Silicone Spatula - Tips and Advice

The silicone spatula has become a more common kitchen utensil in recent years.

While they were used commonly by professionals for years, only since 2004 has it made its appearance in home kitchens.A silicone spatula may appear to be rubber or plastic, but it has a very high melting point and is heat resistant. They can be used to stir very hot foods or remove foods directly from the cooking pots. While accidental heat exposure can ruin rubber or plastic utensils, these spatulas will not even warp or knick.

They also will not damage other cookware like metal spatulas will and will not ruin your pans by melting on them. A good many spatulas can not handle heat past 450 degrees, but silicone can be breeze past 600 degrees without ill effects. Check the heat ratings because some can handle heats as high as 900 degrees. Other types of spatulas will warp and bend over the years, making them less reliable. Also, they will last for years and not lose their strength and shape.

You can buy silicone spatulas in many sizes so that you can select the one that suits your needs. Silicone is dishwasher safe and does not rust or discolor, keeping you from having to scrub them by hand. It also does not absorb so you will have to worry about transferring unpleasant tastes to the food. Since it’s an inert material, you do not even have to worry about the things used to make the spatula seeping into your food. Even the handles are special made to resist heat.

Most handles are made from a specially made plastic just for high temperature needs. Some handles are made from other materials and detachable for easy cleaning. In situations where this is the case, the handle may not be as heat resistant as the tip and you should be careful. Some spatulas may also have handles that can not take the high temperatures the tip can and will melt if left on the pan.

Silicone comes from bonded silicon, which is a natural element in sand and rock, mixed with oxygen. It is recommended that when buying silicone products to be sure you are getting good quality. Try pinching and twisting a flat surface of the spatula, if you see white showing through then a filler has been adding to the mix. This can make the spatula less heat resistant and may even put an odor to your food.

You can buy it in a variety of flexibilities so that you can whip egg whites or stir cookie dough. Thanks to this flexibility these spatulas can mold themselves to pans making it easier to remove muffins and cakes, easily slipping around the curves of your pans without damaging them. Silicone will always keep its original shape since silicone is a very soft and pliant material. While the price is slightly higher than other spatulas, since they last longer and are less likely to damage they are well worth it.