Spatula

A spatula is a kitchen utensil with a broad, flat, blunt blade, used for spreading, lifting, flipping, or mixing. It is a common tool in cooking, baking, and pastry making.

There are several types of spatulas, each designed for a specific purpose:

• Turner Spatula (or Flipper): Characterized by a wide, often slotted blade with a thin edge, designed for lifting and flipping foods like pancakes, burgers, and eggs.
• Offset Spatula (or Icing Spatula): Features a long, narrow blade that is angled or offset from the handle. Used for spreading frosting or icing evenly on cakes and other baked goods. The offset design helps keep the user's hand away from the cake surface.
• Rubber Spatula (or Scraper): Has a flexible, often silicone or rubber blade that conforms to the shape of bowls and pans. It is used for scraping bowls clean, mixing ingredients, and folding delicate ingredients.
• Fish Spatula: Similar to a turner, but with a longer, thinner, more flexible blade, often with slots, designed for gently lifting and flipping delicate fish fillets.
• Palette Knife: A broad-bladed spatula used more commonly in art, but sometimes used in cooking for spreading or smoothing. It is not typically used for flipping.

Spatulas are made from a variety of materials, including stainless steel, plastic, silicone, rubber, and wood. Handle materials vary as well, and can include wood, plastic, or metal. The choice of material often depends on the intended use, heat resistance requirements, and personal preference. For example, silicone spatulas are popular for use with non-stick cookware because they won't scratch the surface.