Silicone kitchen utensils have numerous benefits, including the ability to withstand high temperatures and resist staining. They are also more durable than wood and less likely to melt in the dishwasher. Concerns about their safety are largely unfounded. Some cooks prefer metal spatulas for certain tasks, but silicone is a great alternative for non-stick cookware.
The 2000s saw the introduction of several silicone kitchen utensils, often sold in attractive bright colours. Cooks accustomed to traditional wooden, rubber, plastic or metal utensils may wonder what benefits lie in products made with silicone. There are actually numerous benefits, especially as a replacement for rubber spatulas or metal turners.
Silicone kitchen utensils have the extreme advantage that they can be used at high temperatures. Many can withstand up to 400 F. (204.44 C) or higher. Where you’d normally have to remove a rubber spatula or stir tool if you were making something like candy, you won’t melt silicone utensils if you leave them in the pot or pan for a second while you turn your attention elsewhere. The metal can also withstand high temperatures, but some metals can corrode when exposed to certain acids. For this reason alone, silicone is generally a better choice.
Also, a silicone utensil that is accidentally dropped to the bottom of the dishwasher during a wash cycle isn’t likely to melt, as plastic handles or rubber implements might. It is more durable than wood, in most cases, and can withstand frequent washing in the dishwasher. Wooden spoons or even utensils with wooden handles may need to be washed by hand to prevent progressive deterioration of the wood.
While many people love their rubber squeegees, a common complaint with rubber utensils is that they stick to stains easily, which are then very difficult to remove. You’ve probably noticed this if you’ve ever stirred spaghetti sauce with a rubber spoon or spatula. Silicone kitchenware tends to resist this type of staining because the silicone material is less porous. It therefore has a longer “life” than most rubber tools, and certainly most wooden ones.
There are concerns expressed by some that silicone cooking utensils and bakeware are unsafe. Many cite problems with silicone breast implants in the past as part of their reasoning here. In reality, much of the evidence regarding the adverse health effects of silicone breast implants has been disproved, and doctors have certainly resumed offering them to patients again as a viable option. The only concern may be ingesting silicone particles using silicone utensils or baked goods. This scenario is unlikely. Provided there are no punctures in your utensils, silicone is likely to hold together and hold up better than almost any material except the strong metals used in utensils.
Some cooks have some objections to silicone cooking utensils. Spatulas for turning thin things like crepes tend to be a little too thick on some occasions, and some people prefer the thinner metal spatulas, especially if they need to scrape the pan a bit to remove something. On the other hand, if you use non-stick cookware, silicone is a great alternative to metal, as it won’t scratch non-stick coatings.
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