Buying guide for Best spoon rests
A spoon rest has one essential job: keeping your spoons and other utensils off the counter or stovetop. In so doing, a spoon rest not only helps you keep your kitchen surfaces clean (thereby cutting down on overall cleanup time), it also helps keep your family safe by limiting food contamination. On top of that, many spoon rests add a decorative element to the kitchen through color, pattern, or design.
Whether you are looking for a spoon rest for yourself or as a gift for someone else, you will quickly discover that there are plenty to choose from.
Key considerations
Size
As logic would have it, a larger spoon rest can accommodate larger spoons or other utensils. If you want something to hold your ladles and whisks, take this into account when shopping. Note, however, that a larger spoon rest will also consume more counter space.
Spoon capacity
Larger spoon rests may be able to hold more than one spoon. However, you run the risk of cross-contamination when you allow multiple utensils to touch while cooking. A solution is to select a spoon rest with specific indentations or notches to hold several spoons, each in its own separate space.
Durability
As your spoon rest is going to be spending time in a hot kitchen, it must be up to the job. Regardless of what it is made from, it should resist breaking, cracking, and chipping. It should not easily stain and should be resistant to heat and odor buildup as well.
Design
The classic spoon rest design is an oversized spoon shape, usually with raised edges and a raised handle, that sits flat on a counter. If you’d like a different design, however, you will have no problem finding other shapes and sizes.
Appearance
Spoon rests can be as decorative as they are functional, with a wide variety of colors and patterns available. Styles range from simple to elegant. You may wish to find one that matches the theme or motif of your kitchen.
Features
Material
Spoon rests can be found in a wide range of materials. Some of the more common materials include the following.
Silicone: Silicone is heat resistant and non-slip. Verify that the silicone is food-grade before buying.
Ceramic: Spoon rests made with ceramic or a similar material are attractive, but some may break easily.
Wood: Wood is an attractive option for a spoon rest, although it can stain easily and is not heat resistant.
Stainless steel: Stainless steel has a clean appearance and is known for its highly durable nature.
Hook/hanger
If your spoon rest has some form of hook or hanger on the end of it, you will be able to easily hang it on a wall or pot rack when not in use.
Base
The base of a spoon rest should lie flat. A silicone or rubber coating on the bottom can help ensure it has good traction.
Spoon rest prices
Inexpensive: Spoon rests under $10 tend to be small and simple. The material of choice is often silicone.
Mid-range: A variety of silicone spoon rests exist in the $10 to $15 range, including those made of ceramic and stainless steel. Spoon rests in this range tend to be a bit larger with a better build than those in the inexpensive range.
Expensive: Spoon rests that cost more than $15 tend to be larger and often can hold multiple spoons.
Tips
- Some spoon rests come in stackable sets. These take up less counter space when not in use.
- Silicone can withstand high temperatures. If your spoon rest will frequently be exposed to high heat, consider one made of this material.
- Many spoon rests are dishwasher safe. However, those made of wood are usually not.
FAQ
Q. What is the best way to wash a spoon rest?
A. Even if a spoon rest is dishwasher safe, it is advisable to wash it by hand to keep it in mint condition. You can easily handwash a spoon rest with a bit of warm, soapy water and a soft cloth. For stuck-on foods, allow the spoon rest to soak for a few minutes first.
Q. What is an upright spoon rest?
A. While the majority of spoon rests are horizontal rather than upright, some adopt a vertical approach: spoons and other utensils are placed in them in an upright position. Some vertical spoon rests can double as a tablet stand or cookbook stand.
