The 10 Best Spatulas of 2023 for Every Recipe
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Choosing the right spatula is crucial, whether you’re flipping burgers, scraping the mixing bowl, or frosting a cake.
Real Simple / Brian Kopinski
A spatula is one of those cooking tools you reach for on a near-daily basis, whether it’s for flipping your morning eggs or turning burgers on the grill. And while you can find spatulas designed for all-purpose use, many are designed to meet a specific cooking need.
To come up with the best spatulas, we spent hours researching spatulas for a variety of tasks. We evaluated different materials, shapes, and sizes, and looked at handle lengths and cleaning instructions. Plus, we asked experts to weigh in: Jessica Randhawa, recipe creator and founder of recipe website The Forked Spoon, helped break down the different tasks spatulas can be used for depending on their shape, size, and material.
Michael DeLone, executive chef of Nunzio Restaurant in Collingswood, New Jersey, shared what types of spatulas he recommends to home chefs as well as advice on evaluating spatula materials and heat resistance. When it comes to versatility, Randhawa describes silicone and rubber spatulas as super-versatile tools “that can be used for various tasks, such as mixing, scraping, and spreading.”
Whether you want to upgrade your everyday spatula or need a spatula for a specific purpose, these are our favorite spatulas for every kitchen task.
GIR Ultimate Spatula
Best Overall Silicone Spatula
Who it’s for: People who want an all-purpose spatula for scraping, mixing, stirring, and flipping.
Who it isn't for: People who want a spatula for flipping heavier foods, such as steak.
While there is no one-size-fits-all spatula, the GIR Ultimate Spatula comes pretty close. This spatula, made from flexible silicone, is slim but also sturdy. Use it to scrape the remaining batter out of a mixing bowl, slide under eggs, sauté onions, and much more. The silicone is stain- and odor-resistant, as well as heat-resistant up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit, so it can handle just about anything on your stovetop. It’s also dishwasher- and pan-safe, so you never have to worry about damaging your nonstick cookware while using this spatula. Finally, it comes in over 20 color options, ranging from fuchsia to forest green to black.
Price at time of publish: $13
Product Details:
Material: Silicone
Length: 11 inches
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Material The Slotted Spatula
Best Overall Metal Spatula
Who it’s for: People who want a sturdy spatula with a beveled edge for flipping, cutting, and serving.
Who it isn't for: People who mostly use nonstick cookware.
If you’re using stainless steel cookware, metal spatulas are a great option because they’re incredibly heat-resistant, so they can withstand the high temperatures that stainless steel can reach. This slotted spatula has a stainless steel blade with a composite handle available in three different colors. It’s flexible enough to handle delicate fish or cuts of meat, and the beveled edge can be used to cut through a pasta bake or a pan of cooled brownies. Slots allow oil to flow through, so it can be used in a shallow pan. Last but not least, it’s dishwasher-safe. Just keep in mind that metal spatulas can scratch the surface of nonstick cookware.
Price at time of publish: $20
Product Details:
Material: Stainless steel with a composite handle
Length: 13.25 inches
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Crate & Barrel Acacia Solid Turner
Best Overall Wooden Spatula
Who it’s for: People who want a turner that won’t scratch nonstick or enameled cookware.
Who it isn't for: People who want a dishwasher-safe spatula.
Just like the trusty wooden cooking spoon, wooden spatulas wont overheat or scratch your cookware. This acacia wood turner is designed for flipping and scooping foods, making it great for cooking but less helpful for mixing or spreading. Plus, wooden cooking utensils don’t conduct heat and typically last much longer than plastic options. That said, they require a bit of maintenance. This spatula is hand-wash only, and the brand recommends regularly treating it with food-safe mineral oil or wood cream to keep it in top shape.
Price at time of publish: $17
Product Details:
Material: Acacia wood
Length: 13.85 inches
Dishwasher Safe: No
Winco Fish Spatula
Best Fish Spatula
Who it’s for: People who want a spatula that can easily get under fish and other delicate foods.
Who it isn't for: People who want a solid turner.
If sautéed or grilled fish is a regular part of your recipe rotation, a fish spatula will make your life easier. These thin, flexible metal spatulas are designed to easily slip under delicate ingredients like fish. They’re usually thinner and longer than a typical spatula, with slots to help drain oil.
The Winco Fish Spatula is made from stainless steel with a riveted wooden handle. The edged end pulls double duty as a knife, meaning you can cut fish during or after the cooking process. It’s a commercial-grade tool, so it will hold up well on a grill or heavy-duty cooktop.
Price at time of publish: $8
Product Details:
Material: Stainless steel with wooden handle
Length: 11.25 inches
Dishwasher Safe: Yes, but hand washing is recommended to preserve handle
KitchenAid Classic Slotted Turner
Best Turner Spatula
Who it’s for: People who want a turner with a wide head for flipping larger foods.
Who it isn't for: People who want a flexible spatula for more delicate work.
This turner is made with nylon, which is dishwasher-safe and heat-resistant up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The BPA-free material is safe to use on all types of cookware, including nonstick pans. This turner has a wide head, so you can easily handle larger ingredients like cuts of meat. The three vertical slots allow you to drain off oil or grease when transferring items away from the stove and onto a serving plate.
Price at time of publish: $10
Product Details:
Material: Nylon
Length: 13.7 inches
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Tovolo Flex-Core Stainless Steel Handled Spatula
Best Scraper Spatula
Who it’s for: People who want a spatula for scraping wet ingredients, such as batter.
Who it isn't for: People who want a spatula for lifting foods.
A scraper is designed to help remove ingredients from the sides of a mixing bowl, blender, or food processor. It’s a great tool for anyone who enjoys baking, and is useful for all sorts of different recipes.
This Tovolo scraper has a head made from flexible silicone with a sturdy nylon core, giving just the right balance of flexibility and rigidity. It has a curved edge and a 90-degree corner, helping you get into the nooks and crannies of a food processor or the bottom of a large bowl. The stainless steel handle makes it easy to hold, and the tool is dishwasher-safe to boot.
Price at time of publish: $22
Product Details:
Material: Silicone with a stainless steel handle
Length: 12.5 inches
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Ateco Offset Spatula With Wood Handle
Best Offset Spatula
Who it’s for: People who want a spatula for icing baked goods.
Who it isn't for: People who want a versatile spatula for a variety of tasks.
Jessica Randhawa, recipe creator and founder of recipe website The Forked Spoon, explains that an offset spatula “has a blade bent at an angle and is often used for spreading frosting on cakes or other baked goods.”
This Ateco offset spatula has a thin, stainless steel blade and a wooden handle. It's available in three different blade lengths—4.5, 7.6, and 15 inches—giving you options for various sizes of cakes or baked goods. It can also be used to dislodge food from a pan, such as lasagna. Do note that while the wooden handle is more heat-resistant than plastic, it does mean this spatula needs to be hand-washed.
Price at time of publish: From $6
Product Details:
Material: Stainless steel and wood
Length: 8, 13, and 15 inches
Dishwasher Safe: No
MSC International Joie Mini Spatula
Best Spatula for Eggs
Who it’s for: People who want a small spatula for flipping eggs.
Who it isn't for: People who want a spatula that can withstand very high temperatures.
If eggs are a regular menu item in your home, you might want a spatula specifically designed for flipping them. This mini spatula, made from BPA-free nylon, can be used to flip one egg at a time without breaking the delicate yolks. You can also use the rounded edge to scramble eggs or cut an omelet. Just keep in mind that the spatula is only heat-resistant up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and the manufacturer recommends hand-washing only.
Price at time of publish: $8
Product Details:
Material: Nylon
Length: 8 inches
Dishwasher Safe: No
OXO Good Grips Grilling Turner
Best Grill Spatula
Who it’s for: People who want a sturdy spatula that provides distance between them and the grill.
Who it isn't for: People who want a spatula that’s safe for nonstick cookware.
A spatula is definitely an essential grilling tool. This OXO spatula is made with a stainless steel head and non-slip rubber handle for ease of use and durability. The spatula’s beveled edge makes it easy to slip under burgers as well as lift and transfer foods. This turner handle is longer than many other spatulas, allowing you to flip your food without getting too close to the heart source. Diagonal slats leave space for oil and grease to drain away when you transfer items from the grill to a serving plate.
Price at time of publish: $17
Product Details:
Material: Stainless steel with non-slip grip
Length: 16.1 inches
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Silicone Spatula Set
Best Spatula Set
Who it’s for: People who want a set of spatulas for different tasks.
Who it isn't for: People who want a set that includes a turner.
This editor-loved spatula set includes three OXO items: A small spatula, an everyday spatula, and a spoon spatula. The small spatula is designed for use in smaller pans and bowls while the everyday spatula is a multipurpose tool for cookware of all sizes. The spoon spatula can be used for scooping food, and doubles as a serving tool. The three spatulas are made from dishwasher-safe silicone, and have beveled edges for maximum scraping power.
Price at time of publish: $21
Product Details:
Material: Silicone
Length: 10 and 11 inches
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Final Verdict
The GIR Ultimate Spatula is our pick for the best silicone spatula. The slim, sturdy tool can be used for scraping cupcake batter, accessing those hard-to-reach parts of a blender jug, or scrambling eggs in a nonstick pan. For a metal spatula, we like Material’s The Slotted Spatula. It can be used for everything from flipping a delicate fish filet to grilling a burger, and the metal spatula head can withstand heat damage. Finally, we chose the Crate & Barrel Acacia Solid Turner as the best wooden spatula, as it's both stylish and sturdy.
How to Shop for Spatulas Like a Pro
Type
There are a variety of different types of spatulas on the market. Some are designed with multiple uses while others are designed for a singular purpose. Michael DeLone, executive chef at Nunzio, says that most home chefs would find it helpful to own at least three spatulas, including:
A scraper “for scraping light items out of a bowl—only the scraper does a great job of it and much more easily than any other tool,” says DeLone. These are most commonly made from silicone or rubber.
A flipper (aka turner) to help flip items on a pan. A slotted turner is best used for flipping solid foods, such as burgers, while a solid turner is best for things like pancakes, so nothing can escape. A fish spatula is another type of flipper designed specifically for flipping flaky fish and comes with a thinner, elongated metal blade.
A spreader, which you might use to ice a cake or spread cream cheese on a bagel. This is a long and narrow spatula that can either have a straight blade or an offset blade. The angle of an offset spatula allows you to spread over a large surface while keeping your hands out of whatever you’re spreading, making it great for frosting a cake.
Material
Spatulas can be made from a variety of materials, including:
Silicone: DeLone says he recommends silicone spatulas to most home cooks because they are heat-resistant, stain-resistant, and easy to clean. They can also be used for a wide variety of tasks, including mixing, scraping, and spreading.
Metal: Metal spatulas are great for grilling, or using on stainless steel cookware. They are extremely heat-resistant, and can be either flexible or sturdy depending on the design.
Plastic: Plastic spatulas are flexible, but less heat-resistant than silicone or metal.
Wood: Spatulas made from wood are best for cooking and stirring thick sauces and stews. Plus, they won’t scratch nonstick cookware. However, DeLone notes that wood is a porous material, so wooden tools can stain quite easily. They also typically need to be washed by hand.
Heat Resistance
“Not all spatulas react well to heat, and some may even burn when exposed to extreme temperatures,” says DeLone. “Make sure to find one that works at high temperatures that won't discolor, warp, or even melt.”
Heat resistance is also an important factor in how to clean your spatula. Some spatulas with lower heat resistance aren’t dishwasher-safe, as they can melt or warp if your dishwasher is extremely hot. So, consider how you feel about dishwashing vs. hand washing your kitchen tools.
Pan Material
Before you purchase a new spatula, consider what cookware you’re hoping to use it with and plan accordingly. “Metal or stainless steel spatulas can damage pans that are not made from stainless steel,” says Randhawa. “So, only use stainless steel spatulas with stainless steel cookware.” If you have nonstick cookware that’s prone to scratching, a silicone or nylon spatula may be a good option.
If you’re cooking at extremely high temperatures, for example on a grill or using cast-iron cookware, you’ll want a spatula with excellent heat resistance. A silicone or stainless steel spatula is likely your best bet.
Questions You Might Ask
What’s the difference between a turner and a spatula?
“Turners flip food on a high heat source,” DeLone says. “Spatulas are used for turning, folding, mixing, spreading, and scraping food products.” Essentially, a turner is designed for one specific task, while spatulas are a more multipurpose tool.
Can spatulas damage pans?
They can, depending on the materials involved. “When cooking with nonstick cookware, don't use a metal spatula,” DeLone says. “Even though stainless steel spatulas are durable, sharp metal kitchen utensils can scratch the coating of nonstick pans, which will shorten the life of your pots and pans. Silicone spatulas are the best spatulas to use for nonstick pans.”
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Nina Bahadur, a New York-based writer who has spent over a decade writing about home, cooking, health, and beauty topics. For this piece she spent hours researching dozens of different spatulas, evaluating their materials, price point, shape, and more. She spoke to Jessica Randhawa, recipe creator and founder of recipe website The Forked Spoon, and Michael DeLone, executive chef of Nunzio restaurant in Collingswood, New Jersey, to get expert input on what different spatulas do, what materials to look for, and what type of spatulas a home cook might find most useful.
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