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Jar Spatulas

We tested nine models to see how well they could scrape out jars of marinara sauce, molasses, mayonnaise, honey, and Nutella.

Published Mar. 1, 2015. Appears in America's Test Kitchen TV Season 16: Pork Kebabs and Steaks Hit the Grill
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Editor&aposs Note:UpdateFebruary 2016

We recently learned that the OXO Good Grips Silicone Jar Spatula, our Best Buy, has been redesigned. The blade now attaches seamlessly to the handle, which we liked. It also a gently curved shape and is a bit longer, wider, and slightly more rigid, for even more effective scooping. We still highly recommend it.

Top Picks

WinnerGIR Skinny Spatula

  • Ease of Use
  • Performance
Full Ratings & Specs

Best BuyOXO Good Grips Silicone Jar Spatula

  • Ease of Use
  • Performance
Full Ratings & Specs
See Everything We Tested

What You Need to Know

Jar spatulas, slim utensils designed to maneuver in tight spaces, supposedly get every last drop out of jars. We used nine models (priced from about $5 to about $13) to scrape out jars of marinara sauce, molasses, mayonnaise, honey, and Nutella. We also let each model sit in hot tomato sauce and ran each through the dishwasher 10 times to assess stain resistance and durability.

Most failed: Some handles were too short to keep our hands clear of sticky jars, while the heads on others were either flimsy or blunt and imprecise. The three best spatulas combined flexibility and firmness with a nimble tip for digging into corners. Of those, we preferred one model which emptied jars quickly and featured a uniformly flat surface that wiped clean with a single swipe. Alternatively, the slim head of another spatula fit nicely in jars and can be pulled off the handle for cleaning.

Everything We Tested

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

Highly Recommended

  • Ease of Use
  • Performance

WinnerGIR Skinny Spatula

Seamless silicone surrounds a sturdy polymer core, making this spatula easy to clean and comfortable in hand. The flexible head handily maneuvers in tight corners and edges but is strong enough to scoop heavy food. It’s also available in a mini version, perfect for petite jars.
Model Number: GIRSPS303REDPrice at Time of Testing: $12.95
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance
Seamless silicone surrounds a sturdy polymer core, making this spatula easy to clean and comfortable in hand. The flexible head handily maneuvers in tight corners and edges but is strong enough to scoop heavy food. It’s also available in a mini version, perfect for petite jars.
Model Number: GIRSPS303REDPrice at Time of Testing: $12.95
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance

Best BuyOXO Good Grips Silicone Jar Spatula

The long, thin handle on this spatula allowed testers to maintain a comfortable distance from the jars, and the slim head was a perfect fit for the “shoulders” of squat vessels. We would have preferred a seamless design like the winner since the tiny gap between the handle and the head trapped food, but the two pieces can be pulled apart for cleaning.
Model Number: 1241581V1Price at Time of Testing: $5.95
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance
The long, thin handle on this spatula allowed testers to maintain a comfortable distance from the jars, and the slim head was a perfect fit for the “shoulders” of squat vessels. We would have preferred a seamless design like the winner since the tiny gap between the handle and the head trapped food, but the two pieces can be pulled apart for cleaning.
Model Number: 1241581V1Price at Time of Testing: $5.95
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance

iSi Slim Spatula

The narrow edges on this blade got an incredibly close shave along the sides of jars, and its silicone exterior provided a comfortable grip. But its long length and heft made it a bit less nimble than higher-ranking models.
Model Number: B10101Price at Time of Testing: $11.20
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance
The narrow edges on this blade got an incredibly close shave along the sides of jars, and its silicone exterior provided a comfortable grip. But its long length and heft made it a bit less nimble than higher-ranking models.
Model Number: B10101Price at Time of Testing: $11.20

Recommended with reservations

  • Ease of Use
  • Performance

Rubbermaid Comfort Zone Kitchen Tools Silicone Jar Spatula

The silicone head featured an indented center like a spoon, with a thin, off-center “wiper” side that scraped into jar shoulders. But using the wiper edge was awkward for right-handed cooks, who had to swipe counterclockwise (swiping clockwise was like using the back of a spoon).
Model Number: Price at Time of Testing: $5.99
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance
The silicone head featured an indented center like a spoon, with a thin, off-center “wiper” side that scraped into jar shoulders. But using the wiper edge was awkward for right-handed cooks, who had to swipe counterclockwise (swiping clockwise was like using the back of a spoon).
Model Number: Price at Time of Testing: $5.99

Not Recommended

  • Ease of Use
  • Performance

Joseph Joseph Elevate Jar Spoon

The weighted handle and built-in 1/4-inch rest are designed to keep the sticky blade off the counter. Unfortunately, the rest itself reached so far up the handle that it became dirty in tall jars. Another criticism: The rounded sides on the spoon-shaped head could scoop but couldn’t scrape.
Model Number: Price at Time of Testing: $10.00
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance
The weighted handle and built-in 1/4-inch rest are designed to keep the sticky blade off the counter. Unfortunately, the rest itself reached so far up the handle that it became dirty in tall jars. Another criticism: The rounded sides on the spoon-shaped head could scoop but couldn’t scrape.
Model Number: Price at Time of Testing: $10.00
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance

Chef’n Switchit Slim Spatula

The two-sided design is meant to accommodate vessels of different sizes, but the design was ultimately difficult to use. The big, blunt end was too large to maneuver neatly in jars—and made for an uncomfortable handle—while the little spatula head felt stubby and imprecise.
Model Number: N/APrice at Time of Testing: $9.99
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance
The two-sided design is meant to accommodate vessels of different sizes, but the design was ultimately difficult to use. The big, blunt end was too large to maneuver neatly in jars—and made for an uncomfortable handle—while the little spatula head felt stubby and imprecise.
Model Number: N/APrice at Time of Testing: $9.99
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance

Norpro Silicone Jar/Icing Spatula

The long, slender spatula head looks nimble, but the silicone is too flimsy for even soft ingredients. The skinny, slick plastic handle slid around in our hands.
Model Number: 3132CPrice at Time of Testing: $5.18
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance
The long, slender spatula head looks nimble, but the silicone is too flimsy for even soft ingredients. The skinny, slick plastic handle slid around in our hands.
Model Number: 3132CPrice at Time of Testing: $5.18
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance

Tovolo Mini Scoop & Spread

Though this short spatula could reach into small jars, we had to grip it with the very tips of our fingers when scraping taller vessels, which felt uncomfortable and imprecise. It didn’t reach well into jar shoulders. Tomato sauce tinted the plastic an unattractive gray-green.
Model Number: Price at Time of Testing: $5.99
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance
Though this short spatula could reach into small jars, we had to grip it with the very tips of our fingers when scraping taller vessels, which felt uncomfortable and imprecise. It didn’t reach well into jar shoulders. Tomato sauce tinted the plastic an unattractive gray-green.
Model Number: Price at Time of Testing: $5.99
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance

Progressive Prepworks Mini Spatula

The spade-shaped spatula head was perfect for the bottom edge of jars, but its 5-inch handle was slippery and far too short. Its head also discolored in tomato sauce.
Model Number: GT-3352Price at Time of Testing: $8.82
  • Ease of Use
  • Performance
The spade-shaped spatula head was perfect for the bottom edge of jars, but its 5-inch handle was slippery and far too short. Its head also discolored in tomato sauce.
Model Number: GT-3352Price at Time of Testing: $8.82

*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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