Don’t let the name mislead you, a fish spatula does a lot more than first impressions suggest. In fact, it’s the tool that’s used most often in the kitchen. Sure, it’s the design that makes it an expert at flipping delicate fish fillets, but its elegance and flexibility mean it gets along well with others, too. A spatula is an extension of your hand when handling hot foods, so the kitchen needs a spatula that’s as sturdy and flexible as a claw.
What is a fish spatula?
A fish spatula features a thin metal blade and a slanted end, making it adept at sliding under delicate items. The metal blade also has slatted cuts, making it lighter and more flexible than a regular spatula.
Why should we love a fish spatula?
A fish spatula shines when cooking in a baking pan. This surface area and flexibility makes it possible to flip a large piece of potato or Brussels sprouts halfway through baking without having to remove the pan from the oven. Cookies (especially delicate cookies, shortbread, or oatmeal fritters) never break when using this spatula.
When making pancakes or French toast, the fish spatula’s slight flex makes it easy to maneuver under half-set cakes or wobbly, custard-soaked brioche rolls. The larger-than-average surface area means stable flipping.
Cooking with cast iron, the top metal edge of the fish spatula helps me separate the meat while searing, something that no soft plastic spatula could do. It’s also great for flipping burgers, as the notches on the spatula allow excess grease to quickly drip from the patty into the pan, so it’s perfectly positioned to catch the other side for maximum Maillard browning. When cleaning up, I use the spatula to help scrape out stubborn browning bits from cast iron and Dutch ovens.
Use the fish spatula to cut brownies in the pan, holding the spatula vertically, using the hard metal top to cut, and the slightly flexing spatula surface to remove those perfect brownie chunks.
A fish spatula does all of these tasks and costs less than $10, which means it’s pretty much the lowest-cost item in your kitchen, with many options costing two or three times as much.