We Flipped, Stirred, and Spread To Find the Best Spatulas

Our Takeaway

We named the Cuisinart Flex and Flip Silicone Spatula as our favorite multipurpose spatula because of its flexible, tapered edge, which helps it scrape bowls and handle delicate foods. Yet, it is still sturdy enough to flip pancakes. For a great value set, the OXO 3-Piece Silicone Spatula Set offers three different sizes for around $20.

Types of Spatulas

The term "spatula" is really an umbrella term for a number of kitchen utensils that perform a whole host of different tasks. Though some can perform double duty, you'll most likely want to have at least two different types of spatulas on hand for everyday use: one for mixing and stirring, and another for flipping and turning. From there, you can get even more variety depending on your needs.

Silicone

Maybe the most multipurpose of all types of spatulas, silicone spatulas are generally associated with baking, but their uses don't stop there.

Of course, a silicone spatula is going to be the best option for many baking tasks, such as mixing wet and dry ingredients together, folding chocolate chips and/or nuts into dough, or scraping batter from a mixing bowl. But they may also be used to make stir-fries, scrape food from the bottom of a large pot when making soups or stew, or wrangle that last bit of peanut butter out of the jar.

Silicone, unlike rubber, is extremely heat-resistant, meaning it can handle hot foods and/or cookware (and this also means it's usually dishwasher safe). Plus, it's very flexible, so you can maneuver it to get the last bits of batter from your mixing bowl. On the flip side (pun intended), this means silicone spatulas are typically not suitable for flipping heavy foods like fish or burger patties. And finally, silicone spatulas are excellent for use on nonstick cookware because they won't scratch the coating.

You'll usually find silicone spatulas constructed one of two ways: one-piece silicone or a silicone head with a wooden handle. Although the wooden handle is attractive, in our testing we found that the one-piece silicone spatulas were more comfortable and far easier to clean (for spatulas with wooden handles, the silicone heads are often removable so you can wash them in the dishwasher, but the handle must be hand washed).

Turner

A turner, sometimes called a "flipper" or "flat spatula," has a long, flat paddle sticking out from the end of the handle for sliding under foods like eggs, fish, burgers, or even cookies on a baking sheet. They can be used to turn foods over, or simply carry them from pan to plate.

Turners can be made of metal, silicone, or nylon (sometimes the core and the exterior are made of different materials). They may also be solid or slotted, with the latter allowing liquids or fat to fall off the food.

Fish Spatula

A fish spatula is basically a slotted metal turner, but it gets its own category because its uses are slightly more niche than your standard flat turner. Fish spatulas are usually bent at an angle and have a sharp, blade-like edge that can easily slide under browned foods and pull them up in one piece. The large slots allow cooking liquids to drain and help to distribute weight so the food doesn't fall off.

For the grill master or anyone who loves to cook with cast iron, fish spatulas are a must for lifting off stuck-on foods like chicken breasts, fish filets, and more. But keep in mind that because they're made of metal, fish spatulas will result in significant scraping if used on nonstick cookware.

Offset Spatula

A must-have for any baker (or aspiring cake decorator), offset spatulas (also called "icing spatulas") are long, narrow metal spatulas most commonly used to seamlessly ice or frost cakes. They may also be used to smooth out cake batter before it goes in the oven, or to loosen baked goods like brownies, bars, and cookies from the pan.

The Leftovers: Others Spatulas We Tested

Although the Tovolo Flex-Core Wood Handled Spatula was easy to use, very sturdy, and well made, the wooden handle was inconvenient. The head is removable to wash in the dishwasher, but the handle needs to be washed by hand, which we could see as potentially being an issue with the head of the spatula getting loose or lost.

We wanted to love the Cuisinart Oceanware Solid Turner because it's the most eco-friendly (the handles from Cuisinart's Oceanware collection are constructed primarily of recycled fish nets), but we were disappointed with the performance. The edge had already started to warp after cooking eggs in a nonstick pan. At $9, it's no big investment, but it's worth spending a little bit more to get something that will last.

Why Take Our Word For It?

Samantha Lande, who tested all of the spatulas on this list, is the former associate editor of Eater Chicago. She has experience in product testing and reviewing kitchen tools, and has also developed content for leading food brands. Melanie Fincher, an Alabama-based food writer with nearly seven years of experience writing news and lifestyle content, used Samantha's insights to write this article.