Spatula

Spatula is a broad term that refers to a hand-held tool that is used for lifting, flipping, or spreading. Spatulas are usually made of plastic or metal, with a handle that is long enough to keep the user's hand away from what is being lifted or spread, as well as away from a hot surface.

Types of Spatulas

There are several types of spatulas, including:

• Baking spatula: A tool with a wide, flat, flexible blade that is used to mix, spread and lift material.
• Fish spatula: A type of spatula that is long, flat, and narrow, designed for sliding under a piece of fish without breaking it.
• Frosting spatula: A tool with a flat, wide blade used to apply frosting to a cake.
• Rubber spatula: A spatula with a wide, flexible blade that is used for mixing, folding, scraping, and spreading. It is also known as a scraper.

Uses

Spatulas are used in a variety of ways, including:

• Cooking: Spatulas are often used to flip food items during cooking, such as pancakes or hamburgers. They can also be used to stir ingredients in a pan.
• Baking: In baking, spatulas are used to scrape the sides of bowls, spread frosting, and lift cookies off of a baking sheet.
• Medical field: In the medical field, spatulas are used in a variety of ways, including to spread ointments or creams, to collect cell samples, or to hold down the tongue during a throat examination.

History

The term spatula comes from the Latin word spatula, which means "broad piece", a diminutive form of the Latin word spatha, meaning "broad sword".

See also

• Kitchen utensil
• List of food preparation utensils
• Cookware and bakeware

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  Ancient Roman spatulas
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  Modern dough scrapers
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  Laboratory spatula
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  Spatula in use