 10 different color options and can tolerate a heat of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The silicone material is also mold and stain-resistant, and it won't damage your nonstick cookware. A metal rod inside it strengthens the handle.
A few reviewers wished the ladle was a bit stiffer. However, most reviewers liked that it was lightweight, sturdy, and easy to clean. Since it's highly flexible, home cooks were able to scoop all the bits from the bottom of the pot and scrape the sides.
Pros:
Cons:
This plastic, crystal clear ladle is an indispensable addition to your party's beverage station. The curved handle helps keep the ladle in place and its five-ounce capacity makes it a convenient size for pouring cold drinks into party cups in one scoop.
A few customers were concerned that their item cracked and said it was thin plastic. However, according to many more reviewers, this product was exactly what they needed for their punch bowls, and they loved that it was lightweight and easy to use.
Cooking can be stressful, but there are tons of kitchen products that can help make the process a breeze. Take a look at some of our other favorite cooking tools.
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Rösle|Stainless Steel Hooked Handle Ladle
No. 2: Chef Craft|Nessie Ladle Turquoise|12560
No. 3: Amco|Nylon Ladle
No. 4: OXO|Good Grips Stainless Steel Ladle|11283400
No. 5: Le Creuset |Bi-Material Ladle|VE300-59
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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