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Best Pastry Scrapers

Updated May 2022
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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Spring Chef Stainless Steel Pastry/Bench Scraper
Spring Chef
Stainless Steel Pastry/Bench Scraper
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Multifunctional Set
Bottom Line

Great 2-piece set does a number of kitchen tasks well; earns our cooking expert's praise.

Pros

Blade is very sharp; excellent for vegetable chopping. Measuring guide is useful for recipe conversions. Set includes a silicone bowl scraper printed with handy conversion table.

Cons

Handle is longer than blade and can become loose over time.

Best Bang for the Buck
Orblue Pastry Scraper and Cutter, Stainless Steel
Orblue
Pastry Scraper and Cutter, Stainless Steel
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Chops & Cuts
Bottom Line

Our expert likes this scraper for the useful measuring guide on its blade.

Pros

Wider, rubberized plastic handle. Sharp enough for bench cutting or chopping. Ruler makes portioning much easier. Stainless steel blade is sturdy in the hand; good for pastry cutting.

Cons

Rubberized plastic handle is not comfortable.

Remco 5" Mini Bench Scraper, Orange
Remco
5" Mini Bench Scraper, Orange
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Saves Surfaces
Bottom Line

A brightly colored option made of high-quality plastic that won’t tarnish or mar surfaces.

Pros

Plastic scraper is kinder to cutting and pastry boards than metal. One-piece design has no gaps or seams to trap food particles or harbor microorganisms. Nice size and thickness.

Cons

Not flexible enough to scrape bowls. Will eventually wear out.

Alltop Bench Scraper & Chopper
Alltop
Bench Scraper & Chopper
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Best for Everyday Use
Bottom Line

An awesome scraper that our expert loves thanks to its handy measurement conversion chart.

Pros

Provides 6 inches of full cutting power. The blade stays sharp over long periods of time. The measurement chart makes it so you can measure out ingredients more efficiently. Easy to clean.

Cons

Some users thought that the handle was a bit heavy.

Ateco Stainless Steel Bench Scraper
Ateco
Stainless Steel Bench Scraper
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Durable Quality
Bottom Line

Our expert loves this pick for its simple stainless steel design and measuring marks.

Pros

The stainless steel scraper and handle combo allow the unit to not get wobbly on thicker cuts of dough. The measurement marks are easy to read, even from a distance. The handle is comfortable to hold.

Cons

Some users noted that the edge isn't terribly sharp.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

33
Models
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199
Consumers
Consulted
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Researched
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Buying guide for Best pastry scrapers

A pastry scraper is one of those kitchen utensils that you may not think you need, but you do. While simple in design, this versatile tool is indispensable if you work with dough a lot.

With a pastry scraper, you can more easily lift, handle, and cut dough without it getting stuck all over your fingers. A pastry scraper is also useful for chopping vegetables and nuts, scraping down a variety of kitchen surfaces, and transferring food to pots and pans.

Selecting the right pastry scraper can make a big difference in how you’re able to use it in your kitchen.

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One downside of a metal handle on a pastry scraper is it can become slippery when wet.

Key considerations

Materials

A pastry scraper is a pretty simple kitchen tool in terms of design, but the materials a scraper is made of are an important consideration when you’re in the market for one. There are two primary parts you need to focus on: the blade and the handle.

Blade: The blade of a pastry scraper can be made of a variety of materials, including metal, nylon, rubber, and plastic. Of all of these, metal — stainless steel, in particular — is the strongest and provides the best edge for chopping. A metal blade should have high-grade steel and resist rust and corrosion.

Handle: While some pastry scrapers don’t have a handle, most do. The materials here include wood, metal, rubber, and plastic.

Durability

In general, a pastry scraper should have a fairly rigid blade. The sturdier the blade, the more tasks that you can perform with it. While a more flexible plastic scraper can be handy for scraping out bowls and other contoured surfaces, a rigid metal blade allows you to more easily scrape flat surfaces and chop vegetables and other foods.

Size

All pastry scrapers tend to be about the same size: think a postcard or a bit bigger. The width of the blade is usually 6 inches, while the height can be anywhere from 4 inches to over 5 inches. If you have larger hands, you might be more comfortable with a larger pastry scraper.

Maintenance

While you should check the manufacturer’s recommendations before cleaning your pastry scraper, most of them can be put in the dishwasher. The notable exceptions are those scrapers with wooden handles, which can become warped or loosen in the dishwasher. If your pastry scraper has a wooden handle, wash it by hand with a cloth and warm, soapy water.

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Expert Tip
If you opt for a wood-handled scraper, oil the wood with mineral oil every now and then, as you would wooden spoons or a favorite wood cutting board.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert

Features

Blade

We’ve covered blade materials, but there are a few other factors to consider when choosing a pastry scraper.

Sharpness: The sharper the blade, the better it will be able to both scrape surfaces and chop items such as nuts. However, a sharp blade is more likely to damage the surfaces you’re using the scraper on.

Thickness: Much like the sharpness, the thickness of the blade determines what you’re able to do with it. A thicker blade that resists bending can chop and cut a greater variety of foods.

Edge: A blade with a beveled or rounded edge is less likely to scratch work surfaces.

Measuring guide: Not all pastry scraper blades have marks indicating inches and/or centimeters, but they’re a handy way to measure dough and maintain consistency.

Handle

The handle on a pastry scraper is usually a bit longer than the blade. Most are solid, but some are hollow. Whatever handle you decide on will largely depend on personal preference and comfort. Some general factors to note when comparing handles include the following:

Ergonomics: The handle should be comfortable to use and hold.

Design: The handle should be attached securely to the blade and not loosen over time.

Nonslip: Some handles have a nonslip grip, which is an important safety feature.

Expert Tip
An all-metal scraper with a curved handle is best for icing cakes. The handle is the same width as the scraping edge, which means you can hold the scraper at a perfect 90 degrees while smoothing icing for straight-sided cakes.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert

Pastry scraper prices

Pastry scrapers start at less than $10 and range up to $20 or more.

Inexpensive

Pastry scrapers that are $10 or less tend to have lower-quality blades that are both thinner and less sharp than average scrapers.

Midrange

The average price for a decent pastry scraper is in the $12 to $15 range.

Expensive

As the price increases over $15, the scrapers are able to perform more kitchen tasks. These offer better build quality with a thicker blade and a more ergonomic handle. At the highest price points, you’ll largely find pastry scrapers that come as part of a baking set or in pairs.

Expert TIp
I always wash my scraper by hand. It’s the safest way to protect the straight edge and keep all the materials healthy.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert

Tips

  • Don’t use a metal pastry scraper on a nonstick surface. The metal edge, even a beveled one, can still easily gouge the nonstick coating.

  • Get the best pastry scraper you can afford. You’ll get better quality and receive extra perks.

  • Choose a scraper with a beveled edge. This will better protect surfaces such as granite countertops or cutting boards.

  • Look for etched measurement marks. Measurements on the pastry scraper blade are a great feature to have, but be sure they aren’t simply stamped onto the surface. Measuring lines that are etched into the blade can’t be scraped off and will last much longer.

  • Get two. One scraper is great, but two can be even better. Use one to work dough and the other to chop nuts and vegetables and perform other kitchen tasks. You can even use one scraper to clean the other.

  • Get a set. If you’re new to baking, consider choosing a baking set that includes a pastry scraper. This is an affordable way to start collecting the tools you need, such as proofing bowls or biscuit cutters.

  • Accept no substitutes. Some cooks swear that a large putty knife can manage most of the tasks that a pastry scraper can, and this is often true. But putty knives aren’t made of food-grade materials and aren’t designed for working with dough.

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Pastry scrapers are also called dough scrapers or bench knives.

FAQ

Q. Outside of handling dough, what else can a pastry scraper be used for?

A. Professional chefs and bakers swear by pastry scrapers for their sheer versatility. We mentioned earlier how a sharp and sturdy pastry scraper can chop everything from vegetables to nuts. You can also use one to crush or chop garlic and herbs or measure and cut butter. Try using your pastry scraper to slice and serve portions of lasagna, brownies, and other baked foods. A pastry scraper is also the perfect tool for smoothing icing on cakes.

Q. What is the difference between a pastry scraper and a bowl scraper?

A. While they perform similar tasks, these two kitchen utensils are unique enough that you really should consider owning both. 

A pastry scraper is rigid and often made of straight-edged metal with some form of a handle. It’s designed for use on flat surfaces.

A bowl scraper is more flexible and usually has a contoured edge. As the name implies, it’s used to scrape batter, dough, and other foods from bowls and other curved containers. Bowl scrapers typically don’t have a handle and are usually made of plastic, nylon, or some other flexible material.

Q. Are pastry scrapers safe to use on all surfaces?

A. You should take care when using a metal scraper on surfaces because it can easily scratch some materials. One way you can cut down on scratching is to select a scraper that has a beveled edge. Another way is to forgo metal entirely and use a plastic scraper, although you’ll likely find plastic to be less versatile than metal. Consider using your metal pastry scraper only on surfaces like wooden cutting boards or baking mats.