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See why.Jar Spatulas
We tested nine models to see how well they could scrape out jars of marinara sauce, molasses, mayonnaise, honey, and Nutella.
We recently learned that the OXO Good Grips Silicone Jar Spatula, our Best Buy, has been redesigned. The blade now attaches seamlessly to the handle, which we liked. It also a gently curved shape and is a bit longer, wider, and slightly more rigid, for even more effective scooping. We still highly recommend it.
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What You Need To Know
Jar spatulas, slim utensils designed to maneuver in tight spaces, supposedly get every last drop out of jars. We used nine models (priced from about $5 to about $13) to scrape out jars of marinara sauce, molasses, mayonnaise, honey, and Nutella. We also let each model sit in hot tomato sauce and ran each through the dishwasher 10 times to assess stain resistance and durability.
Most failed: Some handles were too short to keep our hands clear of sticky jars, while the heads on others were either flimsy or blunt and imprecise. The three best spatulas combined flexibility and firmness with a nimble tip for digging into corners. Of those, we preferred one model which emptied jars quickly and featured a uniformly flat surface that wiped clean with a single swipe. Alternatively, the slim head of another spatula fit nicely in jars and can be pulled off the handle for cleaning.
Everything We Tested
Highly Recommended
- Ease of Use: 3 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 3 stars out of 3.
Seamless silicone surrounds a sturdy polymer core, making this spatula easy to clean and comfortable in hand. The flexible head handily maneuvers in tight corners and edges but is strong enough to scoop heavy food. It’s also available in a mini version, perfect for petite jars.
- Ease of Use: 3 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 3 stars out of 3.
The long, thin handle on this spatula allowed testers to maintain a comfortable distance from the jars, and the slim head was a perfect fit for the “shoulders” of squat vessels. We would have preferred a seamless design like the winner since the tiny gap between the handle and the head trapped food, but the two pieces can be pulled apart for cleaning.
- Ease of Use: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 3 stars out of 3.
The narrow edges on this blade got an incredibly close shave along the sides of jars, and its silicone exterior provided a comfortable grip. But its long length and heft made it a bit less nimble than higher-ranking models.
Recommended with reservations
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 2 stars out of 3.
The silicone head featured an indented center like a spoon, with a thin, off-center “wiper” side that scraped into jar shoulders. But using the wiper edge was awkward for right-handed cooks, who had to swipe counterclockwise (swiping clockwise was like using the back of a spoon).
Not Recommended
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 1 stars out of 3.
The weighted handle and built-in 1/4-inch rest are designed to keep the sticky blade off the counter. Unfortunately, the rest itself reached so far up the handle that it became dirty in tall jars. Another criticism: The rounded sides on the spoon-shaped head could scoop but couldn’t scrape.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 1 stars out of 3.
The two-sided design is meant to accommodate vessels of different sizes, but the design was ultimately difficult to use. The big, blunt end was too large to maneuver neatly in jars—and made for an uncomfortable handle—while the little spatula head felt stubby and imprecise.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 1 stars out of 3.
The long, slender spatula head looks nimble, but the silicone is too flimsy for even soft ingredients. The skinny, slick plastic handle slid around in our hands.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 1 stars out of 3.
Though this short spatula could reach into small jars, we had to grip it with the very tips of our fingers when scraping taller vessels, which felt uncomfortable and imprecise. It didn’t reach well into jar shoulders. Tomato sauce tinted the plastic an unattractive gray-green.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
- Performance: 1 stars out of 3.
The spade-shaped spatula head was perfect for the bottom edge of jars, but its 5-inch handle was slippery and far too short. Its head also discolored in tomato sauce.
Reviews you can trust
Reviews you can trust
The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them.
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