What is a Baking Spatula?
- Written By: S.E. Smith
- Edited By: Bronwyn Harris
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Copyright Protected:
2003-2013 Conjecture Corporation
A baking spatula is a type of spatula specifically designed to assist with baking tasks. Many kitchen supplies stores sell baking spatulas, which come in an assortment of blade lengths and styles. Especially when making professional quality cakes, a baking spatula is essential. The gadget can also be useful around the kitchen for other tasks.
The three primary characteristics which set a baking spatula aside from other spatulas are the width, flatness, and flexibility of the blade. A baking spatula has a very narrow blade, allowing the baker to use it in tight quarters without the risk of messing up. The blade is also flat, not at all curved or rounded, and extremely flexible so that it can be bent and torqued easily. When selecting a baking spatula, remember that it is supposed to feel slightly flimsy, since the give in the spatula ensures that it does not gouge baking projects like a stiffer spatula can.
There are two primarily styles of baking spatula. A straight blade spatula has a straight blade, running in one line from the tip of the blade to the handle. An offset baking spatula has an angled blade, distancing the hand of the user from the cooking project. For small cakes and precision projects, an offset spatula can be very useful. If a cook often ends up with his or her hands in the frosting, an offset spatula is crucial.
Metal and plastic are both used to make baking spatulas. Metal tends to be a more flexible, yet sturdy choice, while plastic can seem bulky, yet floppy at the same time. For a short bladed baking spatula, this different may not be terribly important, but metal is sometimes a better choice for longer blades. In both cases, the spatula is often made heat resistant and dishwasher safe, for convenience. Individual care directions should always be checked to make sure that a baking spatula can, in fact, be run through the dishwasher.
The primary application for a baking spatula is frosting. The blade can be used to spread frosting onto a cake and smooth it out so that the frosting has an even and aesthetically appealing look. A baking spatula can also be used to a similar end on other foods where a smooth appearance is desired. In some cases, a baking spatula is also designed to double as a serving utensil. Some companies make baking spatulas with a serrated edge for cutting cakes.
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jennythelib
Post 2 |
@MrsWinslow - I don't know any names for it that don't involve the word "spatula." (Except artists have a very similar tool called a palette knife.) My grandmother always called it an icing spatula.
I got by without one for years. I didn't make a lot of cakes and when I did, I just iced them with a butter knife. But my grandmother died a couple of years ago and my mom asked me to help clean out her house. In the kitchen, I found her old icing spatula, and my mom said I could keep it.
It makes such a difference! You can pick up more icing and spread it more evenly than with a puny little butter knife. |
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MrsWinslow
Post 1 |
I used to use one of these in home ec class and never knew what it was! My home ec teacher forbade us to use the word "spatula" because it could mean so many things. A flat spatula like you would use for pancakes was called a turner and a rubber spatula like you would use for getting cake batter out of a bowl was called a scraper.
I can't remember what we called the baking spatula. We only used it for leveling off measuring cups after filling them. Does anyone know what's another name for a baking spatula? |
