Slotted spoons are useful utensils that can help you easily remove pasta or poached eggs from boiling water or French fries from hot oil. They can be used to strain or skim broth, or separate olives and pickles from their juices. They're even good for things like dipping goodies in chocolate! If you're feeling a bit lost about how to choose one, don't worry and scroll down to our buying guide! It contains various tips that can help you make a decision more easily.
One of the products that really impresses us is OXO's Good Grips Nylon Slotted Spoon. It's highly heat-resistant so you can use it for stove-top cooking or lifting foods from hot water. Also, it features a non-slip handle that is comfortable to hold. There are nine other great products on our top 10 list, so read on for more great options!
Quick List - Top Slotted Spoons
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 slotted spoon, it's important to consider the material, the length, and also the handle design of the product. In this buying guide, we'll guide you through those criteria so you can quickly come to a decision.
Slotted spoons can be made from wood, stainless steel, silicone, and plastic. Here's a bit of essential information about each one.
Slotted spoons made out of wood often have an old-fashioned, vintage feel to them. They are eco-friendly and gentle on all types of cookware including non-stick.
Wood doesn't bend or break easily, so you can use your wooden utensil to mix a large amount or heavy food. Wood is fairly heat-resistant and can be used for cooking as well.
However, the downside of this material is that it can develop splinters or get stained, so take care of your wooden spoon regularly. Oiling it at least once a month helps prevent mold from growing and contaminating the utensil. Also, wood items can warp in the dishwasher, so hand-wash and dry them as quickly as possible.
Stainless steel is a solid and durable option. It has a sleek, elegant aesthetic that complements all decor. It's rust-resistant and looks like new for a long time. Stainless steel slotted spoons are easy to clean as well since you can just wash them using the dishwasher.
Stainless steel is highly heat-resistant and suitable for stove-top cooking. Another plus point is that stainless steel is a poor conductor of heat. Therefore, it doesn't get extremely hot and is less likely to burn your hand while you cook.
However, stainless steel spoons are not compatible with non-stick cookware and might leave scratches. They'll work well for cookware made out of stainless steel, cast iron, or copper.
Silicone can withstand temperatures from 300 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit without melting or becoming deformed. Therefore, it's suitable for high-heat cooking. On top of that, it has low thermal conductivity, meaning that it transfers heat at a very low rate. So it is less likely to burn your hands!
Silicone is also quite soft and will work with all surfaces whether nonstick, metal, or plastic. It doesn't get stains easily and can come in a variety of colors that will bring some fun to your kitchen collection. New silicone utensils can impart foods with a plastic taste, so you should clean them well with soap before using them.
Compared to other materials, plastic is the most lightweight and affordable choice. However, plastic cannot tolerate high temperatures, so don't use your plastic spoon for high-heat cooking or place it on hot surfaces. Instead, you can use it to spoon out olives or other cold foods.
Keep in mind that there are various plastics used to make cooking utensils. Make sure you choose plastics such as polystyrene or polycarbonate, as they are quite durable and won't crack easily. Their heat tolerance is also decent: around 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
The size of the spoon bowl is another important factor that you should take into consideration. If you're using your slotted spoon for draining foods from jars or cans, pick a small size of less than two inches. For scooping foods from pots and pans, larger sizes of over four inches would be ideal.
Also, a slotted spoon with a deep bowl-shaped head is ideal for stirring, straining, and serving a large amount of foods like pasta. Meanwhile, one with a shallow head is great for skimming things off the surface. For example, you can use a shallow spoon to remove foam and impurities that float to the surface of broth or stock.
Ever wondered why slotted spoons might have either round holes or long slits? Round holes help prevent foods with a long and thin shape, like spaghetti, from slipping through the slits.
But products with long slits are usually faster at draining liquid. Also, the more holes or slits there are, the faster the liquids will drain. Some products have holes only in the middle, while for some others, the holes go all the way to the edges. The latter tend to be quicker at straining.
Decide which feature you'll need more often, or maybe consider getting one of each type. There are slotted spoon sets that come with many different styles to meet your needs. There are even spoons that have both long slits and round holes.
An ergonomic handle that is rounded at the edges and conforms to the contours of your hand will allow for a secure, comfortable grip. Many products also feature a non-slip handle with plastic or silicone coating to protect your hand from burning and ensure a comfortable hold.
But do keep in mind that products with a handle made from different materials might break apart, and old food pieces and bacteria can accumulate at any joins. On the other hand, with one-piece spoons, you won't have those problems at all. They tend to be sturdier and also easier to clean.
Finally, if you want to hang your slotted spoon on hooks in your kitchen, go for a product that has a hole at the top of the handle.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | OXO Good Grips Nylon Slotted Spoon | ![]() | Best for Nonstick Cookware | |
2 | Chef Craft Slotted Spoon | ![]() | Best Versatile Slotted Spoon With Efficient Drainage Holes | |
3 | Pikanty Small Slotted Spoons | ![]() | Best Small Slotted Spoons for Pickles and Olives | |
4 | Cuisinart Silicone Slotted Spoon | ![]() | Best Slotted Spoon for Serving | |
5 | Newness Skimmer Slotted Spoon | ![]() | Best for Skimming Stock | |
6 | OXO Good Grips Large Wooden Slotted Spoon | ![]() | Best for Draining Heavy Foods and Stirring Thick Stews | |
7 | All-Clad Basics Slotted Spoon|T233 | ![]() | Best Flat-Edged Slotted Spoon | |
8 | KitchenAid Slotted Spoon|KO004OHOBA | ![]() | Best for the Comfortable Handle | |
9 | 77L Slotted Spoon | ![]() | Best for Scooping Foods Out of a Nonstick Deep-Fryer | |
10 | Joseph Joseph Scoop Plus Colander | ![]() | Best for Scooping and Draining Like a Colander |
Pros:
Cons:
This slotted spoon from OXO can tolerate temperatures of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The flexible, non-scratch material makes it safe to use for all kinds of cookware including nonstick. It features a broad, soft handle that is comfortable to hold and won't slip easily from your hand.
One buyer mentioned that the spoon's bowl was a bit small. Nevertheless, most loved that it didn't bend easily and could hold heavy items. They further mentioned that the round holes were just the right size, making draining quick and easy. Another plus point for buyers was the long handle that worked well for large, deep pots.
Pros:
Cons:
This slotted spoon is made from stainless steel, so it's durable, rust-resistant, and has a sleek look. The bowl is polished to a glass-like shine which contrasts nicely with the brushed handle. It's designed with both long slits and round holes for effective draining. There is also a hole at the end of the handle, allowing for easy drying and storage.
A few buyers noted that the handle had a thin edge and was a bit uncomfortable to hold. Most reviewers were satisfied that it held up well to various uses, including dishing up foods and straining small vegetable pieces. Many buyers further noted that the one-piece design made cleaning a breeze.
Pros:
This set includes four slotted spoons that are only about the same size as a typical spoon. When you need to take foods like pickles out of jars or jalapeños out of cans, these can come in handy! They're made from durable plastic that's dishwasher-safe and can also withstand heat of up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
Most buyers said the plastic construction is durable and the small size fit perfectly in a jar. Many used them for poaching eggs, testing a piece of pasta for doneness, or taking olives out of a jar. Additionally, buyers commented that the spoons worked well on non-stick surfaces and were easy to clean.
Pros:
Cons:
Cuisinart's slotted spoon has a durable stainless steel construction, and the handle design is ergonomic and sleek. Moreover, the handle is hollow, so it feels lightweight in the hands. The long slits allow for fast draining. It's elegant enough to use on your formal table as a serving spoon.
According to many reviewers, the spoon was well-built, lightweight, and comfortable to hold. They also added that it's great for both cooking and serving, and like that its one-piece construction means it's easy to keep clean.
Pros:
Cons:
This slotted spoon is crafted from 304 stainless steel, which is solid and highly rust-resistant. You can use it to remove foods from hot oil and boiling water, and skimming the froth from soups. On top of that, it has an ergonomic triangle-shaped handle that is easy to grip and can reduce heat transfer.
Some buyers had trouble fitting it in a drawer! Nevertheless, the majority liked the heavy-duty construction. Many said the spoon had a shallow bowl and worked well for straining cheese curds, draining ground meat, and cooking poached eggs. They added that the spoon had no rough edges, so foods didn't get stuck at all.
Pros:
Cons:
This slotted spoon is made from a solid piece of beechwood and is strong enough to lift up heavy food, stir large quantities, or mix dense stews. It's coated with natural oil to help prevent mold growth. The handle is curved on the underside and flat on the top, thus giving your hand a great fit.
Some buyers were disappointed that the spoon split after a couple of uses, and some others suggested handwashing, drying, and coating the handle with oil once in a while to preserve the quality. Meanwhile, many were content that it felt balanced and the slots were the right size for straining foods such as veggies and pasta.
Pros:
Cons:
This one-piece slotted spoon from All-Clad is made from 18/10 stainless steel that's highly heat-resistant. Having a flat edge allows it to function as a spatula, to scrape all the food from the bottom of a pan, or to get a slice of lasagna from the corner of a casserole dish. The mirror finish makes it suitable to use as a serving utensil on a formal dining table or buffet.
Some buyers mentioned that the handle of the spoon was a little too short for them to cook with it comfortably. Nonetheless, most buyers complimented that the spoon felt very sturdy. They also mentioned that it was nice to hold.
Pros:
Cons:
This slotted spoon from KitchenAid is made of durable nylon that is heat-resistant up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and completely dishwasher-safe. The handle is made of plastic and is comfortable to hold. Plus, this product is dishwasher-safe and comes with a one-year warranty.
A few buyers mentioned that the spoon didn't work well for small cookware, as it was big and the handle was heavy. Nonetheless, many reviewers were pleased that the product was strong enough to lift heavy foods. They also appreciated the deep spoon head that allowed them to scoop a big portion of food.
Pros:
Cons:
This slotted spoon is made of silicone with a plastic core and can withstand up to 480 degrees Fahrenheit. There is a hole in the handle so you can easily hang it. The angle of the head and its shallow shape make it perfect for scooping up French fries from hot oil.
Most buyers commented that the slotted spoon had a lot of holes which made draining foods quick and easy. They were also satisfied with the lightweight yet sturdy construction, and added that the spoon didn't scratch their cookware. Many buyers said that this slotted spoon was quite shallow and was great for poaching eggs.
Pros:
Cons:
Made from reinforced nylon, this slotted spoon won't cause any scratches on nonstick cookware. It can tolerate a temperature of up to 392 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can use it to remove foods from boiling water. The hooks underneath the spoon allow you to rest it on the edge of the cookware as the liquid drains.
Some warned that the flat shape allows long pasta to slide off easily, so you need to tilt the pot to scoop it up. Others said the large scoop allowed them to quickly drain things like beans and bones from broth. Moreover, many said it felt comfortable to hold in the hand, and even those with arthritis found this product easy to handle.
Cooking can be stressful, especially if you don't have the right equipment for the job. Stop trying to just make do, and get the right products to help you whip up some mouthwatering dishes with minimal effort. Check out these articles for some suggestions.
No. 1: OXO |Good Grips Nylon Slotted Spoon
No. 2: Chef Craft|Slotted Spoon
No. 3: Pikanty|Small Slotted Spoons
No. 4: Cuisinart |Silicone Slotted Spoon
No. 5: Newness|Skimmer Slotted Spoon
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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