Silicone Spatulas Are Heat Resistant and Easy to Clean
Silicone Spatulas are heat resistant and can be used to stir, scrape, or spread food items. They are also durable and easy to clean.
These spatulas have flexible heads that allow them to grab every last bit of batter, dough, or mayonnaise from the corners of jars. They are also gentle on nonstick cooking pans, making them perfect for removing baked goods from pans.
1. Durability
Silicone is much more durable than plastic or rubber, making it a good choice for kitchen utensils that may be used frequently. Silicone is heat-resistant and can be used to scrape the sides of mixing bowls as well as to flip or serve food directly from pans. Silicone won’t melt or scorch like a plastic or rubber spatula and won’t scratch or damage Teflon or other nonstick coatings, either.
Another advantage of silicone is that it doesn’t absorb odors like some other materials. Silicone is also a natural nonstick material, which means it doesn’t transfer unwanted tastes or chemicals to foods. These qualities make silicone a good choice for cooking utensils, particularly those that will be used with raw meat or fish.
Some people are concerned that silicone utensils might stain, but this is usually only an issue with very acidic or alkaline foods. Silicone can be easily cleaned with soap and water, and if a silicone utensil does become discolored it can usually be returned to its original color.
When choosing silicone kitchen utensils, it is important to make sure they are high-quality and food-grade. Some low-quality silicone products are made with ingredients that are not safe to ingest and can be toxic if they come into contact with your food. Only use silicone that has been deemed “generally regarded as safe” (GRAS) by the FDA.
2. Easy to clean
The food-grade silicone that these spatulas are made of doesn’t absorb the colors or odors from cooking, making them much easier to clean Silicone Spatulas than nylon spoons. They also don’t scratch non-stick cookware as easily as metal or wooden spoons.
This flexibility and resistance to scratches make it easy for you to lift or scrape out a mixing bowl or cake pan without damaging the surface. You can even use them to remove food stuck on your non-stick pans. Silicone kitchen utensils are also less porous than nylon and are thus less likely to harbor microbial growth.
You can keep your silicone utensils clean by regularly washing them in hot soapy water and using a sponge or scrubber to get rid of any residue that may remain. If stains are persistent, you can try soaking the silicone in white vinegar or a mixture of boiling water and dishwashing detergent with a degreaser.
Chlorine bleach, like hydrogen peroxide, can also be used to break down the compounds that give your silicone a lingering color or smell. The oxidants will remove these molecules, leaving you with clean silicone that looks and smells as good as the day you bought it. Alternatively, you can buy specialty cleaning products that are made specifically for silicone. You can even find scrubbers made of natural materials like bamboo to clean sticky silicone without using harsh chemicals.
3. Versatility
Unlike some rubber kitchen utensils, silicone cooking utensils are more durable and can handle a wide range of tasks. They’re safe for non-stick cookware, easy to clean and able Silicone Spatulas to withstand high temperatures. They also resist staining, which is common with most rubber utensils.
Silicone kitchen utensils come in various shapes and sizes to help you accomplish any task. Some feature thin designs that are great for flipping burgers, while others have a rounded front and sides to fit comfortably inside pots for pouring. They also come in a variety of colors to match your kitchen decor. Some are even made from medical-grade silicone, which undergoes a stricter testing process than food-grade silicone.
While silicone is a synthetic material, it’s still better for the environment than plastic. This is because silicone doesn’t leach chemicals into the environment and won’t dissolve in water. It also takes longer for this material to break down into inorganic substances, making it more eco-friendly than plastic, which can float in the ocean and poison fish.
Whether you’re working with cookie dough or cake batter, a silicone spoon can make the job easier. These utensils are heat-resistant, making them ideal for scraping and mixing. Some are even hygienic and dishwasher safe for convenient cleaning. They can also withstand high temperatures and won’t get knicked or warped.
4. Heat resistant
Most silicone kitchen utensils are heat resistant, so you can use them on hot nonstick cookware without fear of scratching or damaging the coating. You may want to look for one that is made from 100% pure silicone instead of a mixture, as some cheaper brands contain plastic fillers which could release toxic chemicals into your food.
Choosing the right spatula head shape is important, too. The structure of the head should be firm enough to scoop but also flexible enough to fold batter or scrape pans. Some are curved and tapered while others have a flatter head. The size and ergonomics of the handle are also important as you’ll be holding the spoon for long periods of time, so it needs to be comfortable in your hand.
This set from KitchenAid is a good budget option, with a durable silicone curved head that can be used on cold foods or to scrape pans. It is dishwasher-safe and easy to clean, but the handle isn’t as heat-resistant as some other silicone utensils we tested. Another inexpensive option is this set from U-taste, which features a heat-resistant wooden handle that won’t transfer heat to the silicone head. It also has a rounded head, but it didn’t fit easily into corners of pans or baking dishes. The U-taste set is BPA-free and has been rated safe for use with nonstick cookware.