A bench scraper is a tool used by bakers to scoop up bread dough, scrape dough off countertops, and cut and divide dough. It is usually made of stainless steel or stiff plastic and can be used for pastry doughs and moving food. It is not to be confused with a soft plastic dough scraper or a pastry blender. It is inexpensive and can be found in kitchen stores, department stores, and online.
A bench scraper, also sometimes called a dough scraper, is a tool used by bakers to scoop up sticky bread dough, scrape dough off countertops, and cut and divide dough. The bench scraper is usually made of stainless steel, although some can be made of stiff, hard plastic.
Bakers shouldn’t confuse bench scrapers with their more flexible cousins, the soft plastic dough scraper that is used to scoop each individual dough out of the bowl. It is also not to be confused with a pastry cutter or blender. A pastry blender is a small tool made up of several metal wires and is used to mix butter into flour. Pizza cutters are generally small metal wheels that work much like a pizza cutter.
Part of baking bread at home involves turning the bread out onto a floured counter and kneading it. As the bread is being kneaded, small pieces of it may stick to the counter, especially if it is a particularly moist dough. A bench scraper allows a baker to swoop under the dough, easily removing it from the counter. It can also be used in lieu of a baker’s fingertips for manipulating and moving sticky, wet dough.
In addition to its use as a tool for making bread dough, a bench scraper can also be used to make cake mixes or other pastry doughs. A metal bench scraper usually has a sharp edge that can cut through the dough without damaging its structure. Bakers often use a bench scraper to evenly divide the dough into smaller rolls or loaves. Often, the scraper will have measurement marks along the edge so a cook can use it to measure the length or width of a roll or loaf of bread.
A cook can use a counter scraper to remove any bits of dough from the counter when she’s done working, without worrying about damaging the counter surface. The scraper can be used to move dough that has been shaped and rested to another part of the counter or in the oven. It’s also an effective tool for simultaneously scooping up small pieces of food and moving them from the work surface to a skillet or roasting pan.
Metal scrapers are usually about 6 inches long (about 15 cm) and about 4 inches high (about 10 cm). Many have wooden handles, although some newer models have ergonomic plastic grips. Some older styles have metal handles. A bench scraper is usually not very expensive and can be found in kitchen stores, department stores, and online.
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