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8 best spatulas for baking and cooking like a pro

We looked for multi-functionality and ease of cleaning to find our perfect utensil

Joanne Gould
Monday 01 February 2021 17:22 GMT
Whether you’re flipping pancakes or baking a cake, you need one of these tools
Whether you’re flipping pancakes or baking a cake, you need one of these tools (The Independent/iStock)

A bad workman always blames his tools, so make sure yours are up to scratch in the kitchen for successful bakes every time.

It’s important to get the basics right and a good spatula can be the key to turning out light, fluffy cakes, creating perfectly smooth icing, and even helping to toss stir fries and crepes.

Read more: 10 best pancake pans to make a flipping good crepe

It pays to have a selection of shapes and sizes of spatula, but broadly a good one will have just the right level of flexibility, be able to withstand heat and won’t damage your non-stick pans or tins.

We tried a range of spatulas of different materials – from silicone to metal and plastic – putting them through their paces in a wok, in mixing and scraping down batter and looking for utensils with good grip, ease of use and flexibility.

We found a selection of useful spatulas to add to your utensil collection, from uni-tools to spatulas with highly specific uses and all at pleasingly low prices. Here are all the tools you need for brilliant bakes and flipping good stir fries.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

My Kitchen silicone coated mini spoon spatula

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Lakeland is the first place we’d look for a new spatula as the brand offers a range of clever equipment to help you realise your cookery dreams. We’ve opted for this colourful My Kitchen mini spoon spatula which is coated in heat resistant silicone up to 230C. It’s available in four cheery shades (and other sizes) but we found this 20.5cm tool worked well for little helping hands thanks to its soft touch handle that is shorter than most kitchen utensils. 

This spoon is stain and odour resistant and suitable for use with non-stick pans and tins, has a stainless steel reinforced core for strength, while the spoon has flexibility around the edges to help you get into tight corners when scraping out batter or bakes. 

  1.  £3 from Lakeland
Prices may vary
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Brabantia 2 in 1 spatula and cutting edge

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You can usually rely on Brabantia for good quality kitchen basics and this spatula is a handy one to have in your kitchen utensil arsenal. Made from BPA free heat-resistant nylon, this spatula isn’t very flexible so you won’t want to use it for bakes or spreading probably, but it has many other uses. It’s slotted, so good for lifting pieces of fish or meat while allowing liquid to strain away, and strong enough to be able to flip foods easily. 

Our favourite part of this spatula is its useful serrated edge on one side, which means you can chop food as it cooks, like pieces of chicken too large for fajitas, and easily cut and lift out individual fried eggs which may have joined when cooking together. We also like it for cutting freshly baked tray bakes which it can then serve straight from the tin.  It’s available in various colours in the Tasty+ range to match your other cookware, and comes with a five year guarantee. 

  1.  £6 from Dunelm
Prices may vary
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Tala silicone spoon spatula

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Another multi-use utensil here from Tala Cooking, this is a cross between a spoon and a spatula, making it a valuable addition to your kitchen drawer. Sporting a comfortable and cool wooden handle, the head is made from heat resistant silicone which can withstand up to 240C temperatures; it’s also removable for easy and thorough cleaning and can be put in the dishwasher. 

The lip of the spoon head is really flexible and its gentle curves make it good for both spooning liquids and scraping down sides of bowls. The shape means it makes light work of folding in flour, while the smooth back can double up for any spreading you may need; it’s universally useful for turning foods in hot pans and things too, of course. Suitable for non-stick and tough enough to last for years. 

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Pan Man spatula

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A quirky addition to your utensil lineup, this is a flat, curved BPA-free offering from Pan Man that’s designed for pancake flipping. But it’s also useful for sliding under pieces of pan-frying meat and fish thanks to its large surface area. It has small drainage holes across the surface to allow liquids to strain and is fairly comfortable to use with its tapered handle. 

We like the cute little pan man holding on to the top of the handle which also doubles as a magnetic back, allowing you to hang the spatula from metal utensil holders. The makers don’t state how heat resistant this product is, but we had no problem using it to flip omelettes and the like directly in the pan. It resists boiling water and is dishwasher safe.

  1.  £15 from Red Candy
Prices may vary
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De Buyer heat resistant polyglass spatula

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A basic looking spatula from De Buyer here, but its appearance belies its usefulness. Made from heat resistant polyglass, this plain white utensil can cope with temperatures up to 220C which makes it a solid choice when it comes to using directly in bubbling hot sauces and on sizzling saucepans – it feels like it’s not suitable for use on non-stick but it is, we promise. 

Measuring in at 30cm, this long narrow spatula tapers out into a wider curved head that is useful for mixing, scraping and folding in sauces easily. It’s also shatter proof and non-porous, helping it to stay in its original condition. It’s dishwasher safe for easy and hygienic cleaning. 

  1.  £3 from Sous Chef
Prices may vary
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The verdict: Spatulas

We’ve plumped for the brilliant uni-tool from Joseph Joseph as our all out winner as its multi-functionality makes it a must-have in your kitchen tool repertoire. Keen bakers will also appreciate the double ended Mason Cash spatula which makes a space-saving and crafty solution to your spatula needs.

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