What I Do and Don’t Buy Vintage - Silicone Spatula Scrapers
You may notice I’m a little obsessed vintage. Vintage dishes, vintage clothes, and obviously vintage recipes. I buy a lot of the items in my kitchen second hand, for a ton of reasons. Quality and cuteness for starters, but also because it’s environmentally responsible to use what’s already been made.
But, I also get that vintage is not always best. For tons of reasons. Toxins like lead or BPA’s can be a concern with some items, not being able to sterilize something properly can be an issue, or maybe the technology just didn’t exist before now. There are lots of valid reasons to not buy vintage everything, so I wanted to start an ongoing series about what I do and don’t buy vintage.
So the first thing I wanted to talk about is a basic staple in almost every kitchen - a silicone spatula scraper. I use them for everything. I tried to wean myself off using one several times. I avoid unnatural materials whenever possible, but every time I try to scrape down the sides of my kitchenaid mixer bowl, or blend batters, I find myself missing one.
But, I don’t love second hand scrapers for a few reasons - one is quality and another is the material it’s made of.
Quality because they are often cheaply made to begin with, so I can’t expect them to last very much longer when they’ve already been used. And when it comes to the material they are made of, it varies so greatly from one to the next. Some could potentially contain BPA, and others aren’t meant to be used near direct heat, and there’s no sure way to tell by just looking at them.
So, when I resigned myself to acknowledging I am a silicone spatula-dependent cook, I knew I would have to invest in a new one, and it had to be the absolute best one I could find. And I think I found it.
If you’ve watched any of my recipe videos, you’ll recognize it - it’s the Multi-Function Spatula Spoon from Staub. And I cannot cook without it.
I’m a bit of a minimalist when it comes to the tools in my kitchen, so I was super intrigued by the fact that it’s a multi tool, and boy is it. It’s a spoon for scooping when you need to, and a great scraper for cleaning out your mixing bowl, plus it’s an awesome spatula for serving cakes and brownies.
It’s really tough, and strong enough to withstand rough use. I’m really hard on mine, and it looks like the day I bought it. But, it’s also soft enough to use on scratchable surfaces like my opalware Pyrex.
And it’s safe to use on heat, so I love that I can trust it with my antique cast iron skillets.
And the short wooden handle is super ergonomic and easy to grip. It’s a really unique shape, with a rounded end for digging in when you need to. I love it.
So, as much as I love vintage, when it comes to silicone scrapers, I’m sold on new, specifically this one. So click the link below if you’re looking for one, or needing to replace an old one. You won’t regret it.