Lifting spatulas are versatile kitchen tools designed to assist in handling food, with various styles and materials available. They have reinforced handles for easy lifting and can be solid or perforated. When choosing a spatula, avoid poorly made ones and those with plastic components that could melt. Most are dishwasher safe.
A lifting spatula is a kitchen tool designed to assist cooks in handling food. There are several styles of lift spatula, ranging from thin cake spatulas to wide, sturdy notched spatulas designed for grilling. Many kitchen supply stores sell a large assortment of spatulas, including lift-off spatulas in several basic designs. These versatile and extremely useful kitchen tools make great gifts for people moving to new homes or creating a kitchen from scratch.
As the name suggests, lifting spatulas are meant to make lifting easier. They are usually flat, so cooks can slide the spatula under the food in question, and have reinforced handles so cooks can lift the food with confidence or wedge the spatula into something without worrying about breaking. Materials such as metal and silicone are commonly used to lift spatulas, as they are heat resistant; handles can be made from silicone, plastic, or wood so they stay cool to the touch.
Variations of the handle for lifting the spatulas vary. In many cases, a lift spatula will have an offset handle to provide more leverage. A flattened corner can work on large surfaces such as grills, while angled handles are extremely useful in tight spaces, such as pans for lasagna and other cooked foods. A good lift spatula will have a solid handle that is solidly connected, as few things are as uncomfortable as breaking a spatula while serving food.
The body of a lift spatula can be wide, narrow, solid, or perforated. Obviously, the narrower a lifting spatula is, the less sturdy it will be, but thin spatulas can be used to serve small cake wedges or slip into corners where a larger spatula won’t fit. They also work well, incidentally, for evenly frosting cakes. A slotted spatula can allow fat to flow out as the food is lifted, which is convenient when frying or frying. In some cases a lifting spatula may be notched, to facilitate even faster drainage. Solid Lifting Spatulas can be used in a variety of ways, from flipping pancakes to cutting a slice of cake out of a skillet.
You don’t need to spend a lot of time choosing a lifting spatula. Try to avoid spatulas that are obviously poorly made, and you may want to avoid picking up spatulas with plastic components that could melt if left on the stove. If you’re looking at a lift spatula with a silicone body, flex the body; if white streaks appear, the silicone is of poor quality and may crack. Most lifter spatulas are safe for use in the dishwasher, although it’s recommended to check for seams where food could collect.
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