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See why.Spatula-Spoons (Spoonulas)
A spatula-spoon (or “spoonula”) promises to serve both functions in one handy item. But can it really replace two must-have kitchen tools or is it just a clever gimmick?
Published Nov. 1, 2015. Appears in America's Test Kitchen TV Season 17: Summer Dinner Party
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What You Need To Know
We use a stiff wooden spoon to scoop foods and scrape up flavorful browned bits when making soups, stews, and pan sauces, and we use a flexible spatula to fold ingredients and swipe bowls clean. A spatula-spoon (or “spoonula”) promises to serve both functions in one handy item. But can it really replace two must-have kitchen tools or is it just a clever gimmick? To find out, we purchased eight models (all under about $25) and tested their versatility and compatibility with an assortment of cookware in a battery of tasks. We stirred thick tomato jam, scraped up caramelized browned bits (or “fond”) in ground beef chili, tossed together a stir-fry, and folded delicate scrambled eggs, pausing after each recipe to scoop the food with our spoonula into a serving or storage container. We also tested stain- and odor-resistance by submerging the tools in a bubbling pot of chili and then washing them according to manufacturers’ directions.
Most of the spoonulas looked like traditional spatulas with concave silicone heads designed for scooping. The best heads were roughly 3½ inches long and curved gently; these were able to lift and transfer generous amounts of food without anything tumbling off. We also preferred models with thin, straight sides that could glide along skillet edges and stir without squishing delicate ingredients or breaking up browning meat more than we wanted. By contrast, models with thicker sides bumped and skidded against our cookware and felt cumbersome when we held them horizontally to fold ingredients. As for scraping up fond, rigid models with firm, blunt top edges were most effective. Flimsier models folded in on themselves, while one with a rounded top edge didn’t make enough contact with the pot and pan surfaces.
Size differences among the handles were more important than the materials they were made from. Wood, silicone, and plastic were all acceptable, but our panel found that fairly wide handles (upwards of 2 inches in circumference) offered the most secure grip. Finally, we considered the models’ stain- and odor-resistance. None had unsightly stains or looked damaged at the end of testing, but we noticed a faint lingering odor on several models even after several rounds of washing. Ultimately, two models combined all our desired qualities and cleaned up easily and thoroughly. They have generously sized scoops, thin sides, a blunt top edge, and firm-yet-flexible material attached to comfortable, easy-to-grip handles. We still consider our favorite wooden spoon and silicone spatula essential, but we’ll reach for either of these spoonulas when making a chili, thick stew, or other recipe that requires bot...
Everything We Tested
Highly Recommended
- Handle: 3 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 3 stars out of 3.
- Scooping: 3 stars out of 3.
- Scraping: 3 stars out of 3.
- Stirring: 3 stars out of 3.
This stellar tool felt especially comfortable in hand, thanks to its lightly textured silicone material and gently rounded handle. The spatula head is spacious and sturdy and presses flush to the sides and bottoms of cookware. Since it’s wrapped in one continuous layer of silicone, there are no nooks or crannies to trap food. The vibrant red color hid stains, and it proved quite odor-resistant.
- Handle: 3 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 3 stars out of 3.
- Scooping: 3 stars out of 3.
- Scraping: 3 stars out of 3.
- Stirring: 3 stars out of 3.
This co-winner from the manufacturer of our favorite silicone spatula aced our tests. Its gently concave head scooped up food with ease, and its thin, straight edges felt extra-precise. It’s comfortable and very easy to grip.
Recommended
- Handle: 2 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 3 stars out of 3.
- Scooping: 2 stars out of 3.
- Scraping: 2 stars out of 3.
- Stirring: 3 stars out of 3.
The sharp, thin side edges on this spoonula make for easy and precise scooping, and it glides smoothly along the sides of skillets, but it’s a little smaller than our favorites. The top edge lacks firmness and was deemed a little too “bendy” when scraping fond. Its wooden handle, though comfortable for most testers, is a bit thinner and slicker than some would like. The wooden handle isn’t dishwasher-safe, but the spatula head didn’t discolor and the tool was easy to clean by hand.
Recommended with reservations
- Handle: 2 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 3 stars out of 3.
- Scooping: 2 stars out of 3.
- Scraping: 2 stars out of 3.
- Stirring: 2 stars out of 3.
This spoonula looks much like our favorites, but its edges are a little thicker and it felt less dexterous when scooping and stirring. The top edge also tended to bend during the toughest tasks. And though testers loved the one-piece silicone design, we noticed an odd quirk: The bottom ¼ inch of the handle lacked any internal structure and bent against our hands. The bright blue material looked (and smelled) like new after staining and repeated washing.
Not Recommended
- Handle: 1 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 3 stars out of 3.
- Scooping: 1 stars out of 3.
- Scraping: 3 stars out of 3.
- Stirring: 2 stars out of 3.
This spatula has an elongated, 5½-inch head that felt less precise when stirring and scooping, although its blunt top edge was well suited for scraping tasks. It bounced and skidded around the sides of pans when we tried to swipe them clean. That said, it resisted stains and odors.
- Handle: 2 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 2 stars out of 3.
- Scooping: 1 stars out of 3.
- Scraping: 3 stars out of 3.
- Stirring: 1 stars out of 3.
Not only was the usable space on this spoonula head fairly small, but its edges were thick and stubby. As a result, it bounced and skidded along the edges of our pans and struggled to scoop up food neatly. Too bad, since its blunt and rigid top edge was among the most effective at scraping up fond. The wooden handle is comfortable but not dishwasher-safe, but the head washed clean.
- Handle: 3 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 3 stars out of 3.
- Scooping: 0 stars out of 3.
- Scraping: 1 stars out of 3.
- Stirring: 2 stars out of 3.
This spoonula was so flat that many testers mistook it for a regular spatula. This made it ill-suited to scooping tasks, and its rounded tip made insufficient contact with the bottom of our cookware. Testers loved the lightly textured material and comfortable handle, though the bright white faded slightly during testing.
- Handle: 0 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 3 stars out of 3.
- Scooping: 0.5 stars out of 3.
- Scraping: 3 stars out of 3.
- Stirring: 0.5 stars out of 3.
This model attempted to improve on a simple design with an extra-deep scoop (almost like a ladle) and a crimped handle intended to prop the dirty spatula head off a clean countertop. But the silicone was far too stiff, too steeply sloped, and generally ineffective. Although the rigid, blunt edge scraped up fond with ease, testers still struggled to get a comfortable grip on the slick handle.
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