View source for Spatula

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{{short description|Flexible, wide blade used to lift, mix, or spread materials}}
{{About|the mixing tool|other uses|Spatula (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Roman spatulas.jpg|thumb|120px|Ancient Roman spatulas at the [[British Museum]]]]
A '''spatula''' is a broad, flat, flexible blade used to mix, spread and lift material<ref>[https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=spatula&submit.x=33&submit.y=24 American Heritage Dictionary]. Retrieved 2014-11-18.</ref> including foods, drugs, plaster and paints.

In medical applications, "spatula" may also be used synonymously with [[tongue depressor]].<ref>[https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/spatula "Spatula"], Collins Dictionary of Medicine,  Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005</ref>

The word ''spatula'' derives from the Latin word for a flat piece of wood or splint, a diminutive form of the Latin {{lang|la|[[spatha]]}}, meaning 'broadsword', and hence can also refer to a [[tongue depressor]]. The words ''[[spade]]'' (digging tool) and ''[[spathe]]'' are similarly derived.  The word ''spatula'' has been used in English since 1525.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=spatula&searchmode=none|title=Etymology OnLine|access-date=2007-05-24}}</ref>

==Use==
Spatulas are usually used to scrape within the contours of a mixing bowl or to level off the top of a dry mixing cup.

==Kitchen use==

===American English===
[[Image:Degskrapor.png|thumb|200px|right|Examples of [[Scraper (kitchen)|scrapers]]. The rubber scraper (left) can be called a ''spatula'' in both UK and US English because it is a flat utensil used for mixing and spreading. The tool on the right is also called a dough cutter.]]

In American English, ''spatula'' refers broadly to a number of broad, flat utensils. The word commonly refers to a turner or flipper (known in British English as a ''[[Fish slice (kitchen utensil)|fish slice]]''), used to lift and flip food items during cooking, such as [[pancakes]] and [[Fillet (cut)|fillets]]. The blades on these are usually made of [[metal]] or [[plastic]], with a wooden or plastic handle to insulate them from [[heat]]. A ''cookie shovel'' is a turner with a larger blade, made for lifting cookies off a pan or [[baking sheet]].

A frosting spatula is also known as [[palette knife]] and is usually made of metal or plastic.

Bowl and plate [[Scraper (kitchen)|scrapers]] are sometimes called spatulas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=spatula|title=Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary|access-date=2007-06-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/spatula?view=uk
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929231736/http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/spatula?view=uk
 | url-status=dead
 | archive-date=September 29, 2007
 | title=AskOxford.com
 | access-date=2010-03-14
}}</ref>

===British English===
In [[British English]] a spatula is similar in shape to a palette knife, without holes, in a flexible or detachable blade. It is used in medical examinations, for holding down the tongue or taking cell samples. The term is also commonly used in cookery to refer to a scraper, as in American English.

=== Non-regional===
In addition to the regional senses, a spatula can be used in both British and American English to refer to a tool with a flat, blunt blade used for mixing and spreading things as opposed to one used for lifting and flipping food, an example of which is the rubber scraper shown on the right.

== Laboratory use ==
In laboratories, ''spatulas'' and ''microspatulas'' are small [[stainless steel]] utensils, used for scraping, transferring, or applying powders and paste-like chemicals or treatments.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://libpres.sitehost.iu.edu/manual/tools/micro.html |quote=For example, they are excellent for scraping, applying methyl cellulose to a book spine to remove the old adhesive, delaminating the layers of board, and lifting delicate materials and helping them back into place, during the performance of repair treatments. They are made of stainless or tool steel and are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. |title=Microspatula |first1=Garry |last1=Harrison |access-date=10 August 2013}}</ref> Many spatula brands are also resistant to acids, bases, heat, and solvents, which make them ideal for use with a wide range of compounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.capitolscientific.com/lab-supplies/lab-spatula-sample-spatula|title=Lab Spatulas for sampling}}</ref> A common type would be stainless steel spatulas, which are widely used because they are sturdy and affordable. They are resistant to deterioration from contact with boiling water, acids, bases, and most solvents. Some of them come with a polyvinyl chloride plastic handle or riveted hardwood for better handling. Polystyrene spatulas are made for researchers because they are disposable, preventing any potential contaminations which occurs often with reusable spatulas. They are also ideal for handling lyophilized products or performing [[Freeze-drying|lyophilization]].

<gallery widths="200" heights="200">
File:Laboratory Spatula.JPG|A stainless steel laboratory spatula
File:Spatula Application.JPG|This is one of many uses of stainless steel spatula: it can be used to aid the removal of filter paper from vacuum filtration.
</gallery>

==Related utensils==
* [[Peel (tool)|Peel]]
* [[Putty knife]]
* [[Scoopula]]
* [[Spudger]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Spatulas}}
{{Wiktionary-inline}}

{{Kitchen Tools}}

[[Category:Food preparation utensils]]
[[Category:Domestic implements]]