The $12 OXO Tool That Cuts Down on Mess When I Bake

Ian Burke
·3 min read
6
head on shot of a piece of funfetti cake being pulled out of the whole cake.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Stylist: Rachel Perlmutter Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe ; Food Stylist: Rachel Perlmutter

I’m not a huge dessert guy, but my girlfriend has a major sweet tooth, and when I’m playing the role of sous chef during her baking projects, I’m also the designated cleanup crew. Now, a lot of baking-related messes are pretty much unavoidable, whether it’s just a thin dusting of flour that coats your countertops or the sticky dough residue that’s such a pain to get off of your mixing bowls. However, just because I can’t get away with a perfectly clean bakingscape all the time doesn’t mean I don’t try to cut down on kitchen messes wherever I can. And, one of my favorite tools that both helps keep my counters clean and improves our final product when we bake is the Bent Icing Knife from OXO, one of our favorite brands for high-quality cookware and kitchen accessories. Essentially, it’s a large offset spatula that makes frosting cakes a complete breeze.

Bent Icing Knife
Bent Icing Knife

What Is the OXO Bent Icing Knife?

The sturdy, flexible, stainless-steel blade of the OXO Bent Icing Knife elevates your hand to give you a better angle when icing or spreading, which means more control and fewer smears. The soft, non-slip handle also provides a comfortable, steady grip, and the knife is dishwasher-safe. (Not that I have one, but if you do … nice.) And, even though they call it a “knife,” it’s important to know that this isn’t a sharp blade at all, and while you can definitely use it to cut through a cake, I wouldn’t recommend it for meal prep.

<span> Credit: Ian Burke</span> <span class="copyright">Credit: Ian Burke</span>
Credit: Ian Burke Credit: Ian Burke

Why I Love the OXO Bent Icing Knife

This offset spatula is the perfect size for large surfaces, like spreading icing over a cake or icing something that’s in a high-walled pan (think: spreading sauce over the top of a lasagna). The angle and pressure from the bent blade also helps me avoid smears and frosting disasters, and it cuts down on messes by keeping my kitchen counter clean, since the blade doesn’t sit on the counter when I set the knife down. That means no more looking for a spoon rest or rigging up a balancing act on the icing jar. And, I’m not the only one who found the OXO Bent Icing Knife to be super useful in the kitchen. “Well made with an excellent handle that fits in my hand well and is not affected by soaking in water. Recommended!” one reviewer wrote. “OXO makes some of the best kitchen tools and this is no exception,” wrote another. “Great addition to our kitchen.”

So, if you’re looking for an affordable gift for the baker in your life, or you’re hoping to level up you current baking arsenal — and cut down of countertop messes — pick up the OXO Bent Icing Knife straight away. 

Buy: OXO Bent Icing Knife, $11.99 at OXO
Buy: OXO Bent Icing Knife, $11.99 at Amazon