A spatula is any cook’s best friend. You use a lot of tools when cooking, whether in the kitchen or on the grill. Forks, tongs, spoons, brushes, and any other manner of utensils for specialized purposes.
But a spatula is eternal. It’s not often you cook a meal of any kind without a spatula; whether you’re making a simple fried egg or a complex dish, there’s pretty much no type of food (save stews and soups) you’re not putting a spatula to at some point, even if it’s only to remove from the heat and serve.
To that end, I’ve put together a list of the best spatulas (and spatula sets) I can find, to help narrow things down on a pretty wide market. While many spatulas are similar, they are certainly not at all the same, so I’ve also included a quick and easy buying guide!
Our Top Choice
- Perfect for heavy and long durable grilling.
- Can acts as a knife.
- Can use for small to large portion food.
- Easy to use, easy to grip, easy to clean.
- Great value for your money.
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New Star Foodservice 36299 Spatula
BEST CHOICE
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OXO Good Grips Grilling Turner
RUNNER UP
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RSVP International Grill Spatula
VALUE CHOICE
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How Do I Find the Perfect Spatula?
Choosing a spatula comes down to three things: purpose, construction, and size. Let’s start with that first one, because it determines everything else we need to look at from one of the most selling kitchen accessories.
How Many Kinds of Spatulas Are There?
There is a surprising variety of spatulas out there, even when you take out the rubber mixing spatula we won’t be talking about today (they’re not much good on a grill, after all).
The first and most common is just a “spatula”, what I’ll usually refer to as an all purpose or “all rounder” spatula. It’s rectangular, longer than it is thick, and is what most people think of when they think of the word spatula. It is your indispensable kitchen friend and probably the most used utensil you have in your entire home if you cook or grill regularly.
The second is a “fish flipper”. These are long, thin, and angled slightly. This lets you slide them under a fish and rest its entire filet (or even a whole fish) on the length of it without letting it break apart and fall back into the pan or plank you were cooking it on.
Third is a “turner”. Similar to an all rounder, this spatula can be used for pretty much anything, but is usually defined by having a longer, thinner handle and a n overall smaller head, offset a bit from the handle. This gives you leverage and make sit easy to flip over anything that needs to be flipped, like a burger or sausage patty, or some other similar piece of meat.
Finally, for our purposes, the last type of spatula is a “burger flipper”. These are specialized for one purpose: to flip burgers, as the name might imply. They are short, stubby, and wider than they are thick (or are perfectly square). They’re excellent to have around if you cook a lot of burgers and want that perfect flip every time, with none of the necessary finagling that a turner might require.
There are more types of spatulas, but the ones mentioned above are the common ones. You might think that having 2-4 types of spatulas is a bit over the top but it’s going to be common if you cook a lot. Chefs just needs to organize their utensils so that they won’t be confused in using the wrong one.
Construction
Construction is pretty simple and easy. You want stainless steel with the blade; no plastic. While a general purpose spatula use inside the home (for when you’re cooking in a frying pan and whatnot) can be nice, or even a boon if you want to avoid scratching non-stick cookware, it’s absolutely unsuitable for consistent grill use, unless you like eating plastic and replacing your spatula every few weeks.
The handle should be comfortable as well, and should have at least a core of stainless steel. Whether the handle is then sheathed in rubber or wood is up to personal preference after that. Rubber is more comfortable and heat resistant, but wood provides decent heat resistant and far more slip resistance.
Plus, wood looks nice, if you plan to leave your cookware in the open.
Size
A good all rounder spatula should have a head about 4 inches wide and 7 to 8 inches long, at least. Burger flippers are about 5 inches by 5 inches, while fish flippers are longer and thinner (so around 4 inches by 10 inches), and turners are about 3.5 inches by 6 inches, giving them a bit more maneuverability for some purposes.
Top 9 Best Grill Spatulas Reviews of 2022
1. New Star Foodservice 36299 Wood Handle Grill Turner/Spatula
Why you’ll love this:
This is the best all purpose spatula I can find. It has a satisfying heft and length, as well as a solid construction.
This is all stainless steel with a nice red handle perfectly riveted to the steel core, giving you a sturdy, comfortable, and heat resistant handle that is nicely grippy; moisture wicking and slip resistant.
The head of the spatula itself is excellent, and quite large. It has a nice, 3 inch wide tip with a beveled edge for slicing and sliding under whatever you’re planning to flip. It’s also a good 11.5 inches long, making it plenty long enough for flipping fish and anything else.
It works just as well as a hibachi spatula as a general grilling spatula, and if you only want to own one spatula you can use for anything, it’s absolutely perfect at that.
What We Liked
- Nice looking, slip and heat resistant wooden handle is sturdy and excellently riveted to the steel core.
- Blade is long, wide, and sturdy stainless steel perfect for any purpose.
- Price is relatively low for such high quality construction.
- Beveled edges make flipping and turning easier, as well as allow you to have a bit of chopping and slicing power when you need it.
What We Didn’t Like
- Makes a fairly poor burger flipper; it could stand to be a bit wider.
2. OXO Good Grips Grilling Turner
Why you’ll love it:
This is a cheap but well made stainless steel turner spatula from Oxo. There’s not much to talk about with this one, but what there is pleases me. It’s extremely well made, solid from tip to end with full stainless steel construction.
The only non-steel part is a nice, comfortable rubber lining on the bottom that cuts the harsh feel of it, but doesn’t affect the structural integrity. It will likely deteriorate over time, but with how cheap this spatula is, it’s not hard to replace it in the first place, and even if the rubber ends up coming all the way off, it’s still plenty usable afterward, if more uncomfortable.
This is a great spatula for all purpose use, being wide enough to use as a turner and stubby enough to fit in a pan as well as be used on a grill.
I won’t lie and say it’s my favorite spatula of all time or anything, but if you want something cheap, useful, and strong enough you could try and snap it over your knee without it being an issue.
What we liked
- Strong, sturdy stainless steel construction should last you a long time.
- Very inexpensive pricing.
- Versatile size and shape for multipurpose use.
What we didn’t like
- Rubber backing is comfortable but kind of flimsily glued on; will come off after a while.
3. RSVP International Endurance Barbeque Grill Spatula Flipper
Why you’ll love this:
Only a single spatula this time, but quite a good one. The 7.25 inch length (not including the handle, of course) is a little shorter than some spatulas, but perfect for flipping burgers, which is this spatula’s specialty.
The handle is a massive 10.75 inches, which puts your delicate fingers far away from the hot coals of your grill, letting you flip burgers with ease (and flair!).
The construction itself is great, with sturdy stainless steel construction and good slots for helping drop that grease off a little more. The handle is an excellent heat resistant wood that feels great in the hand; smooth and comfortably thick without being to much so. It also looks quite nice, and has a sturdy loop on the end for hanging it on the side of the grill or your wall of tools; whatever you please.
For the price, I quite like this spatula. It’s well made, doesn’t look too bad (which isn’t a huge priority, but always nice to look at as an extra), and works perfectly for its intended purpose at a pretty low price.
What We Liked
- Well made and constructed with sturdy stainless steel and solid rivets.
- Comfortable and aesthetically pleasing wooden handle.
- Nice loop for hanging where you need it to.
- Great price.
What We Didn’t Like
- Is just a burger flipper, albeit a good one. Doesn’t work super great as an all purpose spatula.
4. ROMANTICIST Restaurant Grade Griddle Spatula Set
Why you’ll love this:
This is an excellent griddle set made for hibachi grilling, and comes with a number of very good spatulas.
Even just taking the spatulas themselves into account, you have a set of great options, with spatulas of every common width and length. This set includes a pair with 8 inch x 2.8 inch spatulas with a comfortable 6.5 inch handle. One’s slotted and one’s not for added versatility.
In addition to those, you get a shorter, thicker, bladed spatula that’s perfect for burgers (5 inches x 2.8 inches), a very short and wide one (roughly 5 inches x 4.6 inches) that’s great for scraping up eggs and vegetables, and a perfect multitool that comes in at 4.3 inches by 5.5 inches and is perfect for slicing things and cleaning the griddle.
While not a traditional grill spatula or set, this works great for its intended purpose, and provides you a couple of great all purpose spatulas.
The materials are high quality, the variety excellent, and the price more than fair for everything you get out of it. My main issue is that all of the spatulas are a bit thin for my taste; I like my spatulas with slightly more width.
What We Liked
- Well made and constructed with sturdy stainless steel and solid rivets.
- Comfortable and aesthetically pleasing wooden handle.
- Nice loop for hanging where you need it to.
- Great price.
What We Didn’t Like
- Is just a burger flipper, albeit a good one. Doesn’t work super great as an all purpose spatula
5. Cave Tools Barbecue Spatula With Bottle Opener
Why you’ll love this:
At first glance, this spatula is kind of gimmicky. It has a wavy fire pattern on the spatula and a built in bottle opener, which seems weird…but you know, it’s actually pretty good.
The stainless steel is burnished to a bright shine, and provides a very sturdy spatula for all purpose use, being entirely steel. It’s fairly heat resistant, with nothing to melt or burn on it, and should last you years. While I like the look and feel of wood better than steel, it must be admitted that it doesn’t stand up to the test of time as well as steel when it comes to cooking utensils.
Once you have out of the way the fact that it’s a great spatula (it even comes with a nice serrated blade side for light cutting needs) the gimmicky bits don’t seem so bad. Yeah, when you first think about it a bottle opener on your spatula seems a bit impractical, but I’ve found that you can never have enough bottle openers. I found myself digging through a drawer desperately to find one just two days ago; this would have saved me the hassle.
What We Liked
- Excellent all stainless steel construction.
- Good sized spatula head and comfortable handle length.
- Nice serrated blade on the side of the spatula.
- Bottle opener is a nice extra.
What We Didn’t Like
- Wavy flame pattern provides a bit too large of a hole for drainage; can actually make it difficult to pick up some foods.
6. Weber 6645 Original Portable 2-Piece Stainless Steel Tool Setc
Why you’ll love it:
This spatula is pretty solid, made of a very sturdy stainless steel all over, with a rubber coating on the handle. It leaves this spatula feeling very comfortable in the hand, soft, grippy, and slip resistant.
The angling on it is a little steep, but makes it great for use as a flipper or turner, as well as a solid all purpose spatula. The slotting is well placed and thin enough to make it good for scooping up smaller foods, like jumbles of vegetables and shrimp, but are wide enough to drain grease well.
The hook is a bit flimsy, and prone to bending. I’m overall not a huge fan of it, but it’s a small blemish on the otherwise great spatula.
It’s also a bit pricey for a spatula. Even though it comes with a pretty good set of tongs, I’d still say it costs about double what this set should.
What we liked
- Great comfortable and moisture wicking handle is slip resistant and ergonomic.
- Stainless steel construction is sturdy and long lasting.
- Spatula head is well designed and performs admirably.
- Comes with a pretty great set of tongs that are both comfortable and well made.
What we didn’t like
- Overpriced for what it provides. It’s a good spatula and tongs combo, but still costs more than I’d be willing to pay.
7. Blackstone 5041 Wood Handle Burger Spatula
Why you’ll love it:
This is the perfect specialized burger spatula. An excellent 5.5 inches x 5.5 inches square head gives you a nice even surface to flip even the largest burgers, and the similar 5 inch length handle keeps your fingers just far enough away from the fire to matter, while giving you perfect control for an easy flip.
The handle is a very nice wood, heat resistant and aesthetically pleasing, with a great core of steel running through it for extra sturdiness.
It also doubles as a grill scraper. Its thin beveled edge can be used to scrape off the ashes and grime, cleaning the grill after the flaming coals have been put out from the grill.
The main issue with this one really is that it is just a burger spatula; it’s a bit too short and stubby (both in handle length and spatula length) to be used as an all purpose spatula, and is especially unsuited as, say, a fish clipper or for use on anything similarly long and fragile.
What we liked
- Excellent square spatula head is absolutely perfect for all sorts of burgers and similar patties.
- Sturdy stainless steel construction ensures a long lasting kitchen utensil.
- Wooden handle looks nice, and is very heat resistant for a comfortable grip.
What we didn’t like
- Short stubby handle and spatula head makes for a poor all purpose spatula.
- Handle is a bit thin and it’s difficult to find a comfortable gripping point on it.
8. ROMANTICIST 20pc Heavy Duty BBQ Grill Tool Set
Why you’ll love it:
Another set from Romanticist, this time with an eye toward being a huge heavy duty set, with thick stainless steel construction and wood cladding, tightly riveted for extra support, heat resistance, and comfort.
This spatula is made for things like turning over whole chickens or racks of ribs without bending or letting it flop over. For that purpose it has a satisfyingly long handle to be used as a lever (and keep your hands safe from the heat), but a fairly small head so it can be used as an all purpose spatula as well, clocking in at a decent 4 inches by 4.3 inches.
All sides of the spatula are sharpened; beveled at the tip for better turning and light slicing, with a serrated edge on the left side for test carves and similar uses, and a thick, heavy serration on the right blade for heavier work like getting at the tendons between chicken legs, or cutting around those knots of cartilage in a rack of ribs.
All in all the spatula almost resembles a utility axe more than a spatula, but is in many ways appealing because of this. If you find yourself often grilling and smoking huge cuts of meat, this spatula has the ability to keep up with those demands and then some.
We have the complete set of bbq tool sets here.
What we liked
- Huge, heavy duty spatula with extra thick stainless steel construction.
- Utility blades along all three edges of the spatula, each for different tasks.
- Comfortable and nice looking wooden handle with sturdy rivets.
- Long handle for extra leverage potential and heat protection, while not being too long and unwieldy.
What we didn’t like
- Not really suitable for indoor use; it’s a bit too thick and heavy for use in a frying pan or something.
9. Homestyle Inspirations Griddle and Grill Spatulas
Why you’ll love it:
This is a set of quite nice budget spatulas. While not as great in terms of variety as the Romanticist set above, I give it credit for overall being a little better in terms of individual spatula quality.
It comes as a set of four, with the primary spatula having a satisfying 4 inch width and a solid 8 inch length. The beveled edge is perfect for chopping softer foods and makes it easier to scrape up whatever you need to.
The other two spatulas are quite useful as well, with a nice thin (3 inches x 8 inches) rounded one that’s great for strips and serving sauces, as well as a smaller prep spatula with a smaller frame (3 inch width by 5.5 inch length) but a sharper edges. Rounding things out is a multitool with a handy rulers printed right on it for precise measuring of whatever you’re cutting up.
If the handles weren’t so cheap and uncomfortable I’d feel better wholeheartedly recommending this set, but as is they’re cheap, hard plastic that doesn’t feel good in the hand at all.
- Good stainless steel.
- Very nice variety.
- Good thick primary spatula.
- Good price.
What we didn’t like
- Cheap, subpar handles are uncomfortable.
FINAL VERDICT
For most purposes, the New Star Food Service spatula is still the best you’re likely to find. It simply does it all, and even the thing it’s worst at (being used as a burger flipper) is still perfectly doable with it with finesse.
Most of the other spatulas on this list are specialized in some way or are part of a versatile set of individually subpar spatulas, making the New Star one the best all round on the market.
A close second is Romanticist’s heavy duty option; it’s simply a unique design for a spatula, and provide a great amount of utility you don’t usually expect to find from something like a spatula, acting more like a utility tool than anything else.
Everything else is…fine, overall, but when you’ve seen one spatula like them you’ve honestly seen them all. The price difference between spatulas is so minuscule that shelling out for the best on the market is pretty much a no brainer unless you’re on a super tight budget, and New Star is not only one of the best I’ve seen but one of the cheapest as well, making it no competition at all.
While you are here you can check out other affordable grilling tools like roasting forks, skewers for kebabs or grilling tongs to help you with your cooking. See our homepage and you will find our list of cooking accessories.
