Bench Scrapers vs. Bowl Scrapers: What’s the Difference?

When contemplating “important” kitchen instruments, bench and bowl scrapers are sometimes ignored. But the second these scrapers are remembered, they soar to the highest of must-have lists. Maybe not fairly as crucial as a pointy knife or a mixing bowl, however nothing else works as effectively at scooping, transferring, and effectively, scraping, as a bench or bowl scraper. Whether or not you’re amassing chopped greens, slicing cinnamon buns, or neatening up the sides of a layer cake, you’ll discover a use for them.

Nonetheless, whereas bench and bowl scrapers carry out most of the similar duties, they are distinctive instruments—and we’d argue that dwelling cooks ought to personal (no less than) one in every of every.

What Is a Bench Scraper?

A bench scraper is a flat, metallic rectangle that sometimes has a rounded deal with and is round six inches lengthy and three to 5 inches tall. They don’t bend, making them sturdy instruments for scooping up and transferring substances. They will’t scrape the curved inside of a bowl and are sometimes so agency that their edges—although not blades—can act like knives on the subject of neatly slicing mushy gadgets, like butter or dough. 

What Bench Scraper Ought to You Purchase?

“It is like a windshield wiper to your cooking surfaces,” says Natasha Pickowicz, chef and writer of the cookbook More Than Cake. “It creates a seal with a flat countertop so you possibly can drag moist issues, like a spilled cracked egg; or dry issues, like free flour grains, and never soiled up a towel.” Pickowicz goes on to notice that bench scrapers shine on the subject of transferring gadgets from one place to a different—be it minced onions, feathery chopped herbs, and even the juiciest chopped tomato—from the chopping board to a bowl or skillet. She prefers the bare-bones Ateco Stainless Steel bench scraper. 

Most bench scrapers have handles, be they metallic, silicone, or wooden; that materials (or whether or not you need your instrument to have a deal with in any respect) is in the end a private desire—it’ll additionally decide whether or not or not the instrument can go within the dishwasher. For instance, our favourite bench scraper from our overview, from OXO, has a barely bouncy, non-slip deal with and is dishwasher-safe. Many even have a ruler operate operating alongside the underside edge, so that you need not pull out one other instrument for measuring when, say, making an attempt to chop dough into even parts. 

Justine Doiron, a recipe developer and meals blogger, sings the praises of her Williams Sonoma Olivewood mannequin, which incorporates the ruler aspect, and sometimes makes appearances in her well-liked Instagram and TikTok movies. “[It’s] my coverall instrument,” she mentioned. “I take advantage of it to switch substances from my chopping board, I take advantage of it to slice and portion bread dough, I take advantage of it to scrape and clear my counter surfaces. I typically use my bench scraper to ‘work clear’.”

What Is a Bowl Scraper?

A bowl scraper is a reasonably versatile instrument with out a deal with that is available in an array of supplies, sizes, and shapes. Sometimes made from plastic, silicone, or nylon, probably the most generally discovered variations in skilled kitchens are available a “D” form and are about the identical measurement as a bench scraper. Whereas some bowl scrapers are primarily versatile bench scrapers, others look extra like skinny silicone spatulas with out the lengthy deal with. 

“These are nice for neatly clearing out something in a spherical mixing bowl, leaving nothing behind, [be it] a thick hummus, a sticky bread dough, or a chocolate ganache,” Pickowicz says. “In that means it features extra as a kitchen spatula, however with extra floor space.” She went on to notice that they work “as an extension of your hand”. Pickowicz will coat a bowl scraper in cooking spray or olive oil to fold free excessive, hydration bread doughs like focaccia, to stop her arms from getting coated in dough whereas kneading.  

What Bowl Scraper Ought to You Purchase?

Whereas the various vastly completely different types of bowl scraper technically full the identical duties, some carry out sure duties significantly effectively, whereas others are typically multipurpose. For instance: D-shaped bowl scrapers (like our favourite from Indigo True) are sometimes made from plastic, are extra inflexible, and have a uniform thickness. This implies they will scrape out moist doughs, batters, or pastes from a bowl on the curved aspect, then be flipped to the flat aspect to scoop up chopped substances, scoot refuse over to a aspect of a piece floor, or slice butter and agency dough. Others, D-shaped or in any other case—we’ve seen dozens, from those who seem like beans to the top half of a shark in the water—can have beveled edges, robust curves, and be extraordinarily versatile, making certain you’re capable of scrape each nook and cranny of a vessel, very best for some bakers. Some are additionally heatproof and can be utilized to scrape and scoop from sizzling pots and pans as effectively. 

Pickowicz thinks it’s finest to look and maintain bowl scrapers earlier than buying, as there’s such variation between every mannequin, and its makes use of are usually catered to every particular person proprietor. In any other case, we suggest studying our bowl scraper review prior to buying, to make an knowledgeable determination.

Do Residence Cooks Want a Bench Scraper and a Bowl Scraper?

As each instruments are inexpensive and straightforward to make use of, Pickowicz thinks cooks and bakers of all ranges ought to personal each a bench and bowl scraper: “As a result of every instrument is so versatile, I discover myself utilizing them for a number of functions on a regular basis. They stack flat and are straightforward to scrub.”  We agree. In whole, our favourite bench and bowl scrapers (from OXO and Indigo True) will run you simply $22—not a foul funding for 2 versatile items.

FAQs 

What’s the very best bench scraper? 

In a recent test, Severe Eats named the OXO Good Grips Stainless-Metal Scraper & Chopper and Norpro Grip-EZ Scraper/Chopper the very best bench scrapers.

What’s the very best bowl scraper? 

In a recent test, Severe Eats dubbed the Indigo True bowl scraper and the KitchenAid Connoisseur Bowl Scraper set the very best fashions.