Types of Spatulas

1. Turner Spatula

A turner spatula is the most traditional type for flipping and turning food items in a pan. With a long, narrow, and tapered blade, the spatula easily slides under fragile and hefty foods without causing them to fall apart. The long, flexible, heat-resistant handle ensures a comfortable grip and maximum control to aid in flipping food items.

Typical uses of a turner spatula include flipping or transferring foods like grilled cheese sandwiches, burgers, pancakes, cookies, crepes, brownies, or fish. Below are several types of turner spatulas with different features to accommodate specific food items.

• Fish Spatula: With an extra-long, thin, flexible blade, fish spatulas are ideal for cooking delicate fish without damaging the food. It features long slots to drain grease and debris from the fish.
• Grill Spatula: Also known as a BBQ spatula, a grill spatula is extra durable to withstand high temperatures and features a longer handle than traditional turner spatulas. The blade is often slotted to allow excess grease to drain.
• Perforated or Slotted Spatula: Use a perforated spatula or slotted spatula when flipping something with extra liquid or grease. The blade features small holes or slots to drain excess grease or liquids, making it ideal for cooking items like fried foods or grilled vegetables.
• Standard Turner Spatula: Suitable for general flipping and turning tasks, a standard tuner spatula has a straight or slightly curved blade and a comfortable handle for easy maneuverability.

2. Scraper Spatula

A scraper spatula is a versatile tool designed to scrape, scoop, and spread ingredients. Often made from rubber or silicone, use these spatulas with dough and batter in commercial kitchens and bakeries. Thanks to their flexibility, they can scrape every bit of dough from the corners of pans or bowls, leaving nothing wasted.

Unlike other types, scraper spatulas are characterized by their flat, flexible blades to accomplish necessary tasks. There are two types of scraper spatulas with varied applications.

• Standard Scraping Spatula: A standard scraping spatula is a traditional scraping spatula with a narrow, flexible blade made from rubber or silicone. They have a rounded edge perfect for scraping dough and batter out of corners and cracks.
• Scraper Spoon: Similar to a baking spatula, a scraper spoon has a depression on the blade that allows you to scoop batter easily. The flexible edges let you mix and scrape any excess dough and batter from the bowl.

3. Spreading Spatula

A spreading spatula is widely used in commercial kitchens for spreading frosting, buttercream, and glazes onto cakes and pastries. Their flat, flexible blade ensures precise and effortless spreading, making them essential in bakeries and foodservice establishments. These spatulas typically have a long handle and a flat, rectangular blade made of high-quality materials like stainless steel or heat-resistant silicone depending on the application.

The long, thin blades of spreading spatulas are ideal for frosting cakes, spreading sauce on pizza, or applying cream to pastries, providing precise control and a professional presentation. Below are several types of spreading spatulas used for decorating cakes and other similar tasks.

• Offset Spatula: With a bent or angled metal blade, an offset spatula allows easy access to hard-to-reach areas, such as the sides of a cake or the corners of a baking pan. The offset design keeps your hand away from the surface to prevent accidental smudging or damage.
• Straight Spatula: Also known as an icing or frosting spatula, a straight spatula features a straight blade without any bends. This allows bakers to smooth frosting on the sides of cakes and add decorative flairs to the overall design.
• Sandwich Spreader: Unlike other spreading spatulas, a sandwich spreader has a short, round blade with one serrated edge. It's designed for spreading condiments on sandwiches and slicing bread with the same instrument.