An entire post about spatulas? Absolutely! Our goal is always to make everything we present to our readers, as easy as possible for them. However, not everything is so simple.
Whether you’re just trying to gain a few skills for a specific recipe, or you have found a new love in baking, sometimes you just need help with the basics. If this is you, we suggest getting started with these 14 baking essentials to see exactly what you will need.
If you’ve been there, done that, and are looking for a slightly more in-depth look, this series will cover specifics that may become more important as you progress through your learning. It may also offer new ways to use these tools that you may not have thought of.
This, in no way, is a comprehensive list of types of spatulas or ways to use spatulas. It is, an introduction to spatulas for beginners.
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Scraper Spatulas
A scraper spatula is rounded on one edge and straight on the other edge. They are usually identical on each flat side, unlike the spoon spatula which has a divot. They are perfect for getting into corners and scraping sides of bowls but you will find yourself using them for multiple types of ingredients. They are also typically silicone and you will also want this one to be a heat-resistant spatula so it can be used for things like melted sugar.
You can choose a variety set of spatulas if you are looking for a smaller initial investment.
When To Use:
- Stirring
- Mixing
- Scraping ingredients of sides and walls
- Examples: mixing cake batter, tempering chocolate, spreading ingredients into molds.
Spoon Spatulas
Spoon spatulas have rounded edges at the end. The sides are identical on each side and there is a slight dip into one side, like a spoon. Usually, these are made of silicone, but be sure to check the quality and heat resistance. A good one should be able to mix things in high temperatures so look for ones like this heat-resistant spoon spatula which allows up to 500 degrees.
When To Use:
- Mixing
- Stirring
- Transporting ingredients from one vessel to another
- Examples: Making caramel, folding in eggs whites
The next few spatulas will look a bit different than the first two. Instead of silicone, the ends will usually be metal, but there are some plastic versions. The plastic versions are not meant for long-time use and the metal ones are affordable, so opt for metal.
Straight Spatulas
The first is called a straight spatula. You will also see it called a spreader. It has a thin, flat piece of metal with a rounded end. Sometimes one side will be serrated. The notable difference is that the entire piece of metal will be one level.
Straight spatulas can come in a variety of sizes because the size can be determined but the task you are trying to complete. If you are not sure which size you will use, try getting a set of them with a variety of sizes.
The larger, longer spatulas work well for big projects like frosting cakes, while the smaller ones work well for things like frosting cupcakes or creating designs. They can also be used for the utility of slicing, lifting, and transferring items.
When To Use:
- Creating smooth and flat surfaces and sides
- Lifting food
- Creating designs
- Cutting slices
- Examples: Frosting a cake, removing brownies from a pan
Offset Spatulas
The offset spatula will likely end up being one of the most used items in your arsenal. Like straight spatulas, they are usually made of a thin metal that is rounded at the end. However, they will also be bent near the handle to drop a level and to sit lower than the handle.
Having varying sizes can be incredibly handy so consider getting an offset spatula set. They can be used for frosting large and small projects, creating designs, getting into hard-to-reach or tight spaces, lifting, transferring, and more.
If you are just starting out, the offset is amazing for frosting and creating designs while giving yourself room and space to see what you are doing. An easy skill to master is creating swoops and swirls using a small offset spatula!
When To Use:
- Smoothing ingredients
- Spreading
- Lifting items
- Cutting
- Creating designs
- Examples: Spreading fillings in cake layers, lifting delicate cookies, making swirls in cupcake frosting
Oversized Spatulas
Sometimes you just need something a bit heftier to help you get the job done. If you are prone to making things like breads that need lifting, or delicate cookies, you might want to consider a giant spatula to get the job done.
When To Use:
- Lifting and transferring
- Examples: moving pizza dough, picking up multiple cookies at once
Bench Scrapers
Bench scrapers are not considered spatulas by most, but the way they work with and like spatulas meaning they should be on the list. A bench scraper is a square, flat piece of metal or plastic with a handle. The flat side often has a ruler along the edge, perfect for measuring dough.
When To Use:
- Smoothing
- Cutting dough
- Lifting larger pieces
- Examples: Cutting dough into even pieces, frosting cake sides with several layers
There are definitely more types and ways to use all of these tools and as you progress through your baking you will naturally come across a variety of tools and ways to use them. This list is not meant to be comprehensive. Instead, it will hopefully offer some insight for those just starting their baking journey. Best of luck!
