All The Different Types Of Spoons You Find In A Kitchen

Kitchens are filled with all sorts of utensils and appliances. Sometimes there are so many utensils that it becomes overwhelming. Take spoons, for example. There are many different kinds of spoons you can find in a kitchen, and all of them have a specific purpose. Therefore, when you are trying to figure out how to use your existing utensils, you should know all the different types of spoons and how to use them.

The most popular spoons for eating include coffee or teaspoons, as well as soup, dinner, and dessert spoons. Some specialty dining spoons include demitasse and iced tea spoons. When cooking, you will likely need a wooden spoon, a mixing spoon, a slotted spoon, a ladle, and measuring spoons. Some important serving spoons include salad, basting, rice, spaghetti, portion, and sugar spoons.

Spoons might just be the most common utensil in a kitchen. Whether you are deciding what type of spoons you should buy or trying to figure out how to use the spoons you already have, this article is for you. Below is a comprehensive list of all the spoons you are likely to find in a kitchen, as well as what you can use each spoon for.

Spoons For Eating

1. Coffee Or Teaspoon

A coffee or teaspoon is a one almost every kitchen has in abundance, and it’s the first spoon most people use each day. Coffee spoons are typically a bit smaller than a teaspoon, but both spoons serve the same purpose. They are designed to fit in a coffee or tea cup and mix milk and sugar into the beverage. 

2. Dinner Spoon

Another common spoon found in most houses is the dinner spoon. This looks like a larger version of a tea or coffee spoon. These are oval spoons and are shallower than a soup spoon. They are often set on a table whenever there is a sauce or gravy-based dish like pasta with sauce or curry on the menu.

3. Soup Spoon

Soup spoons can come in several shapes and sizes, but are generally deeper spoons that can transfer more liquid from the bowl to your mouth than other spoons. They are used whenever you serve a soup, stew, or other broth-based meal.

4. Iced Tea Spoon

One spoon you’ll want to have if you love iced beverages is an iced tea spoon. These spoons have a similar oval shape to other spoons, and are rarely larger than a dinner spoon. The big difference is the elongated handle. 

These spoons have long handles so they can reach the bottom of a tall glass and stir sugar and other ingredients. These spoons are great for iced tea, lemonade, blended drinks, and cocktails.

5. Japanese Or Chinese Soup Spoon

If you make a lot of ramen or wonton soup, you’ll want a few Japanese or Chinese soup spoons. These spoons are typically made of ceramic or plastic, and have a short, wide handle and a deep ladle-like bowl to scoop up the tasty broth.

6. Dessert Spoon

A dessert spoon is another spoon found in many silverware drawers, and is used when setting a dining table for formal company. This spoon is used for any dessert that doesn’t use a fork. It is easily identifiable as it is larger than a teaspoon but smaller than a dinner spoon. 

7. Demi-Tasse Spoon

If you love espresso, then you likely have a demi-tasse spoon. This small spoon is used to stir sugar in small cups of espresso. It is typically the smallest spoon in the home, and it can also be used on charcuterie boards to portion out mustard and for other dainty serving purposes.

8. Grapefruit Spoon

If you have a citrus tree or live in Florida, then you may have a grapefruit spoon or two. These spoons are triangular in shape and have serrated edges. They effectively cut through the flesh of a grapefruit and allow you to scoop out each segment when you cut a grapefruit in half. If you want to lower your cholesterol and love grapefruit, this is a good spoon to have and use.

Spoons For Cooking And Serving

1. Measuring Spoons

The most important spoons for baking are measuring spoons. Measuring spoons typically come in a set, from a dash all the way to a tablespoon. You use these spoons to portion out important ingredients in just about every recipe. This makes them a kitchen essential for everyone who plans on following a recipe. 

2. Wooden Spoon

The wooden spoon is another kitchen staple. While a wooden spoon can technically be any size and shape, every kitchen should have at least one large, long-handled wooden spoon. Wood is heat resistant, and it also does not cause reactions in food flavors the way some metals and plastics do. 

3. Stirring Or Mixing Spoon

Stirring and mixing are part of everyday cooking, so unless you plan on stirring with a fork and mixing with your bare hands, you’ll need at least one stirring or mixing spoon. These spoons should be made of durable plastic or silicone, as this will prevent dough from sticking, and it makes it easy to clean.

4. Ladle

A ladle is the deepest spoon you’ll find in your home. These serving spoons are used to portion out soup and stew, as well as transfer liquids from one vessel to another. They are used in cooking, but are more often used as a serving spoon. Every kitchen should have at least one ladle.

5. Slotted Spoon

A slotted spoon is another common serving and cooking spoon. In fact, when you buy a kitchen utensil set, it almost always comes with one of these spoons. A slotted spoon often looks like a large serving spoon, but with small holes in it. The main purpose of these spoons is to separate solids from liquids. This makes it great for stews and foods cooked in liquid.

6. Bar Spoon

If you love mixing cocktails, you’ll need a good bar spoon. This spoon is identifiable by its long twisted handle, which is designed to make stirring liquids in ice very easy. It is an essential spoon for those who love classic cocktails like an old-fashioned or martini.

7. Spaghetti Spoon

A Spaghetti spoon is one of the most easily identifiable spoons in your kitchen arsenal. This spoon has pronged edges that are designed to scoop portions of noodles onto your plate with ease. It’s a great tool if you make a lot of noodle dishes.

8. Basting Spoon

A basting spoon is a versatile spoon that comes in handy in many circumstances. Like other serving and cooking spoons, it has a long handle. What makes this spoon special is that it has a deeper bowl than a stirring spoon. This allows you to drizzle sauce over meat and other foods while cooking. These spoons can also double as serving utensils.

9. Rice Spoon

A rice spoon looks more like a paddle than a spoon. Typically white, these spoons are designed to make it easy to scoop rice onto a plate without it sticking to the spoon, and without making a mess. If you have a rice maker or make rice often, this is a kitchen essential.

10. Salad Spoon

Salad spoons usually come in pairs, and sometimes there is one spoon and one fork or spork. These spoons are used to help portion out various salads. They are great to have if you regularly entertain or cook family-style dinners. 

11. Sugar Spoon

A sugar spoon is a serving spoon specifically made for serving sugar. These spoons are often decorative, and some of them are designed for sugar cubes, while others are meant for granulated sugar. These are good spoons to have if afternoon tea is a ritual in your home.

12. Portion Spoons

Lastly, if you ever like to make perfectly portioned meals for your meal prep, or like to design plates of food that all look identical, then portion spoons are crucial. Portion spoons are like large measuring spoons. They properly portion out food so you get the right amount on each plate. They are often found in cafeterias and restaurants, but are great for those who count calories.

Summing Up All The Different Spoons Found In A Kitchen

Most people can name a few spoons, but it’s amazing how many different spoons you can find in a kitchen. While it might seem wild to have more than 10 types of spoons in your kitchen, each spoon has its purpose. 

For eating, you need spoons for dinner, coffee, dessert, soup, and even demi-tasse spoons for espresso. When cooking, you need measuring spoons, a ladle, stirring and mixing spoons, and a basting spoon. Some specialty spoons worth buying include rice, spaghetti, and portion spoons.

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