help me buy a cheap spatula
March 11, 2022 2:33 PM Subscribe
You know that spatula that maybe you purchased in 1992 in a grocery store, that has a very thin metal, uh, blade or tool part on the end that's as wide as your hand and a little rusty, that has a cheap partly melted black plastic handle, and a nicely angled metal neck? The one you use all the time for eggs but always wonder if it's time to replace it? Yeah, I'm having a hard time finding a new one. Totally different spatulas linked inside.
I'm guessing maybe there are seven of these hanging in a tiny rural store somewhere, because Amazon and Target aren't showing them to me.
These are the proportions I'm looking for but not in plastic.
This arrived today, but it's almost completely flat and won't bend (it was in a flat padded envelope, not a box). No good -- my pans all have vertical sides, and I don't want to burn my hand.
This one is lovely, but you can tell from the 6th photo that the metal is much thicker than optimal. This is the main problem with the one's I'm seeing at various online stores.
I'm guessing maybe there are seven of these hanging in a tiny rural store somewhere, because Amazon and Target aren't showing them to me.
These are the proportions I'm looking for but not in plastic.
This arrived today, but it's almost completely flat and won't bend (it was in a flat padded envelope, not a box). No good -- my pans all have vertical sides, and I don't want to burn my hand.
This one is lovely, but you can tell from the 6th photo that the metal is much thicker than optimal. This is the main problem with the one's I'm seeing at various online stores.
My best modern results were from an OXO spatula with the silicone cover removed.
That one’s probably slightly longer than you want and doesn’t have holes, but is a direction you might consider.
posted by itesser at 2:40 PM on March 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
That one’s probably slightly longer than you want and doesn’t have holes, but is a direction you might consider.
posted by itesser at 2:40 PM on March 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
eBay, vintage spatula. You'll find plenty options. One example.
posted by sulaine at 2:47 PM on March 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by sulaine at 2:47 PM on March 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
I like this one (from Cutco) although I got it as part of a set. It does seem a little pricey on its own, I have to admit. But it is very thin and flexible (at least the flat flipper part is flexible; the handle less so).
posted by number9dream at 2:49 PM on March 11, 2022
posted by number9dream at 2:49 PM on March 11, 2022
I think this is the one you'd want: the Oxo Good Grips Stainless Steel Flexible Turner (you can find a cheaper version at Target under the Oxo "Softworks" line). I can vouch for it being super thin and very flexible.
The very best all-purpose spatula, though, is a fish turner. There are lots of good ones.
posted by theory at 2:50 PM on March 11, 2022 [5 favorites]
The very best all-purpose spatula, though, is a fish turner. There are lots of good ones.
posted by theory at 2:50 PM on March 11, 2022 [5 favorites]
You may want to look into fish spatulas. They are thinner in material though not in the traditional shape.
posted by kschang at 2:55 PM on March 11, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by kschang at 2:55 PM on March 11, 2022 [8 favorites]
May help to search the term "fish slice" - that's the British name for this tool.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 2:56 PM on March 11, 2022
posted by nouvelle-personne at 2:56 PM on March 11, 2022
I could have written this post but for 1991! I am pretty sure I got it at a Kmart which does not exist in my area anymore. It was the go-to for stuff like this. Sometimes the cheap thing is exactly what I want. I have purchased so many others over the years, just to toss them because they are not like my old spatula, wrong angle, thickness, handle. I worry that someone is going to toss it out without my knowledge because it is old and the black plastic handle is partially melted. If it helps, I was able to make out the brand on mine - Good Cook. Now I should look on eBay myself.
posted by maxg94 at 3:19 PM on March 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by maxg94 at 3:19 PM on March 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
+1 for fish spatulas. Also if you live near a restaurant supply store, they always have a dizzying array of options at great prices and often more durability than you might find online.
posted by rachelpapers at 3:35 PM on March 11, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by rachelpapers at 3:35 PM on March 11, 2022 [3 favorites]
Flexible turners from Webrestaurant.com! I have this wood handled turner, it's great on the griddle and pretty flexible but the wood is a bit janky* and it's replacement will be this plastic handled and thinner turner. I also can't say enough good thing of these high temp plastic turners which even come in a variety of fun colors and and cost only 4$. Mine is well over a year old and show only minimal wear in regular use on a gas stove. I like it so much I have a spare.
From your description I am guessing this Oxo or this very inexpensive all metal unit or it's solid counterpart would do what you are looking for. A fish (or egg) turner is a different sort of thing, and it might work if you aren't particular about the exact style of your turner. I've been very happy with all the Dextor Russell gear I have, like my bread knife that is just tops, so I would recommend their slotted turner without hesitation.
* these are tools intended for commercial operations so I adjust my expectations that the items primary focus will be on function. For me the plastic gear holds up to the dishwasher and my abuse so that is what I am going with in the future. As for anytime I have had an actual issue with something, which has happened a couple of times over all my orders, Webrestaurant has taken care of it without issue. The only thing to look out for is to check your shipping after each item. There is no good way to shop from only one warehouse and the shipping goes up if your cart has items from multiple sources. It's not crazy shipping costs, but still, it's like 4 spatulas.
posted by zenon at 3:45 PM on March 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
From your description I am guessing this Oxo or this very inexpensive all metal unit or it's solid counterpart would do what you are looking for. A fish (or egg) turner is a different sort of thing, and it might work if you aren't particular about the exact style of your turner. I've been very happy with all the Dextor Russell gear I have, like my bread knife that is just tops, so I would recommend their slotted turner without hesitation.
* these are tools intended for commercial operations so I adjust my expectations that the items primary focus will be on function. For me the plastic gear holds up to the dishwasher and my abuse so that is what I am going with in the future. As for anytime I have had an actual issue with something, which has happened a couple of times over all my orders, Webrestaurant has taken care of it without issue. The only thing to look out for is to check your shipping after each item. There is no good way to shop from only one warehouse and the shipping goes up if your cart has items from multiple sources. It's not crazy shipping costs, but still, it's like 4 spatulas.
posted by zenon at 3:45 PM on March 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
Yeah, we call these a 'fish slice' in the UK. Would this work for you?
posted by essexjan at 4:16 PM on March 11, 2022
posted by essexjan at 4:16 PM on March 11, 2022
You could also check in the "kitchenware" section of your local grocery/Target/etc. type store, if you haven't done so already.
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:24 PM on March 11, 2022
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:24 PM on March 11, 2022
I can't tell for sure if this or this are flexible enough. But they're cheap!
posted by Lyn Never at 4:32 PM on March 11, 2022
posted by Lyn Never at 4:32 PM on March 11, 2022
This one from a restaurant supply place specifically refers to the blade being thin enough to be flexible.
posted by essexjan at 4:40 PM on March 11, 2022
posted by essexjan at 4:40 PM on March 11, 2022
Not sure how big you need. This one is 3.75" wide. I have the same, but in the smaller, less expensive 2.75" and 2" wide versions you can find on that site which have become my absolute favorites. They're very, very thin and very, very flexible.
posted by ClingClang at 5:00 PM on March 11, 2022
posted by ClingClang at 5:00 PM on March 11, 2022
Best answer: Apologies for the digression, please enjoy this short film about Spatula retail.
posted by ovvl at 5:06 PM on March 11, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by ovvl at 5:06 PM on March 11, 2022 [8 favorites]
I haven't tried every spatula in the world, but I am a person who likes a good spatula. I know you say you don't want plastic, but this is the best spatula anywhere right now. I bought them for people for Christmas last year and I'm considering buying a bunch for myself just to have a lifetime supply. $1 each. There's a solid-blade version, too. Be sure it's the one with the square handle cross-section. The rounded one isn't as good.
For metal spatulas I have only one recommendation: Flint: short-handle 6" blade; long-handle ~4" blade
posted by rhizome at 5:25 PM on March 11, 2022
For metal spatulas I have only one recommendation: Flint: short-handle 6" blade; long-handle ~4" blade
posted by rhizome at 5:25 PM on March 11, 2022
FWIW I remember these being not always easy to find in the 90s either. My mom had an older aluminum one that was flexible and thin and I (always a kitchen implement nerd) remember keeping an eye out for a new one that was equally functional and they were rare, there were a bunch of terrible ones around back then too.
If you're going the Ebay route, I believe many of the decent ones I've seen are Ekco brand so that might be a good search term.
posted by needs more cowbell at 5:25 PM on March 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
If you're going the Ebay route, I believe many of the decent ones I've seen are Ekco brand so that might be a good search term.
posted by needs more cowbell at 5:25 PM on March 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: These area very promising! No time now to look in depth -- if I buy one I'll mark a best answer. Marked the digression as a best answer because I love digressions. Sometimes.
posted by amtho at 5:34 PM on March 11, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by amtho at 5:34 PM on March 11, 2022 [3 favorites]
For anything hot, one piece stainless spatulas with an integral, continuous handle are the only choices for me, because I want to be able to sterilize them with steam, and I don’t want to breathe the fumes all plastic gives off when it scrapes across 400+ °F surfaces.
And the criterion which divides sheep from goat within that narrow band is the hardness of the stainless steel, because most stainless spatulas are hard enough to scratch the surfaces of the Farberware electric woks and frying pans, Revere ware electric frying pans, Cuisinart 18-12 stainless cookware, and old Vollrath Lo-Heet stainless cookware I use.
I have two of them, and I believe they were sold under the Progresso brand, but they’re not stamped 'Progresso', so they were probably manufactured by someone else. I have a visually identical spatula stamped "China 18-0", which I assume is a typo that should have been '18-10', and it's much too hard.
posted by jamjam at 6:43 PM on March 11, 2022
And the criterion which divides sheep from goat within that narrow band is the hardness of the stainless steel, because most stainless spatulas are hard enough to scratch the surfaces of the Farberware electric woks and frying pans, Revere ware electric frying pans, Cuisinart 18-12 stainless cookware, and old Vollrath Lo-Heet stainless cookware I use.
I have two of them, and I believe they were sold under the Progresso brand, but they’re not stamped 'Progresso', so they were probably manufactured by someone else. I have a visually identical spatula stamped "China 18-0", which I assume is a typo that should have been '18-10', and it's much too hard.
posted by jamjam at 6:43 PM on March 11, 2022
These are the proportions I'm looking for but not in plastic.
Everything you linked to is a flipper or turner. This is a spatula.
posted by dobbs at 7:02 PM on March 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
Everything you linked to is a flipper or turner. This is a spatula.
posted by dobbs at 7:02 PM on March 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: If everyone knows what I meant, then I successfully communicated, which means I used the word correctly -- that's how language is made :)
posted by amtho at 7:18 PM on March 11, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by amtho at 7:18 PM on March 11, 2022 [9 favorites]
Friend, here is your spatula. In fact the description specifically says “For those who remember the wonderfully flexible thin flippers of old, this is a modern rendition.”
I’ve had one for about 5 years and it’s still like new. The thickness of the steel is perfect - thin enough to flex and slide under anything you care to flip, but thick enough to lift up to a pound or so. It’s also thick enough to use as a very satisfying scraper for softened gunk on a pre-soaked pan. The only caveat is, the blade isn’t huge. Big enough for an egg/cookie/burger, but larger items will sag over the edges.
posted by pocams at 9:54 PM on March 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
I’ve had one for about 5 years and it’s still like new. The thickness of the steel is perfect - thin enough to flex and slide under anything you care to flip, but thick enough to lift up to a pound or so. It’s also thick enough to use as a very satisfying scraper for softened gunk on a pre-soaked pan. The only caveat is, the blade isn’t huge. Big enough for an egg/cookie/burger, but larger items will sag over the edges.
posted by pocams at 9:54 PM on March 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: pocams, that is lovely, and it led me to this spatula/turner of unexpected beauty. However (I blame myself here), I forgot to add one more requirement: dishwasher safe.
Even if that pretty wooden handle could technically go into a dishwasher, I wouldn't want to accelerate its demise that way.
posted by amtho at 11:02 PM on March 11, 2022
Even if that pretty wooden handle could technically go into a dishwasher, I wouldn't want to accelerate its demise that way.
posted by amtho at 11:02 PM on March 11, 2022
That Spatula of Unexpected Beauty is the exact one we have in my kitchen, and folks, it does everything they say it will do. My housemates and I have rhapsodized about it before and (just to tie this whole delightful thread together) apparently one housemate's mom gave it to him for Christmas specifically because of that jokey video that you best-answered.
posted by needs more cowbell at 4:06 AM on March 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by needs more cowbell at 4:06 AM on March 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Most of the spatulas shown have a single shaft between handle and blade. Good, that's what you want. When you have two connectors, like the Oxo Good Good grips mentioned above, other implements can get caught in the opening between and cause a tangle.
posted by SemiSalt at 6:04 AM on March 12, 2022
posted by SemiSalt at 6:04 AM on March 12, 2022
I have several with wooden or non-melty andles that I've gotten at thrift shops. Wood handles just feel nicer, not least because they don't get weird ridges from partial melting. A couple of them are smaller, which can be handy.
posted by theora55 at 6:56 AM on March 12, 2022
posted by theora55 at 6:56 AM on March 12, 2022
pocams, that is lovely, and it led me to this spatula/turner of unexpected beauty. However…
The proportions of that are different enough from the first one you linked that I dismissed the following out of hand, but if you’re open to a long blade and shorter handle, the OXO Lasagna Turner and Restaurant Turner might be good candidates. I got the lasagna version as a gift, and bought another when the blade finally fatigued and snapped at the neck after about 15 years of regular use.
posted by jon1270 at 7:34 AM on March 12, 2022
The proportions of that are different enough from the first one you linked that I dismissed the following out of hand, but if you’re open to a long blade and shorter handle, the OXO Lasagna Turner and Restaurant Turner might be good candidates. I got the lasagna version as a gift, and bought another when the blade finally fatigued and snapped at the neck after about 15 years of regular use.
posted by jon1270 at 7:34 AM on March 12, 2022
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posted by pinochiette at 2:37 PM on March 11, 2022