Dining and Cooking
Settle a debate: which one is a spatula, and what is the other one called?
In Baking

Settle a debate: which one is a spatula, and what is the other one called?


Settle a debate: which one is a spatula, and what is the other one called?

by pointe4Jesus

48 Comments

  1. pointe4Jesus

    Technically, they are both different types of spatulas, but I grew up calling the second one a spatula and the first one a pancake turner, and my husband grew up calling the first one a spatula and the second one a scraper.

  2. Eve-3

    They’re both spatulas to me. Context would let you know which one the person means.

  3. heartskipsabeet

    I call the first one a spatula and the second one a rubber spatula.

  4. laulau1501

    1st one is a spatula and I don’t know what official translation is but in dutch the second one is called a ‘pannenlikker’ which means a panlicker.

  6. aenjru

    I grew up calling the first one a spatula and the second one “the thingy” haha. But in my high school home economics class, I learned that the first one is technically a turner and the second is the true spatula.

  7. centaurquestions

    The first one is a flipper or turner, and the second one is a spatula.

  8. Peggedbyapirate

    In my house the second one is a spatula and the first one is a scoopula.

  10. Chonk-de-chonk

    My mom would call the second one a “rubber spoon.” My wife gets very upset with me when I slip up and call it that lol

  11. JustMeOutThere

    Spatule (the black one) et maryse (the white one) 🙂

    Sorry this made me smile since in French we have two distinct words. But I am learning as well. Maryse is rubber spatula. Noted.

  12. jopema

    A spatula and a rubber scraper.

    So said Mrs. Dobrenski in 7th grade home ec in 1986.

    Pity the poor sods who got it wrong.

  15. BoozeIsTherapyRight

    These are both spatulas. If you’re my grandmother, the first one is a pancake turner and the other one is a spatula. I figure out which spatula is needed by context.

  18. SadAnkles

    I call #2 a paddle, but judging by the comments I am wrong

  19. Caelestilla

    “Flippy spatula” and “scrapey spatula “

    Both are also “no, the other spatula.”

  20. guacsteady

    I’ve read the word “spatula” so many times on this thread that it looks like gibberish.

    But I call them both spatulas.

  21. hassenoma01

    First: Spatula

    Second: *Rubber* Spatula

    Extra Credit: (Not pictured) Heat Resistant Rubber Spatula

  22. Apprehensive-Walk-51

    Well. which one can you get at Spatula City? I hear they have 7 locations and are open till midnight.

  23. mixi_e

    In my country (Spanish speaking) we call the rubber one miserable because it picks up the left overs

    Edit: after reading it so much, spatula is such a weird word

  24. Fangs_0ut

    First one is a flippy boy, second is a scrapey boy

  25. CustomerOk3838

    Both are spatulae. Specimen no.1 is Spatulae Transfero. Specimen no.2 is Spatulae Propagatio.

  27. CwningenFach

    The first one is a fish slice. The second one is a spatula

  28. aLaSeconde

    The first one is a spatula and the second one is a spatula.

    Hope that clears it up!!

  29. alcMD

    Hot take, neither is a spatula. First is a turner or food turner and second is a rubber scraper.

    A true spatula is [the one you use to frost a cake](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-vm6doh2w4n/images/stencil/original/products/8641/21127/sdogpqmctm4yvdscd8pe__75180.1677143477.jpg), from the Latin “spathula” which referred to a small flat piece of wood like what you’d think of as a tongue depressor, diminutive of “spath” a broadsword. English ‘spade’ has the same root. Brought to you by google!

  32. freethefrican

    The first one is a Fish slice and the second is a rubber spatula.

  33. Beneficial-House-784

    They’re both spatulas, but I grew up calling the second one a bowl scraper

  36. Downtown_Ad6875

    The plastic one is a fish slice, sometimes mistakenly referred to as a spatula.

    The other one is an actual spatula.

  37. UtahUKBen

    With the slots, “fish slice” in British English

  39. life1sart

    The first one is a spatula. The second one is a pot licker (pannenlikker). English just doesn’t have a proper distinctive word for this utensil and thus you end up calling it a spatula.

  41. fluffton

    I’m in the UK so.

    First one is a fish slice.

    Second one is a real spatula.

    Americans call the fish slice a turner, flipper, or spatula though.

  42. smokeshow_815

    When my brother and I were young and just learning basic cooking skills, he asked my mom where the spatula was. Except, he said “spu-too-la .”

    So forevermore in my house, the first picture is a spatula, and the 2nd is a sputoola.

  43. MargotLannington

    Both are spatulas. These are two different kinds of spatula.

  45. CharDeeMacDennisII

    They’re both spatulas.

    spatula
    /spăch′ə-lə/

    noun

    A small implement having a broad, flat, flexible blade that is used to mix, spread, or lift material.

  46. Tree_TheIdiot

    I Call the first one a flipper and the second a spatula, this kinda makes sense for me because I’m a baker and I use spatulas often

  47. EveningZealousideal6

    First one is a fish slice, the second is a spatula. Though a fish slice with no gaps is also a spatula.

  48. MaxTheMad

    First one is a spatula, second one is a rubber spatula.

Write A Comment