Spatulas

The word “perfect” has a lot to live up to, and although the truly “perfect” spatula may not exist, I think there are a few that come close. The criteria I use to evaluate spatulas are pretty simple.

1. Material – At this point in time, I really don't see any good reason to buy a spatula that is not heat-resistant. A good silicone spatula is flexible, durable, stable, stain resistant, and should be heat resistant to 600ºF or more. Although a good new rubber spatula might have a few advantages, rubber spatulas are not heat resistant, prone to stains, and can get a bit “gummy” over time. If I had an active enough kitchen that I could take advantage of a wide variety of spatulas, I might be willing to stock a few silicone spatulas and a few rubber spatulas, each for their own unique purpose, but personally, I would greatly prefer to have consistent spatulas that are all good (or at least good enough) for any application

2. Construction – Spatulas (and many other kitchen tools) have the potential to be fertile grounds for contamination and bacteria or mold growth. The best way to prevent this is to clean utensils well, and this is infinitely easier if there are fewer gaps and seams and joints. That means any spatula that is a single piece will be much easier to clean and keep clean. One-piece construction also means that the head of the spatula will never fall off or slip from the handle. There are very few rubber spatulas that offer 1-piece construction, so once again, silicone offers a distinct advantage. Having 1-piece, all-silicone construction also means that when using the spatula for “hot” applications, you never have to worry about melting or scorching the handle of a silicone-headed 2-piece spatula.

3. Price – This is, honestly, a minor consideration. A good quality $10 spatula will usually be much more durable than a $2 spatula, but the difference in price between a “good” spatula and a “cheap” spatula isn't really that significant. With some kitchen tool, the price range is pretty broad. For example, frying pans can range from $10 to $200+, but even a very high quality spatula with a prestigious brand name probably won't cost more than $25-30, and a good quality tool can be found quite easily for $10-15.

My favorite spatula is a Chef'n brand 1-piece silicone model similar to this one {http://www.target.com/p/vibe-switchit-spatula/-/A-13385306#prodSlot=medium_1_1 }, although my specific spatula is not colored.

This has been a wonderful tool in my kitchen for quite a few years, but has picked up a couple small nicks and dings, so I'm probably in need of a new one. I'll probably wander through local stores for a new spatula, but I'd be pretty happy if I could either find the exact same model or perhaps something like this one {http://www.chefn.com/Product.aspx?id=143 }

I would be perfectly content to use a brand other than Chef'n, but my current Chef'n spatula has been a wonderful tool so I'd be happy to display some brand loyalty.

Do I really put this much thought into something as pedestrian and work-a-day as a spatula? Well, yes, but it's almost by accident. As with many kitchen tools and other things, you don't really think about preferences or quality until you accidentally buy something that has some very obvious advantages. That was the case with this spatula.