silicon spatulas
My spatulas have pretty much all died and need to be replaced - Id like to try some of the new silicon ones, but they all seem to be pricy, in garish colors and often with metal handles.
Like they are a fashion accessory rather than a basic tool.
Can anyone suggest a source for reasonably priced silicon spatulas in various sizes and without this color thing?
thanks!
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rilkeanheart
Dec 15, 2006 08:26 PM
The BEST price + quality product + "pretty factor" I've found together. The Martha Stewart line at Kmart has a 3-pak heat safe silicon spatula (wood handle) set for around $6.
I found my set of 3 spatulas in a light/translucent powder blue color.
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Scrapironchef
Nov 1, 2006 10:33 PM
I bought a bunch of the la crueset ones at the outlet store when they were on sale. I buy each size in a different color, it makes it easy to get the one I want without picking through all of them.
They work great and I haven't been able to destroy them the way rubber spatulas bit the dust after a few months.
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re: Scrapironchef
NYchowcook
Dec 16, 2006 01:01 AM
I love those Le Crueset spatulas! Great colors, and have them in different sizes.
Realize when head slipped off that I probably should be washing wood from head.
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pitu
Oct 26, 2006 10:19 PM
My utter favorite silicon spatula is practically generic. Desco is the brand.
It's good because it's all one piece - somewhat more rigid than the other silicon ones, but just as melt-proof. They come in a fairly sedate dark blue.
THe downside is that I've only seen it in a smallish size/shape.I have a bunch of other ones in different colors and shapes that I find are starting to degrade after a few years of heavy use. They were a sort of generic offering from the Whole Foods in Northern Virginia. Great shapes, with a plastic handle that comes off to clean - and gets gross if you don't take it off to clean. But they stay on better than wooden handles.
I just got a very large, very orange, Creuset version that is a slotted spoon. Okay, spoonula. I love everything about it but the wood stick that is the handle.
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georgeb
Oct 24, 2006 06:43 PM
I just bought colored silicone spoonulas (spatula with a concave surface) and a wooden handle for a buck and a half apiece at my local Walmart.
I prefer the wooden handle since it won't hold the heat if I leave it in the saute pan. Working great so far...
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my analon one is black and grey so does solve the colour problem. It was quite pricey though and does have a metal handle (rubber grip). But it is the best thing since sliced bread! I can actually get all the mixture out of my bowls as it's flexible, it is stiff enough to rub sugar and butter together, it gets in to all of the (not) corners of my chefs pan and doesn't trash the coating. The only problem with this one is that it's not stiff enough to remove ice cream from my ice cream maker (I have a stiffer one for that) and the handle is quite heavy so it makes bowls topple over as the paddle bit is quite light!
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I have several and love them - I guess one person's garish color is someone else's lovely spring green... I have one by Oneida which has a sturdy plastic handle that is strongly attached, which I have had for years and years, and another with a white blade and thick black handle from Farberware; the blade does come off but you have to really pull it; it looks like it was designed to come off for cleaning, and it doesn't come off in normal use (maybe if I was using it for mixing cookie dough). I don't think I paid a lot for either of them, probably got them off a rack of gadgets at the supermarket. I also have a couple of the Kitchen Aid ones which match their line of silicon kitchen tools; these do come in basic black and chrome and are pricey but work very well. I got a pair of the Oneida spatulas - the spoonula shape and the regular one, in green and red, for my Christmas gift bags when they first started to appear, and my family members still have them and use them regularly... they last far longer than the rubber and artificial rubber ones.
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paulj
Oct 17, 2006 02:53 AM
My favorite silicon spatula is one distributed by GSI Outdoors and sold in camping shops for about $5.
http://www.gsioutdoors.com/products/m...The problem that I've had with a number of spatulas is that the handle comes off. That is especially true of wood handles. This GSI one has a secure long wire loop handle. The rubber shows no sign of abuse. Well, a crow did peck at one, but a bit of knife work restored a smooth edge. The blade is a nice combination of spatual and shallow spoon.
I also have a Pyrex one with a secure clear plastic handle, but the blade has a lot of notches.
paulj
›6 Replies-
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re: elise h
paulj
Oct 24, 2006 05:07 PM
GSI has some other useful items. For example they have set of hard anodized aluminum dutch ovens. The 10" size does not have legs, so works equally well on the stove top and oven. I bought it as a lighter weight alternative to a 8" Lodge cast iron oven, but have ended up using it as much in the kitchen as outside.
They have lexan hand coffee grinder. While it is a little hard to find a way of holding the round fly saucer shape, it grinds surprisingly fast and uniform. GSI and others make all sorts of coffee makers, both drip and French Press style. There are even adapters to turn your Nalgene drinking bottle into a press.
Years ago I got some small spoon size nylon spatulas that were made in West Germany. GSI now markets a copy, replacing the pot metal handle with plastic.
From England there's a line of folding flat tableware - plates, bowls and cups - Orikaso. These first appeared in the USA in outdoor shops like REI. But not too long ago The Splendid Table (PBS food show) had an interview with the inventor.
paulj
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re: paulj
Scrapironchef
Nov 1, 2006 10:29 PM
We have the lexan french press with a neoprene foam insulating sleeve, virtually indestructible and keeps the coffee nice and hot. The screen failed after about a year, we emailed GSI and they sent us a new one gratis.
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re: elise h
Melanie Wong
Nov 1, 2006 08:01 PM
If your oven temp isn't higher than 575 degrees, then the baking pan will not be hotter than that. For stove top, unless you're heating something that's almost all oil or in a dry pan, your water-based liquids won't get much hotter (if that) than boiling temperature.
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re: paulj
I take my handle off every time I wash it. Bacteria frat house, if you dont. But it shouldn't slip off. I get mine at Williams Sonoma, lifetime warranty. You pay more, but they will give you new ones after they wear out in 2 years, but they last longer since they are made well. Im always end up getting something else so no guilt here.
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JoanN
Oct 17, 2006 02:51 AM
Yes, they're pricey. And yes, they come in garish colors. I've been shopping for them recently and haven't found any that aren't both. Every once in a while Amazon.com had a deal on a set of them, but I don't want to pay twice as much for three when I want only one.
I think they're terrific. I find myself using them in ways I wouldn't use a regular rubber spatula, deglazing a pan for instance. FWIW, Alton Brown in I'm Just Here for the Food recommends the Rubbermaid. But even at Zabar's it's about $12 and only comes in red.
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Pei
Oct 17, 2006 02:43 AM
Honestly, I love my silicon spatulas from Dollar Tree. They come in plain colors (blue, white, grey, red), claim to be heat safe up to 600 degrees (and haven't melted so far), but have plastic handles and come in only one size.
I see sets of Kitchenaid ones with wooden handles for about $10 for a three pack at discount stores like Marshalls and Tuesday Morning on a regular basis.
