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The Best Slotted Spoons

We rounded up eight dishwasher-safe nylon, silicone, and stainless-steel spoons, and used them to fish out green peas, poached eggs, meatballs, and jumbo shrimp from liquids in different kinds of cookware.

Editor&aposs Note:Update, August 2023

After learning that our favorite nonstick-safe slotted spoon was discontinued, we tested several intriguing models. The Cuisinart Curve Handle Line Curve Nylon Slotted Spoon is our new favorite nonstick-safe model. 

What You Need to Know

We rely on slotted spoons to remove and drain small or delicate foods from boiling water, hot oil, or sauce. To find the best model, we rounded up an assortment of eight dishwasher-safe nylon, silicone, and stainless-steel spoons, and used them in different kinds of cookware to fish green peas and poached eggs out of simmering water, meatballs from tomato sauce, and jumbo shrimp from garlic-butter sauce.

The first things we noticed were the differences between handles. Long handles were better because they kept our fingers away from the heat. Additionally, we preferred rounded handles over flat ones, and we preferred handles without dedicated grips, which limited our holding options.

Tastings and testings assistant editor Miye Bromberg uses a slotted spoon to pick up peas
The depth and shape of the spoons’ bowls made a big difference when scooping up slippery ingredients or gathering quantities of small foods.

Drainage was not an issue; despite different perforation areas, sizes, and configurations, all the spoons filtered out water, oil, and sauce equally well. While we generally preferred spoons that held more food, it was possible for a spoon to be too big. One spoon had an extra-long bowl, and its nose bumped against the inside of pots and skillets as we tried to delicately scoop up food. For the most part, however, the depth and shape of their bowls mattered more than capacity. Shallow bowls slid under food more easily than spoons with deep bowls, and broad bowls held large, irregular foods like jumbo shrimp more securely. 

ATK Reviews editor Miye Bromberg sniffs the spoons to check if the nylon and silicone used in some models absorbed any off-odors.
ATK Reviews editor Miye Bromberg sniffs the spoons to check if the nylon and silicone used in some models absorbed any off-odors.

There are a few trade-offs when it comes to the material of the slotted spoons. Nylon and silicone slotted spoons were generally lighter than stainless-steel models and thus easier to use for extended periods. Silicone spoons were easy to hold, but their tacky exterior meant that their bowls tended to catch and drag on the bottom of pans. In general, we preferred models with thin bowl edges. Nylon and silicone bowls tended to be thicker than metal models, making it harder to get them up and under food in skillets and saucepans; these spoons tended to push slippery shrimp and meatballs around instead. By contrast, stainless-steel spoons were heavier but typically had much thinner bowl edges, making it easier to slide them underneath food.

Lined up slotted spoons with tomato sauce remnants on them
Removing meatballs from tomato sauce was a snap across the board, even with the differences in slot size and configuration.

Many of us prefer metal slotted spoons, not only because they’re thinner but because they’re more durable than silicone or nylon models. But if you’re concerned about scratching your enameled or nonstick cookware, it might still be worth getting a silicone or nylon spoon. These materials will be gentler on any surfaces they touch, though they’re a bit thicker and can melt if exposed to high heat. 

Our all-around favorite, the Cuisinart Stainless Steel Slotted Spoon, provides the best of both worlds. It has a wide, shallow, very thin bowl that slid under food easily, and because its comfortable, rounded handle was hollow, it was almost as light as a nonmetal spoon. Our favorite nonstick-friendly model is the Cuisinart Curve Handle Line Curve Nylon Slotted Spoon, which has thicker bowl edges than our metal winner but can help prevent cooks from accidentally scratching nonstick or enameled cookware. 

The Tests

  • Remove 1 cup of peas from stockpot of simmering water
  • Remove four poached eggs from nonstick skillet of simmering water
  • Remove 12 meatballs from medium saucepan of oil
  • Remove 12 meatballs from medium saucepan of tomato sauce
  • Remove 1 pound of jumbo shrimp from large skillet of scampi sauce
  • Test with cooks of different genders, dominant hands, and hand sizes
  • Submerge in 24 ounces of pasta sauce with chopped onion for two hours, then run through 10 dishwasher cycles
  • Measure spoon dimensions and weight


How We Rated

  • Bowl Design: Spoons with large, wide, shallow bowls made of relatively thin material made it easy to get under food; they received more points.
  • Ease of Use: We gave more points to lightweight spoons that were comfortable to use for extended periods and didn’t drag on the bottoms of the pans.
  • Handle Design: We awarded more points to spoons with long, comfortable, balanced handles without dedicated grips (which limited our hand position options).
  • Cleanup and Durability: We docked points from spoons that scratched, stained, or retained odors after more than one wash.

  • Lightweight
  • Wide, shallow bowl
  • Thin-edged bowl
  • Long, comfortable handle
02:31

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Everything We Tested

Good 3 Stars out of 3.
Fair 2 Stars out of 3.
Poor 1 Star out of 3.

Recommended

  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability

WinnerCuisinart Stainless Steel Slotted Spoon

The lightest of the stainless-steel models, this nearly perfect spoon had a long, hollow handle that felt like it was molded to fit our palms; its wide, shallow, thin bowl made it a breeze to scoop up food. Quibbles were minor: The bowl got a few scratches in the dishwasher, and a few testers thought the steep, ladle-like angle between the handle and the bowl upset the balance of the spoon.
Model Number: CTG-08-SLSWeight: 4.625 ozMaterial: Stainless steelHandle Length: 10.5 inBowl Thickness: 0.046 inBowl Dimensions: 3.875 x 2.75 x 0.5 inPrice at Time of Testing: $9.12
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability
The lightest of the stainless-steel models, this nearly perfect spoon had a long, hollow handle that felt like it was molded to fit our palms; its wide, shallow, thin bowl made it a breeze to scoop up food. Quibbles were minor: The bowl got a few scratches in the dishwasher, and a few testers thought the steep, ladle-like angle between the handle and the bowl upset the balance of the spoon.
Model Number: CTG-08-SLSWeight: 4.625 ozMaterial: Stainless steelHandle Length: 10.5 inBowl Thickness: 0.046 inBowl Dimensions: 3.875 x 2.75 x 0.5 inPrice at Time of Testing: $9.12
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease Of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup And Durability

Best Nonstick-Safe Slotted SpoonCuisinart Curve Handle Line Curve Nylon Slotted Spoon

This nylon slotted spoon is a good nonstick-friendly option. It’s quite a bit thicker than our metal favorite, so it can be a touch trickier to slide under delicate food such as poached eggs. Sauces and water drained quickly through the slots on its fairly wide and shallow bowl. Those design features, coupled with the spoon’s light weight, allowed us to use the spoon efficiently. We generally liked the spoon’s wide, curved handle and felt in control while using it. However, the angle between the handle and the bowl was a bit steeper than ideal for some testers, making it a bit less comfortable to use.
Model Number: CTG-01-LSMaterial: NylonWeight: 3.13 ozHandle Length: 9.50 inBowl Thickness: 0.082 inBowl Dimensions: 4.50 x 2.75 x 1.13 inPrice at Time of Testing: $14.66
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease Of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup And Durability
This nylon slotted spoon is a good nonstick-friendly option. It’s quite a bit thicker than our metal favorite, so it can be a touch trickier to slide under delicate food such as poached eggs. Sauces and water drained quickly through the slots on its fairly wide and shallow bowl. Those design features, coupled with the spoon’s light weight, allowed us to use the spoon efficiently. We generally liked the spoon’s wide, curved handle and felt in control while using it. However, the angle between the handle and the bowl was a bit steeper than ideal for some testers, making it a bit less comfortable to use.
Model Number: CTG-01-LSMaterial: NylonWeight: 3.13 ozHandle Length: 9.50 inBowl Thickness: 0.082 inBowl Dimensions: 4.50 x 2.75 x 1.13 inPrice at Time of Testing: $14.66
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability

OXO Steel Slotted Spoon

Although a little bigger and heavier than our winner, this solid, stainless-steel slotted spoon had the thinnest bowl and easily slid under meatballs and shrimp. It had a long handle, and testers liked the ridged, rubbery material on the grip—but the grip itself was just 5 inches long, making it a little small for large-handed testers.
Model Number: 59291Weight: 5.5 ozMaterials: Stainless steel, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)Handle Length: 10 inBowl Thickness: 0.042 inBowl Dimensions: 4.0 x 2.5 x 0.5 inPrice at Time of Testing: $10.99
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability
Although a little bigger and heavier than our winner, this solid, stainless-steel slotted spoon had the thinnest bowl and easily slid under meatballs and shrimp. It had a long handle, and testers liked the ridged, rubbery material on the grip—but the grip itself was just 5 inches long, making it a little small for large-handed testers.
Model Number: 59291Weight: 5.5 ozMaterials: Stainless steel, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)Handle Length: 10 inBowl Thickness: 0.042 inBowl Dimensions: 4.0 x 2.5 x 0.5 inPrice at Time of Testing: $10.99
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability

OXO Good Grips Nylon Slotted Spoon

The lightest spoon in the lineup, this model felt like a natural extension of our arms. But its bowl was small, making it harder to securely contain larger shrimp and meatballs, and its thick edges prevented it from getting under food in shallow pans quite as easily as the top three models did. In addition, a few peas got stuck in its circular holes.
Model Number: 1191300Weight: 2.875 ozMaterial: NylonHandle Length: 10 inBowl Thickness: 0.072 inBowl Dimensions: 3.75 x 2.5 x 0.5 inPrice at Time of Testing: $6.99
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability
The lightest spoon in the lineup, this model felt like a natural extension of our arms. But its bowl was small, making it harder to securely contain larger shrimp and meatballs, and its thick edges prevented it from getting under food in shallow pans quite as easily as the top three models did. In addition, a few peas got stuck in its circular holes.
Model Number: 1191300Weight: 2.875 ozMaterial: NylonHandle Length: 10 inBowl Thickness: 0.072 inBowl Dimensions: 3.75 x 2.5 x 0.5 inPrice at Time of Testing: $6.99
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease Of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup And Durability

Williams Sonoma Signature Nonstick Deep Slotted Spoon

This model combines a nylon head—which is handy for nonstick skillets—and a sturdy, wide, and comfortable stainless-steel handle. Unfortunately, the head of the spoon was a bit too big. It bumped against the sides of skillets and pots as we scooped up food.
Model Number: 2739461Material: Nylon with stainless-steel handleWeight: 5.13 ozHandle Length: 9.25 inBowl Thickness: 0.085 inBowl Dimensions: 4.75 x 2.75 x 1.13 inPrice at Time of Testing: $39.95
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease Of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup And Durability
This model combines a nylon head—which is handy for nonstick skillets—and a sturdy, wide, and comfortable stainless-steel handle. Unfortunately, the head of the spoon was a bit too big. It bumped against the sides of skillets and pots as we scooped up food.
Model Number: 2739461Material: Nylon with stainless-steel handleWeight: 5.13 ozHandle Length: 9.25 inBowl Thickness: 0.085 inBowl Dimensions: 4.75 x 2.75 x 1.13 inPrice at Time of Testing: $39.95

Recommended with reservations

  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability

All-Clad Stainless Steel Professional Slotted Spoon

This expensive spoon was sturdy and well-built but the heaviest in our lineup, tiring our arms when used for extended periods. Deep and thick, the bowl held lots of food but had a hard time getting under slippery shrimp. Finally, its handle was uncomfortable to hold and set at such a steep angle that the spoon felt even heavier than it already was.
Model Number: 2100071795Weight: 7 ozMaterial: Stainless steelHandle Length: 10 inBowl Thickness: 0.064 inBowl Dimensions: 4.25 x 2.625 x 1.0 inPrice at Time of Testing: $34.00
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability
This expensive spoon was sturdy and well-built but the heaviest in our lineup, tiring our arms when used for extended periods. Deep and thick, the bowl held lots of food but had a hard time getting under slippery shrimp. Finally, its handle was uncomfortable to hold and set at such a steep angle that the spoon felt even heavier than it already was.
Model Number: 2100071795Weight: 7 ozMaterial: Stainless steelHandle Length: 10 inBowl Thickness: 0.064 inBowl Dimensions: 4.25 x 2.625 x 1.0 inPrice at Time of Testing: $34.00
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability

Calphalon Stainless Utensils Slotted Spoon

This stainless-steel spoon had a great bowl—broad, shallow, and fairly thin-edged. But it was heavy, and the handle’s flat metal edges dug uncomfortably into our palms, leading one tester to compare using this spoon to “holding the wrong end of the butter knife.” After 10 cycles in the dishwasher, the silicone grip eroded slightly.
Model Number: FS02Weight: 6.75 ozMaterials: Stainless steel, siliconeHandle Length: 9.5 inBowl Thickness: 0.056 inBowl Dimensions: 4 x 2.75 x 0.75 inPrice at Time of Testing: $14.86
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability
This stainless-steel spoon had a great bowl—broad, shallow, and fairly thin-edged. But it was heavy, and the handle’s flat metal edges dug uncomfortably into our palms, leading one tester to compare using this spoon to “holding the wrong end of the butter knife.” After 10 cycles in the dishwasher, the silicone grip eroded slightly.
Model Number: FS02Weight: 6.75 ozMaterials: Stainless steel, siliconeHandle Length: 9.5 inBowl Thickness: 0.056 inBowl Dimensions: 4 x 2.75 x 0.75 inPrice at Time of Testing: $14.86
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability

StarPack XL Silicone Slotted Spoon

While relatively lightweight, this spoon’s thick, moderately deep bowl made it harder to get under food in shallow skillets. Grippy silicone made its handle cushiony and comfortable but also made the bowl drag across the bottom of skillets and saucepans. And the silicone retained both stains and odors that required a few extra dishwasher cycles to eradicate.
Model Number: n/aWeight: 4.875 ozMaterials: Silicone, steel coreHandle Length: 9.5 inBowl Thickness: 0.13 inBowl Dimensions: 4 x 2.75 x 0.75 inPrice at Time of Testing: $8.95
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability
While relatively lightweight, this spoon’s thick, moderately deep bowl made it harder to get under food in shallow skillets. Grippy silicone made its handle cushiony and comfortable but also made the bowl drag across the bottom of skillets and saucepans. And the silicone retained both stains and odors that required a few extra dishwasher cycles to eradicate.
Model Number: n/aWeight: 4.875 ozMaterials: Silicone, steel coreHandle Length: 9.5 inBowl Thickness: 0.13 inBowl Dimensions: 4 x 2.75 x 0.75 inPrice at Time of Testing: $8.95

Not Recommended

  • Bowl Design
  • Ease Of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup And Durability

Farberware Classic Slotted Spoon, 13.5-Inch

We didn’t like the shape of the head on this nylon slotted spoon. It’s very deep, which made it difficult to scoop up delicate foods such as ravioli. That extra-deep bowl was especially difficult to maneuver in shallow cookware; we had to chase shrimp around the skillet while other spoons slid easily underneath them.
Model Number: 5211665Material: Nylon, ABS plasticWeight: 2.25 ozHandle Length: 9.25 inBowl Thickness: 0.097 inBowl Dimensions: 4.00 x 2.75 x 1.25 inPrice at Time of Testing: $3.99
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease Of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup And Durability
We didn’t like the shape of the head on this nylon slotted spoon. It’s very deep, which made it difficult to scoop up delicate foods such as ravioli. That extra-deep bowl was especially difficult to maneuver in shallow cookware; we had to chase shrimp around the skillet while other spoons slid easily underneath them.
Model Number: 5211665Material: Nylon, ABS plasticWeight: 2.25 ozHandle Length: 9.25 inBowl Thickness: 0.097 inBowl Dimensions: 4.00 x 2.75 x 1.25 inPrice at Time of Testing: $3.99
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability

GIR Slotted Spoon

We liked how light this spoon was and how comfortable it was to hold—but little else. With an unusually thick silicone bowl that dragged across the bottoms of skillets and saucepans, this spoon just pushed food around without getting up and under it. And because the bowl was so narrow, it couldn’t hold much food at a time. Finally, it retained odors that required more than one wash to eliminate.
Model Number: GIRSNL203REDWeight: 3.625 ozMaterials: Silicone, fully encapsulated fiberglass coreHandle Length: 9.5 inBowl Thickness: 0.104 in on outer edges, 0.3125 in on bottom of bowlBowl Dimensions: 4.25 x 2.5 x 0.5 inPrice at Time of Testing: $18.95
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability
We liked how light this spoon was and how comfortable it was to hold—but little else. With an unusually thick silicone bowl that dragged across the bottoms of skillets and saucepans, this spoon just pushed food around without getting up and under it. And because the bowl was so narrow, it couldn’t hold much food at a time. Finally, it retained odors that required more than one wash to eliminate.
Model Number: GIRSNL203REDWeight: 3.625 ozMaterials: Silicone, fully encapsulated fiberglass coreHandle Length: 9.5 inBowl Thickness: 0.104 in on outer edges, 0.3125 in on bottom of bowlBowl Dimensions: 4.25 x 2.5 x 0.5 inPrice at Time of Testing: $18.95

Discontinued

  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability

Joseph Joseph Elevated Slotted Spoon

Light and slightly flexible, this perforated spoon nimbly navigated under food and around pan edges. Its wide, shallow bowl was just a touch smaller and thicker than our winner’s. While most testers didn’t mind that the grippy silicone handle was on the short side, its built-in pot rest bumped into the taller sides of saucepans and stockpots and made for a short grip, cramping larger hands.
Model Number: 10113Weight: 3.625 ozMaterials: Nylon, siliconeHandle Length: 8.5 inBowl Thickness: 0.061 inBowl Dimensions: 3.875 x 2.625 x 0.5 inPrice at Time of Testing: $9.95
  • Bowl Design
  • Ease of Use
  • Handle Design
  • Cleanup and Durability
Light and slightly flexible, this perforated spoon nimbly navigated under food and around pan edges. Its wide, shallow bowl was just a touch smaller and thicker than our winner’s. While most testers didn’t mind that the grippy silicone handle was on the short side, its built-in pot rest bumped into the taller sides of saucepans and stockpots and made for a short grip, cramping larger hands.
Model Number: 10113Weight: 3.625 ozMaterials: Nylon, siliconeHandle Length: 8.5 inBowl Thickness: 0.061 inBowl Dimensions: 3.875 x 2.625 x 0.5 inPrice at Time of Testing: $9.95

*All products reviewed by America’s Test Kitchen are independently chosen, researched, and reviewed by our editors. We buy products for testing at retail locations and do not accept unsolicited samples for testing. We list suggested sources for recommended products as a convenience to our readers but do not endorse specific retailers. When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are subject to change.

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