Whether it's used to serve a big or small scoop of ice cream, cookie dough, or mashed potatoes, every foodservice establishment needs a scoop, disher, or even both. These essential kitchen tools help with portion control to reduce food waste, while also providing an easy way to serve food without sacrificing presentation.
Scoop Size Chart
Dishers are commonly categorized by their size, which is based on the approximate amount of servings it takes per quart or the number of ounces it holds. To make these scoop sizes both easier to identify in a busy kitchen setting and to prevent cross-contamination between foods, specific handle colors are assigned to each size.
Check out our disher size chart to better understand the variety of kitchen scoop sizes on the market. This scoop size chart includes common industry standards, but each brand may have slight variations, so keep that in mind as you shop for the various disher scoop sizes.
Click below for a downloadable scoop size chart that you can keep in your kitchen:
Disher Sizes
Disher Size (Approx. servings per QT.) | Color | mL (Approx.) | Fluid Oz. (Approx.) | Cup/Tablespoon/Teaspoon (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
#4 | Orange | 236.6 mL | 8 oz. | 1 Cup |
#5 | Teal | 177.4 mL | 6 oz. | 3/4 Cup |
#6 | White | 140.5 mL | 4.75 oz. | 5/8 Cup |
#8 | Gray | 110.9 mL | 3.75 oz. | 1/2 Cup |
#10 | Ivory | 96.1 mL | 3.25 oz. | 3/8 Cup |
#12 | Green | 85 mL | 2.875 oz. | 1/3 Cup |
#14 | Sky Blue | 70.2 mL | 2.375 oz. | 1/3 Cup |
#16 | Royal Blue | 59 mL | 2 oz. | 1/4 Cup |
#20 | Yellow | 55.5 mL | 1.875 oz. | 3 1/2 Tablespoons |
#24 | Red | 44.4 mL | 1.5 oz. | 3 Tablespoons |
#30 | Black | 33.3 mL | 1.125 oz. | 2 1/4 Tablespoons |
#36 | Mushroom | 25.9 mL | 0.875 oz. | 1 3/4 Tablespoons |
#40 | Orchid | 22.2 mL | 0.75 oz. | 1 1/2 Tablespoons |
#50 | Terracotta | 18.5 mL | 0.625 oz. | 4 Teaspoons |
#60 | Pink | 14.8 mL | 0.5 oz. | 1 Tablespoon |
#70 | Plum | 11.1 mL | 0.375 oz. | 2 3/4 Teaspoons |
#100 | Orange | 7.4 mL | 0.25 oz. | 2 Teaspoons |
Kitchen Scoops and Dishers
In the same way a fork isn't an appropriate utensil for eating soup, a disher isn't the right tool for serving ice cream. So then why are scoops, dishers, and spades always grouped together? They generally perform the same role, but in different capacities. For the longevity of your product, it is important to understand these differences.
Thumb Press Disher
Thumb press dishers allow the user to dispense product quickly and easily by simply pushing down on the side press with their thumb.
- Use on softer foods like scooping cookie dough, vegetables, rice, batter, and ground meat
- Come in a variety of sizes for accurate measuring and portion control
- Various handle colors for quick capacity identification and to reduce cross-contamination
Squeeze Handle Disher
Squeeze handle dishers allow the user to use their whole hand to activate the blade, which minimizes hand fatigue. This design makes it comfortable for both left- and right-handed users.
- Use to scoop softer foods like vegetables, rice, dough, batter, and ground meat
- Come in a variety of sizes for accurate measuring and portion control
- Most come in a variety of handle colors for quick capacity identification and to reduce cross-contamination
- Some boast an ambidextrous handle for ease of use
Ice Cream Scoop / Dipper
Ice cream scoops and dippers create the classic ice cream scoop shape. These dippers are the best option if you're starting an ice cream shop.
- Generally used for hard ice cream
- Easy-to-clean, one-piece construction eliminates moving parts and minimizes the chance of malfunctioning
- Many have handles with defrost liquid inside that aids in the smooth rolling of ice cream and helps prevent ice crystals from forming and mixing with the ice cream
- Most come in a variety of handle colors for quick capacity identification and to reduce cross-contamination
Ice Cream Spade
Given their unique shape and design, ice cream spades are generally used for gelato and creamier frozen desserts.
- Designed with better leverage than scoops and dishers, making it an ideal tool for scraping, scooping, and packing frozen desserts
- Helps minimize wasted product and maintain your establishment's bottom line
- Sharp edges and smooth surface allow the user to quickly scoop, lift, and release ice cream
- Provides great leverage for scraping the bottom of large ice cream tubs
Kitchen Scoop Material Options
While dishers are primarily made of stainless steel, scoops and spades can be constructed from one of a few different materials. However, you may notice not many seem to be made of plastic. That's because plastic tends to be less durable for the types of jobs these products are used for and may even chip off into your food if overextended.
Aluminum Kitchen Scoop
- Corrosion-resistant and light-weight
- Can be both chilled or heated
- Ideal for scooping hard ice cream
Non-Stick Kitchen Scoop
- Non-stick surface allows for faster service
- Easy to clean
- Consistent size with each scoop
Stainless Steel Kitchen Scoop
- Extremely durable and corrosion resistant
- Can be chilled or heated to 250 degrees Fahrenheit
- Easy to clean and low maintenance
Zerolon Kitchen Scoop
- Eliminates compression to create the appearance of a bigger scoop
- Allows for 20% more scoops per gallon
- Protected from hard or highly chlorinated water
Kitchen Scoop Cleaning Guidelines
Some food dishers and scoops are dishwasher safe, but many need to be hand washed to maintain their appearance and functionality. Here are some cleaning and maintenance tips to extend the longevity of your kitchen scoops:
- An anti-freeze ice cream scoop cannot be used in the dishwasher. The conductive fluid within the handle will solidify and lose its ability to warm to the user's touch.
- If your material is aluminum, hand wash it with a non-abrasive sponge using warm water and mild soap.
- All kitchen scoops should be dried immediately after washing to prevent rust or limescale from forming.
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