After pots, cooking spoons are probably the most important cooking utensils. There are many different cooking spoons, each with unique purposes. Knowing the right type of spoon to use is essential for more efficient cooking processes and better outcomes. For example, using a slotted spoon when frying plantains will not be as convenient as using a frying spoon. You may even end up making the plantain soggy.
This article will introduce you to the world of cooking spoons, explaining 10 must-have spoons and their uses.
Pasta spoon
This type of spoon is specially designed for handling pasta, specifically spaghetti. It has a large hole at the center that helps to drain excess water when your pasta is being served or transferred from one pot to another.
It also aids your serving technique to ensure an appealing meal presentation. The prongs on the spoon not only allow ease of serving but also help separate the spaghetti strands and prevent them from clumping together.
A highly recommended quality pasta spoon is the Cuisinart Stainless Steel Pasta Server
Measuring spoon
Most people don’t have this one, but it is just as important as the rest.
When trying out a new recipe, following the measurements is very key. Without a measuring spoon, you are more likely to over-measure or under-measure the given ingredient. This can eventually affect the taste or general outcome of that meal.
Innovation has brought us adjustable measuring spoons. Instead of having multiple measuring spoons of different sizes, this type of measuring spoon has an adjustment that you can use to fit whatever quantity is desired.
Check out this adjustable measuring spoon on Amazon.
Slotted spoon
These spoons have large holes that allow thick liquids like sauces or soups to drain from the spoon.
If you were to remove a piece of chicken from a marinade and fry it directly in hot oil, this spoon would be the choice. It allows the excess juice to drain out easily and quickly, reducing the popping and crackling that comes with mixing oil and water.
Slotted spoons are also useful for basting. One of the best-slotted spoons on Amazon is the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Slotted Spoon.
Salad spoon
A salad spoon is a long-handled spoon with a large bowl useful for mixing and serving salads. It is usually made from materials unaffected by vinegar E.g wood or stainless steel.
The spoon’s bowl design makes it easier to toss and turn the salad, ensuring proper mixing with the dressing. It is often paired with a salad fork.
For a fine dining experience, use a salad spoon for salads instead of a regular wooden spoon or table spoon. You can get a salad spoon here.
Wooden spoon
This spoon is the most versatile of all cooking spoons. It comes in handy when other spoons are unavailable. The wooden spoon is an all-time favourite because it is compatible with every pot type. A wooden spoon is good enough whether it is a Dutch oven, a non-stick pan, or a stainless steel pot.
Most wooden spoons have long handles that make them suitable for cooking soups and bowls that allow for basting, mixing, or serving. You can even use it to mix batter for foods like pancakes.
What’s more, this spoon is easy to clean and usually stands the test of time.
Amazon shoppers love the KitchenAid Universal Bamboo Spoon and so do we!
Frying spoon
As versatile as a wooden spoon is, it is not advisable to use it for deep frying. This is not because of any health risk it may pose but because using a wooden spoon for deep frying may cause your spoon to burn. A frying spoon is more suitable.
Usually made from stainless steel or aluminum, this spoon has multiple holes that allow oil to drain quickly from food being removed from the oil. It also has a wide surface area and a concave bowl that allows easy scooping. A frying spoon is also referred to as a skimmer.
Using a spatula to remove small pieces of puff puff or plantain from oil could prove an arduous task. Use a frying spoon instead. The TENTA Kitchen Stainless Steel Skimmer is one of the best on Amazon.
Spatula
This spoon can be slotted or solid, with holes or without. Because of its concave nature, using a frying spoon to flip pancakes or fillets may be difficult. That is where the spatula comes in.
A spatula makes flipping processes easy and quick. This is because it is broad, flat, and flexible.
It is also useful for spreading, scraping, or mixing ingredients. Most spatulas are silicone or wooden to prevent damage to non-stick surfaces.
When asked to review the Pack of 2 Silicone Solid Turner and Nonstick Slotted Spatula by BUNDLEPRO, Amazon shoppers have a consensus that it is good value for money.
Tongs
Removing freshly baked or grilled foods can be a hassle. But not when you have tongs.
This type of spoon is designed to pick food items that are too hot to hold with the fingers or difficult to pick with a fork or spoon.
This spoon grips and lifts foods and also objects like hot coal. People have also found them useful for picking ice cubes and serving long noodles or vegetable salads.
Get your quality tongs from GORILLA GRIP on Amazon.
Solid spoon
A solid spoon is a handy, everyday spoon. It is the most popular cooking spoon because it has no holes.
It is used for serving dry foods or foods that don’t need to be drained, like soups. Like the frying spoon, the solid spoon has a concave bowl that makes it useful for scooping and stirring.
In case you’re looking to replace your solid spoon, DAILY KITCHEN offers one of the best solid cooking spoons on Amazon.
Skimmer
A skimmer has many uses, from blanching vegetables to removing foods from hot oil and skimming foam from broths to remove unwanted items or break up lumps. Skimmers can be made from stainless steel or tough nylon.
Although a frying spoon may do the same work as a skimmer spoon, the latter gives better results. Plus, you do not want to wear out your frying spoon by using it for almost every cooking activity.
Try out Amazon’s HIWARE Solid Stainless Steel Spider Strainer Skimmer. Shoppers say it’s sturdy and very useful.
Step up your cooking game by adding these cooking spoons to your kitchen. The meals you make will be better for it.
