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See why.The Best Offset Spatulas
We tested six offset spatulas by slathering dozens of jelly rolls and layer cakes with heavy cream cheese frosting, glossy meringue, thick caramel, and smooth buttercream.
Published Sept. 1, 2015. Appears in America's Test Kitchen TV Season 17: Baked Alaska Showstopper
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See Everything We TestedWhat You Need To Know
For frosting a cake, there’s no better tool than an offset spatula. The long, narrow blade is ideal for scooping and spreading frosting, and it bends like a stairstep where it meets the handle for better leverage. The blades can be as long as 10 inches, but we’ve found that 7- and 8-inch lengths are ideal because they can get good coverage on layer cakes but are still maneuverable inside baking pans. We tested six (priced from $5.93 to $9.99) by slathering dozens of jelly rolls and layer cakes with heavy cream cheese frosting, glossy meringue, thick caramel, and smooth buttercream.
Every blade was strong enough to hold a big dollop of frosting, but some were easier to use than others. We quickly formed a preference for blades offset to a roughly 30-degree angle, which was sharp enough to keep our hand a safe distance above the frosting (unlike one almost flat, 18-degree model) but far more comfortable than 40-degree blades when held vertically to frost the sides of layer cakes. Better blades also offered at least 6½ inches of flat usable surface area (the length of an offset spatula blade includes the angled “step”), allowing us to cover the radius of a 9-inch layer cake with wide, smooth strokes and provide support when we slid those cakes from the cooling rack to a cake stand. They were also very thin—ideally less than 1 millimeter thick—which made them easy to slide underneath cake layers.
Two models combined all of our desired features, but our winner edged out the runner-up with its exceptionally comfortable rubber-coated handle that allowed us to frost cakes with even more ease.
Everything We Tested
Highly Recommended
- Blade: 3 stars out of 3.
- Handle: 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 3 stars out of 3.
From handle to tip, this spatula was sized right. The 6.5-inch blade was sturdy but nimble, and testers made quick work of icing cakes with all types of frosting. It also felt exceptionally comfortable in hand, thanks to an easy-to-grip rubber-coated handle.
- Blade: 3 stars out of 3.
- Handle: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 3 stars out of 3.
This runner-up has an appropriately sized blade that’s thin and nimble. The handle was comfortable and attached to the blade at an ideal angle, though it lacked the OXO’s grippy rubber coating.
Recommended
- Blade: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Handle: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
The sturdy, 6.5-inch blade was well suited for frostings of all types. Its slightly tapered tip supposedly helps with detail work, but testers found that it didn’t noticeably affect performance for good or bad. Its beefy grip would be best for someone who prefers a sizable handle.
Not Recommended
- Blade: 1 stars out of 3.
- Handle: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1.5 stars out of 3.
Though long enough, the blade attaches to the handle at a 43-degree angle, putting our hand at an uncomfortable distance from our cakes. It was especially problematic when holding the spatula vertically to frost the sides of layer cakes. The handle was relatively comfortable, save for the slick white plastic parts.
- Blade: 1 stars out of 3.
- Handle: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
The ultrathin blade connected to the handle at a sharp 45-degree angle, so frosting cakes felt awkward and uncomfortable. It’s the only model in our lineup with a wooden handle, which testers found slippery.
- Blade: 1 stars out of 3.
- Handle: 1 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
With just 5 inches of usable space, this spatula felt stubby. It also attaches to the handle at a very slight angle, which made it barely “offset” and thus difficult to use.
Reviews you can trust
Reviews you can trust
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