We use bench scrapers for far more than just making pastry—and we have strong opinions about what makes a great model.
Published Aug. 16, 2022.
Bench scrapers are the MVPs of professional kitchens, perfect for a variety of kitchen tasks, both sweet and savory. Our longtime favorite, the Dexter-Russell Sani-Safe 6” x 3” Dough Cutter/Scraper, has a sharp metal blade that slices through sticky dough with ease. Its well-proportioned handle is comfortable to hold and is made from textured polypropylene, which makes it easy to grip even when slick with butter. This scraper is also a cinch to clean and can withstand rough treatment day in and day out.
When I interviewed for a job at America’s Test Kitchen, my favorite question was “What’s your favorite kitchen tool?” The answer was easy: the humble bench scraper. Originally designed to help pastry chefs and bread bakers handle dough and scrape their work surfaces (or “benches”), these scrapers can be used for far more than just baking. We also use them to scoop up ingredients from cutting boards and transport them to bowls or stovetops; chop or slice softer ingredients, such as butter; and level off ingredients in dry measuring cups. If you don’t already have a bench scraper in your kitchen, it’s a worthy addition.
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.
Chase is an associate editor for ATK Reviews. He's an epidemiologist-turned-equipment tester and biscuit enthusiast.