Apps
Home goods
Home electronics
PC
Camera
Beauty
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen
Fashion
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior
Hobbies
Outdoor
Home, garden, and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Media
Games
Automotive
Gifts
Mobile devices
Whether you're a home cook or a professional chef, you will probably need one, if not multiple spatulas in your kitchen set. From flipping a fish fillet to frosting a cake, spatulas take on various duties in the kitchen. Just remember to choose a spatula that would work well with your cookware - wood or silicone spatulas are great for non-stick pots and pans, while stainless steel is sturdy enough to work on the grill.
Still don't know which spatula to go for? Keep scrolling down to our list of favorites! On the list, you'll find 10 options that are popular online. For example, Mannkitchen's Stainless Steel Spatula was highly rated by users as it's durable, comfortable to hold in the hand, and worked well in flipping things like eggs or steaks. For more guidance, read our buying guide as it will give you some hints in choosing a suitable product, all reviewed by an experienced chef.
Jim Quast (JQ) is a lifelong professional restaurant and corporate R&D chef that 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! https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-quast-59769011/
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Did you know that not all types of spatulas work for all styles of cooking? Factors such as the material, leading edge, and flexibility of the spatulas matter a lot as well. Consider those features in order to choose the right product for you.
When people ask for a spatula, they can mean many things. It can be a wide and flat turner used to flip burgers over. It can also be a frosting spatula to spread icing on your cakes. Generally, there are three types of spatulas: turners, spreaders, and scrapers.
As the title implies, a turner helps you flip food over or transfer it from one surface to another. Since it is mostly used for cooking on stovetops or grills, a turner is made of high heat-resistant materials such as metal or silicone. Also, keep in mind that there are various turner options you can choose from.
For example, solid surface spatulas can be used to flip all types of foods and are especially helpful to flip large, dense foods like pancakes or omelets. Meanwhile, perforated spatulas have multiple small holes that can help drain excess fats and oil, thus suitable to turn greasy foods like hamburgers.
On the other hand, slotted spatulas consist of long slits that are perfect to deal with delicate foods without breaking them apart. Particularly, a fish spatula, a type of slotted spatula, allows you to flip fish easily without breaking it apart.
Frosting a cake might be messy, but with a spreader, you won't have to put in too much effort and can still spread the icing evenly. A spreader has a flexible blade that allows you to spread condiments on your sandwiches without tearing the bread. It also has a rounded end that's convenient to scoop up some condiments out of a jar.
Usually, spreaders can be divided into two types: offset and straight. An offset spreader has a bent angle that allows you to spread things evenly while keeping your fingers away. It is a great tool to spread batter in a pan or icing on top of a cake.
Meanwhile, a straight spreader is often shorter and is useful in spreading condiments or smoothing the icing on the sides of a cake.
Scrapers, sometimes known as rubber spatulas, are ideal for mixing or folding batter in a mixing bowl. No matter how sticky your batter is, a scraper can easily lift it up or scrape it down onto a baking pan.
A scraper is flexible enough to get to all corners of your containers and clean up tiny bits of food. A scraper spatula is ideal for baking!
Spatulas can be made from stainless steel, silicone, wood, or plastic. Each material has its own pros and cons, so consider them before you make a choice!
If you are looking for a spatula that is durable and can handle both delicate and heavy foods, stainless steel is a good option. Often made with a sharp and thin leading edge, a stainless steel spatula can easily glide beneath your foods and flip them over without breaking. Additionally, a stainless steel spatula has a high temperature tolerance, so you can use it on a stove-top or open fire. It's also dishwasher-safe.
However, stainless steel can transfer heat easily. It is also the ultimate enemy of nonstick pans and enameled cast-iron pans. If you don't want scratches on those types of cookware, you should avoid using stainless steel!
Instead, keep it on hand when you're grilling or cooking with a cast-iron skillet, stainless steel, or copper cookware.
Silicone stands out as the most used material for spatulas since it's easy to clean and doesn't stick on any surface. Furthermore, silicone won't leave any scratches on the surface of the cookware. That makes it suitable for all cookware, including sensitive nonstick pans.
It also has a high heat resistance (from about 350 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit), so you won't experience any melted mess like with a plastic utensil. Silicone spatulas are dishwasher-safe, too!
Compared to metal or wood, silicone is much more flexible, thus suitable for stirring, folding, or scraping. In fact, a silicone spatula can easily scrape foods down the sides of a jar without any difficulties.
However, this flexibility means it might not be able to hold a lot of weight. If you're looking for a spatula that's strong enough to hold weight, make sure it has a metal core for added strength. Furthermore, keep in mind that silicone tends to hold food odor for quite a while.
Wood and bamboo spatulas can be used for mixing dough, high-heat cooking, and many other things. Similar to silicone, they are scratch-free and can work for all types of cookware. Moreover, wood and bamboo are both eco-friendly and sustainable!
Keep in mind that wood and bamboo spatulas should be hand-washed only, as putting them in the dishwasher might cause the utensil to warp. Also, they can retain bacteria and food particles as they are porous. Try not to use a wood or bamboo spatula with raw meat or eggs to avoid bacterial contamination. Compared to wood, bamboo is harder, less porous, and retains fewer bacteria.
Additionally, wood and bamboo spatulas might crack or splinter, so you need to take care of them for long-term usage. You should hand-wash them right after use with warm soapy water, and oil them once a month at least.
Plastic is a lightweight and inexpensive option, but it cannot be used for high-heat cooking. So you should only use plastic spatulas for spreading, baking, and scraping.
There are also rubber spatulas, which are often used for scraping foods out of a bowl or a jar. Keep in mind that most rubber spatulas are not resistant to high temperatures, so you shouldn't use them to stir foods while cooking to prevent them from melting.
As rubber and plastic spatulas cannot tolerate high temperatures, they might not be dishwasher-safe. Check the manufacturer's instructions on how to wash and care for it.
Spatulas come in different sizes from about five to 14 inches. Usually, a shorter spatula gives you much more control over your foods, while a longer spatula helps keep the heat away from your hands.
If you're just spreading some condiments on your sandwiches, a smaller spatula of about five to seven inches would suffice. For normal cooking, an eight-inch spatula would do. But if you're trying to frost a 10-inch layer cake, a 12-inch frosting spatula might be better!
You should consider the thickness and size of the spatula head as well. Usually, a spatula with a thickness of about one millimeter work for pizzas, pancakes, burgers, fishes, and meats. It's hard to flip a thick piece of steak with a small spatula that's usually used for scaping foods. On the other hand, you might end up breaking a delicate piece of fish if you use a thick spatula to get under it. Consider what you cook often!
There are many other features that make spatulas easy to use. Many products are designed with a hanging hole for easy storage. There are also sets of spatulas and spoons to meet your different cooking needs. For those who frequently bake, consider spatulas with measurement marks for easy reference.
Also, we suggest going for a one-piece model for durability and ease of maintenance. Spatulas that are made of two or more materials or pieces might be harder to clean, and they might come apart after a while. If it's just one piece or one material (like stainless steel), there's no chance of it falling apart, and it will last much longer!
Pros:
Cons:
Constructed with a stainless steel blade and a hardwood handle, this spatula is a great choice for cast iron skillets or flat top grills. With flat, beveled edges, it allows for optimal food release. The strong material and the thin design make the spatula tough enough to handle heavy foods, while delicate enough to scrape from the bottom of skillets.
Some buyers complained that the bar code sticker was placed directly on the stainless steel blade, which made it difficult to clean. Meanwhile, the majority loved the spatula for its sturdiness and heft and further mentioned that the wooden handle felt comfortable in the hand. Many also noted that it's great for smashing burgers or flipping pancakes or steaks.
Pros:
Cons:
Silicone spatulas are your best friends when it comes to mixing, folding, scraping, and even serving. This three-piece set includes an all-purpose spatula, a spoonula, and a small spatula. Also, both the detachable heads and handles are dishwasher-safe and are easy to clean. What's more, the silicone heads can withstand a heat of up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Some reviewers complained that the handles were not durable and broke easily. Still, most buyers loved how versatile these spatulas were; they could be used virtually in all situations, whether it was making some scrambled eggs or scraping the sides of some jars or containers. Reviewers found the spatulas easy to clean, too!
Pros:
Cons:
A slotted spatula is a perfect choice for turning omelets, quesadillas, pancakes, and other heavy foods! With a beveled head, it can help you glide under your foods easily and flip them up like nothing. Furthermore, this spatula is made with high-heat-resistant nylon that can withstand a heat of up to 410 degrees Fahrenheit.
Some buyers were disappointed with how flimsy the spatula was, further mentioning that the nylon started to peel off after a few months. Nevertheless, most complimented its perfect balance between flexibility and firmness, as it could bend easily while still lifting up food without breaking. They also liked that it was also comfortable to hold and easy to clean.
Pros:
Cons:
This all-inclusive package consists of a pancake flipper, a griddle scraper, a dough scraper, a griddle spatula, and a perforated turner to help you with all your grilling needs. Constructed with stainless steel, these spatulas won't affect the taste of your food and can last for a long time.
The main concern for some buyers was the short handles that got hot easily while grilling. Nonetheless, most reviewers were impressed at how sharp the edges were, which made scraping no longer a hassle. Overall, they found the items well-built, comfortable to hold, and sturdy enough to flip heavy things effortlessly.
Pros:
Cons:
Frosting icing on cakes can get messy. However, with this 13-inch offset spatula, you will be able to frost icing smoothly without having to use your fingers in the process. Also, the product is dishwasher-safe. But it's suggested that you hand-wash the spatula in warm, soapy water before first and after each use.
Some reviewers noted that this spatula rusted easily. On the other hand, many people loved that it had a bend in the blade, making it ideal for spreading jams on sandwiches or smoothing icing on cakes. They further added that the spatula was very easy to use and felt nice in the hand.
Pros:
Cons:
This silicone spatula can withstand heat up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, the spatula has a reinforced stainless core inside, so it won't break easily like some plastic products. The one-piece design is also easy to clean. What's more, the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty to ensure your satisfaction.
A few buyers said that the scraping sides of the spatula were a bit thick and not really flexible, so you might not be able to scrape all the corners of your jars or containers. Yet, most liked that the spatula was sturdy enough to mix batters, stir soup, break up ground meats, and more.
Pros:
With a large, highly heat-resistant silicone head, this spatula can easily flip up your eggs, burgers, pancakes, or fish without getting melted in the process. The edges are also thin and flexible enough to glide under foods. Plus, it's designed with a stainless steel core for added durability and strength.
Some reviewers warned against putting the handle near hot items since the handle was made of plastic and could melt easily. Still, most liked that this spatula worked for all kinds of cooking surfaces, including non-stick, cast-iron, or stainless steel pans. They further commented that the spatula head was highly heat-resistant.
Pros:
Cons:
This nylon turner from KitchenAid is great for flipping and serving things like pancakes, eggs, and cookies. It can resist a temperature of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and is safe for all cookware. It's dishwasher-safe and also easy to clean. Plus, the manufacturer offers a one-year free replacement warranty.
A couple of buyers noted that the handle broke off after some months, while some said it didn't feel nice in the hand. Even so, many loved using this turner to scrape the cookware's surface. They mentioned that it's sturdy enough to hold heavy items as well. Most buyers praised its high heat-resistant properties.
Pros:
Cons:
Made of sturdy, one-piece beech wood, these turners are comfortable to hold and also safe for non-stick cookware. With a straight-sided shape, the turners can help you reach better inside the cookware. They can also be used to flip burgers or eggs. Furthermore, they are coated with a natural oil layer to protect the wood.
Some reviewers mentioned problems such as cracking or splitting. You might want to apply a small amount of mineral oil to polish and help the turners hold up better. However, many reviewers praised the sturdiness of the turners. Many further added that the handle was thick and felt good in their hand.
Pros:
Made from high heat-resistant nylon, these large and medium-sized slotted spatulas can withstand a heat of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and work well with nonstick pots and pans. They are great for sliding beneath delicate foods such as fish and eggs. Another plus point is that they are dishwasher-safe!
Some reviewers were disappointed that the spatulas got stained easily. On another note, many reviewers commented that no matter what your food was - bacon, fish, chicken, and even burgers, these spatulas could easily flip things over. Reviewers also appreciated how easy the spatulas were to clean up.
If you're looking for some cookware or gadgets that can make your cooking a little bit easier, check out our suggestions!
Haven't found a good pick yet? Take a look at Amazon's best-selling spatulas!
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Apps
Home goods
Home electronics
PC
Camera
Beauty
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen
Fashion
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior
Hobbies
Outdoor
Home, garden, and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Media
Games
Automotive
Gifts
Mobile devices