“>When I think of a spatula, I think of it as my egg flipper. I use a spatula for two things, flipping eggs and taking cookies off a hot right out of the oven cookie sheet. Do you have other uses for a spatula?
Who invented the spatula?
John Spatula invented the spatula in 1890.( not sure why spatula is spelled differently)
Spatulas are usually made of plastic or metal with a wooden or plastic handle to insulate them from heat. Spatulas made for outdoor grilling have very long handle. To keep your arm away from the heat
Definition of a spatula
Some Spatulas have a handle that is long enough to keep the holder’s hand away from what is being lifted, flipped, or scraped. The blade is usually somewhat flexible, and shiny. Spatula blades are often longer on the right side than the left, as this is more effective for right-handed people. There are also left-handed spatulas, but these are rare. Most have long slots on the blades to allow liquids to flow through, though some have holes or no perforations at all. Spatulas for cooking is a necessary tool.
Different types of spatulas
Plastic spatulas are usually cheap and easy to find. if you are in a limited budget than a plastic spatula is better than no spatula.
Plastic spatulas are also easy to clean. However, they may leech noxious chemicals into your food – and if you ever accidentally leave a plastic spatula on top of a hot pan or iron skillet, you will need to vent out the kitchen to get rid of that burnt plastic smell. The spatula itself will probably be burnt and lose its shape. I have melted a few and the fumes from the melting spatula will make you nauseous.
Metal spatulas
are a much better choice because It Can resist extremely high temperatures. This type of spatula is great for flipping and grilling. Also, some spatulas are pressed very thin for taking cookies off a cooking sheet. The downside of metal is that it gets extremely hot very quickly and you need a pot holder or mitts to wear so you don’t get burned.Also, a metal spatula can ruin your nonstick cookware.
Rubber spatulas
a rubber spatula a good choice for baking and spreading frosting or cream. On the other hand, you may want to keep your rubber spatulas away from tomato type dish’s because the rubber will stain.
Silicone
Spatulas are better than plastic.However, they tend to pick up smells, liked fried onions.
Types of Spatulas by Shape and Use
1. Perforated flipper spatula also known as “turners,” perforated flipper spatulas usually have a long handle and a wide, thin surface to handle the food. On this surface, also known as “blade,” this spatula has a series of holes meant to leave liquid or sauced behind. There are also slotted spatulas
2.Fish Spatulas is another name for the slotted metal spatulas. This spatula should be in every kitchen because it’s so versatile, they are great at flipping pancakes, fish fillets, meat, and drain the oil and other liquids from food.
3.Spreading spatula
This is the spatula that you should reach for whenever you want to have an even layer of cream cheese along a slice of bread, also great to cover the sides of a sheet cake with icing or buttercream. There are also regular icing spatulas.
4. Grilling spatula
A grilling spatula is probably the sturdiest of all types, as they are created to withstand the roughness of the outdoors and the direct heat of the coals. They are similar to flipping spatulas, except they forego the slits and holes. Instead, they offer an ultra-smooth blade that won’t trap any pieces of meat or grass within it. Some models also tend to have a bent handle, meant to keep your hand an inch or two further away from the grill.
Grilling spatulas are commonly used for flipping and transferring items on a BBQ. However, heavier metal spatulas can double as a smasher and can be used to press on a piece of meat while it is cooking (some people like to do this to ensure the meat is cooked through).
Buying your First Spatula Set
The models we listed above are just the most popular ones. Professional chefs and food photographers would probably notice that we left out many specialized models. Most of these only have a single practical purpose, so they are rarely in a regular home kitchen arsenal.
if you are new to cooking or are now beginning to equip your own home, six spatulas may feel like overkill. In this case, we would recommend you to privilege quality instead of quantity. A flipper and a scraper will probably cover 90% of all possible uses. Make sure one of these (ideally, the flipper) is made of metal and the other one from silicon rather than plastic.
Conclusion
The humble spatula turned out not to be a basic utensil at all. Basic and multi-purpose models can be found, but there are also a variety of specialized uses and materials. Make sure to take out the right type before you start cooking!
Let me know what you think of a specific spatula? They are a necessary kitchen-gadget.
Kathie